Slipping Clutch

[Grant1Shepherd]

You’re right, it probably is the clutch slipping if it only happens when the oil is cold, you hadn’t mentioned that previously.
Check the condition and adjustment of the clutch cable and make sure the actuator in the sprocket cover is greased and not making odd clicking noises.


Buy some OE springs and a new clutch cover gasket as the old one will probably get destroyed. Replacing the springs is straightforward: put the bike on the sidestand, so long as it isn't overfilled with oil you don't need to drain it.
To do the job you do not need to take the clutch pressure plate off, but if you do want to look at the friction plates don't lose the ball bearing at the tip of the pushrod and do make sure the pressure plate goes back on in the same position when you're done. It is not symmetrical, if it gets put back rotated it'll appear to fit but will give no drive and can get damaged.

When reassembling, I like to uses a thin smear of liquid gasket on the engine cases to glue the new gasket in position and a thin smear of non-moly grease on the mating surface of the clutch cover. That way, the next time you take it off the gasket should be undamaged... I've been able to take mine off half a dozen times since without needing to buy another gasket.


Hopefully you now have a Fazer with a healthy clutch. If not, you will need to change the friction plates, but at least you shouldn't need a new gasket.


Finally, the levers at the handlebars often get neglected, Cleaning and lubricating the pivots with heavy grease can make a huge difference to the feel of both clutch and brake.

The clutch plates were only changed about a year ago with OE plates and heavy duty springs, I've been told by a mechanic that they are weak as anything and to go for some other one's he was on about, I can't really remember but basically it was a different sort of clutch plates, I wouldn't mind this all except for the fact of like I said the clutch plates and springs were only changed a year ago