Topica Loopframe_Guzzi Archive


Subject: Re: bearing damage?

Author: Patrick Hayes

Date: Apr 21, 2005, 6:20 PM

Post ID: 1718742384





Todd Nordwig wrote:
 After a 500 mile weekend ride last fall I noticed difficulty disengaging
the clutch far enough to get the 4 speed tranny in gear. I figured I
had some stretch in the cable and shortened(adjusted) it
enough to get the clutch disengaged so I could easily put it in gear.
Within a day or so I started to hear a "whirling" sound every time I
pulled the clutch in. Today I started the ambo and slowly pulled the
clutch in to see where and when this sound would occur. About 2/3rds
into the clutch disengaging this sound of bearings(?) making contact
with something starts. I can put the bike in gear, and it runs fine,
but am I doing damage to the throw out bearing? Is the clutch
adjustment so fine that I have to find the degree of adjustment that
allows disengagement just before bearing damage? What am I doing wrong?


Todd:

First thing, make sure that the lever on the back of the transmission is
adjusted properly. There is a spec for that lever. If it is in too
far, the lever will hit the back of the transmission casing before the
clutch is fully disengaged. It won't go any further no matter how you
adjust the cable or how hard you pull on the lever.

Second, as the Guzzi clutch plates wear, the internal clutch bits move
aft. Your clutch handle adjustment is supposed to get tighter and
tighter as you go and you are required to loosen it up to make up the
difference. This is the exact opposite of a standard automotive clutch,
but that is a condition of the Guzzi dual disk design. If the bearing
wears, the clutch throwout distances increase and the clutch handle gets
looser and looser.

Which way are you needing to change the adjustment? That might indicate
whether it is the clutch itself or the bearing bits.

Patrick Hayes
Fremont CA

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