Stuck Clutch remedies

jvandyke · Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2010 12:13 pm Post subject:

Tank actually looks good, fuel as it goes through the filters (and all over the engine case and garage floor) is crystal clear. I now want to eliminate the D#$% filters but I've shortened one line too much. I assume to replace the line I'd have to pull the carbs out and break them apart which is NOT appealing. As much as I hate the thought, I'm going to try a mender and clamps to get me by. Then I can concentrate on that stuck clutch! I'd go in after it in a heartbeat but I know I'm going to have to end up having to order a gasket which the bone head dealer will take 2 weeks to get in, then it will be wrong and they'll reorder and then I still will fight oil leaks. My plan is still to take off down the road and try to break it loose but I'm waiting for clear roads, daylight and my wife to not be around. That's like getting the stars aligned! Could be May.

KirkN · Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2010 12:41 pm Post subject:

fasterspider · Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2010 2:28 pm Post subject:

Russell · Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2010 5:12 pm Post subject:

Like others who have responded I think your best bet with the clutch is to get the bike running well enough to ride, and that can be done in neutral,then when its nice and warm just ride it. When you are astride it and ready to ride just kick it into gear and trundle off.I'll be very surprised if the clutch doesn't eventually unstick itself!Avoid a 'crunch' and possible stall when you kick into first by just easing the bike forward as you shift the gear lever.

jvandyke · Posted: Wed Feb 03, 2010 10:02 am Post subject:

Okay, plan is to take off down the street tomorrow. Supposed to be 32 degrees and sunny so roads should be okay. I will only go up the block and into a huge parking lot close by where I will check things out, then back home. Of course this thing is not legal yet (registration/insurance) but I'm sure any officers will be understanding.....maybe. Wonder if it would be less illegal to go down the side walk....hmmmmmm.

To that end I did manage to "fix" the fuel leak I induced by trying to add in filters. I can't imagine being able to pull off and reattach the fuel line with the carbs connected much less on the bike but maybe. I am very reluctant to pull them again because it is a terrible job. For now I have simply used a 3/16" elbow (for vacuum application, may not hold up well with gas running through it) and a piece of aluminum tubing run inside the existing fuel line, screw type clamp over the works. I think the inner wall of the line got destroyed by me trying to fit the filter and there is not enough left to hack off. I will replace with nice fresh line at first convenient opportunity.

I am planning on doing an oil change tonight too, and filter of course. I have yet to find a capacity listing for this. Anyone know off the top of their head.

PS it kills me to talk about stuck clutches, fuel lines and oil capacity in a single post, but I'll get over it I guess

may as well make it worse:
I had one carb occasionally dumping gas; last night all of sudden, about 30 seconds after opening the petlock (after fixing the fuel line) a rush of gas came out the overflow tube then stopped. I turned off the petlock, banged on the carb a bit, turned gas back on. Little gush again, then nothing. I left the gas turned on and left it for an hour or so. No more ever came out. I guess the needle and seat are asking for replacement.

fasterspider · Posted: Wed Feb 03, 2010 10:23 am Post subject:

You need to stop being afriad of breaking into your engine.
The carbs have to be taken out, apart and need cleaning badly.
You need new float valves and probably float bowl gaskets too.
You need to open up this engine anyway, just do it.
The next question you should be asking is "Do I really have to pay Honda prices for my float valves and bowl gaskets?"
I can tell you from personal experience that K&L float valves will start to leak with the 1st tank of cheap fuel you put in the tank.
After market float bowl gaskets are always the wrong size for a 350 Honda.
The Honda parts may seem expensive at 1st but, you get over it once your bike is running and not pissing fuel all over the place.
I bought the aftermarket clutch discs for my 350 off of ebay for $42.00 because I was not paying the price Honda wanted for clutch discs, $12.00 a piece needing 8 of them.
There are certain items that is cool to buy aftermarket parts but, others have to be from Honda.
Dig into your engine, open it up and see for your self what is going on and fix it before you try to do something that may well break something else.

jvandyke · Posted: Wed Feb 03, 2010 2:11 pm Post subject:

I think I'm doing pretty well.
I tore apart the right switch housing, cleaned reinstalled, we have spark.
I took the carbs off, removed bowls, floats, jets seats, everything that can be gotten to from the bottom, cleaned like a mutha and reinstalled, and it runs well. (as well as can be determined in the garage).
I tore apart the caliper, cleaned greased reinstalled, brakes fixed.
I'll go in after the clutch disks if driving it doesn't do it.
If I need carb parts, it's good to know from guys like you where to go and what to get. With 6500 miles on it there isn't much "wear" from use, just from neglect, which may be worse. I'm very slow to throw parts at something, first because I don't have much $$ and second I like to know why something doesn't work and I like the challenge of "fixing" things whenever possible, rather than buying parts.

BTW it's a 500K

jvandyke · Posted: Thu Feb 04, 2010 3:23 pm Post subject: no dice

Got down the road, to the big lot. Got through a few gears, throttling up and down, jumping on rear brake drove around the lot for a few minutes, back down the road and home, still stuck. I'll tear into it.

KirkN · Posted: Thu Feb 04, 2010 7:09 pm Post subject: Re: no dice

jvandyke · Posted: Thu Feb 04, 2010 8:45 pm Post subject:

Yes, clutch held in the whole time. It was a very harrowing experience. I will take things apart and see what's what.

Russell · Posted: Thu Feb 04, 2010 9:14 pm Post subject:

Waiting with a great deal of interest to hear what is going on with your bike.I'm thinking that I'm curious as to whether the mechanism that engages and disengages your clutch is where the fault is or if the clutch plates, fibre and metal, are indeed 'stuck'. If I was a betting man I'd say in the actuation mechanisms somewhere but?????????????

jvandyke · Posted: Thu Feb 04, 2010 9:28 pm Post subject:

All I know is the lever operates, though very stiffly and there is no "clutch action" of any kind. I was going to crack it open tonight yet but I've been sitting here on the stupid computer too long.

Took a stab at it. Can't budge even one of the clutch cover screws. Most look like someone has tried before too. I don't have air tools or anything too fancy so what does one do? Heat help at all? I hit 'em with PB Blaster for what that's worth.

jvandyke · Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2010 8:14 am Post subject:

Would this be a viable way to attack those screws on the clutch cover?
Cheap impact driver

I will not put them back in. I'll probably replace with allen head or something.

KirkN · Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2010 9:11 am Post subject:

Yep, that's the way to go.

And, I can never get them to go by facing the screws in question. I always have to drape myself over the seat and hammer 'towards' myself. Any time I try to hammer 'away' from myself, it's just awkward, and I tend to round 'em out anyway.

That said, I've never had one get the better of me, unless it just plain snapped off... Smile

Good luck.

Kirk