Oil and slipping clutch

[Le Roi]

Hi All,

Well after some work my "project" Fazer is on the road again.
It runs excellent, easy and comfy bike to ride.

One thing is puzzling me though....

I was going to put a new oil filter on (K&N) and change the oil (Motul 5100).
But I had some 20W40 mineral (motorcycle) oil sitting on the shelf , so I changed the oil with that and left the filter on.
Idea is to run it for a few hundredth miles and than do a proper change with the K&N  filter and Motul oil.
This way, my thinking is, I would get some of the old muck out which has accumulated in the engine.(45.000 miles on the clock) I'm also putting in carb cleaner for the first two or three tank stops.

But on to the puzzling part, the clutch is now slipping for the first few miles.
When the engine is up to operating temperature the slipping is gone???
So I don't think it is the clutch, but it has something to do with the oil.
Is that possible, it is proper motorcycle oil albeit being mineral instead of semi?
And 20W40 should be okay for now as the outside temperature is still about 15 Celsius.
The range for 20W40 is 0 Celsius --> 40 Celsius if i'm not mistaken.

So I was just wondering what your thoughts are on this.
I'm now going to change the oil this week to see if it helps.
If not then the clutch is probably in need of new springs an friction plates.


Martijn

[Ruby Racing]

Is the oil you just put in FULLY SYNTHETIC?


If so then that is your problem. Revert back to SEMI synthetic.

[Le Roi]

No just the opposite, MINERAL.


I would have expected it with a fully-sythetic, but not with a mineral.

[Ruby Racing]

Hmmm.


Well, if it's the only change you've made I'd say it's the new oil you put in. I guess you'll find out once you change it again. Let us know what happens.

[Paul]

I've used fully synthetic oil in my 2001 Fazer since I first changed it when it had done 2000 miles to the present day (its now done 71,000).
Never had problems with the clutch slipping.


I also used fully synthetic in YPVS a DR350, and a Speed Triple, and didn't encounter a slipping clutch.


Sounds like it maybe more of a clutch issue than an oil issue.

[Dead Eye]

This could well be due to it having been layed up for a while. Mine does this if its sat for an unusually long period the clutch plates tend to slip until it warms up. After I've done a decent journey with a bit of spirited riding it settles down and the problem disappears. It could be the engine oil but I'm not certain. Currently using Motul 10W40 semi-synthetic - I can't remember if its their 4100 or 5100 as far as specifics go

[Le Roi]

Well the bikes been "stored" for three years, so that could be part of it.


I have a can of Motul 5100 ordered so I'll let you know if that sorts it.
As it is now it is okay to ride, if it gets worse I'll replace the plates.
We'll see.....

[Dead Eye]

Yeah... 3 years... it will probably take a few rides before everything settles properly :P

Mine was off the road for 5 weeks and it started playing up... to be fair though, there isn't much on my bike that does work properly. Every time I meet up with the LoFo's there's always some new problem to report haha

Not for lack of trying / neglect on my part - I've spent most the last 6+ months trying to fix everything... damned previous owners!

[Le Roi]

I had a brain wave the other day and I have solved the problem!
Which, it seems, I caused myself.....

In an attempt to adjust the clutch I also tweaked the adjuster on the engine side of the clutch cable. The one behind the rubber cover.
And that was to tight. So when the bike warmed up it would settle but it was just pushing a little on the clutch rod. So I slackened it a bit an gone slipping clutch.

So lesson learned!

I do have a lot of play on the clutch lever now so I will need to get a new cable to solve that. Probably stretched over the years.

And while the engine was warm after a test ride I put in the correct oil (10W40 semi) and a nice new filter (K&N).
The oil I used to "wash" the engine was pretty clear and there were no alarming pieces of metal on the drain plug magnet.

So all is well again. Thanks for the advice on this problem.

[darrsi]

I had a brain wave the other day and I have solved the problem!
Which, it seems, I caused myself.....

In an attempt to adjust the clutch I also tweaked the adjuster on the engine side of the clutch cable. The one behind the rubber cover.
And that was to tight. So when the bike warmed up it would settle but it was just pushing a little on the clutch rod. So I slackened it a bit an gone slipping clutch.

So lesson learned!

I do have a lot of play on the clutch lever now so I will need to get a new cable to solve that. Probably stretched over the years.

And while the engine was warm after a test ride I put in the correct oil (10W40 semi) and a nice new filter (K&N).
The oil I used to "wash" the engine was pretty clear and there were no alarming pieces of metal on the drain plug magnet.

So all is well again. Thanks for the advice on this problem.

Some people will say it's not an issue but i would definitely suggest buying a proper Yamaha clutch cable, rather than any old make.