Keep an eye on your clutch

dirtrebel · Jan 20, 2018

Keep an eye on your clutch adjustment, especially cable operated ones (Yamaha etc..)

I blew up my yamaha 2016 yz 450 fx last weekend. My clutch came apart and plugged the screen leading to my oil pump. Long story short and best guess is that the clutch cable got tight and I did not notice. The clutch began to slip but I didn't realize it (no noticeable loss of performance). Once I did notice something wrong it was too late, We adjusted clutch cable but the damage was already done. I was in a deep hole and had no choice but to drive the bike out. Things seemed ok but then the Topend seized. Turns out the pre pump screen was plugged with clutch debris and thus the pump could not pump oil and lack of lubrication took out the cams and piston / cylinder. Harsh lesson for me don't let it happen to you! Always watch and be aware of clutch free play don't ever let free play go to zero!

byeatts · Jan 20, 2018

dirtrebel said:
Keep an eye on your clutch adjustment, especially cable operated ones (Yamaha etc..)

I blew up my yamaha 2016 yz 450 fx last weekend. My clutch came apart and plugged the screen leading to my oil pump. Long story short and best guess is that the clutch cable got tight and I did not notice. The clutch began to slip but I didn't realize it (no noticeable loss of performance). Once I did notice something wrong it was too late, We adjusted clutch cable but the damage was already done. I was in a deep hole and had no choice but to drive the bike out. Things seemed ok but then the Topend seized. Turns out the pre pump screen was plugged with clutch debris and thus the pump could not pump oil and lack of lubrication took out the cams and piston / cylinder. Harsh lesson for me don't let it happen to you! Always watch and be aware of clutch free play don't ever let free play go to zero!

stock clutch frictions?

wwillf01 · Jan 20, 2018

Stock clutch? I had an issue last year on a yz250fx a gasket went through the oil and plugged up the engine passages .. that was a rekluse though and they found it was a malfunctioning wrong gasket they shipped ..

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dirtrebel · Jan 20, 2018

byeatts said:
stock clutch frictions?

Yes stock clutch, best I can figure heat or just wear, I never really adjusted it but I've been snowbiking for 5 years now and had a ton of bikes, this snuck up on me. Oil is always fresh and it was not lack of oil.

wwillf01 · Jan 20, 2018

That sucks

When that engine is apart you have to really clean all passages
.. even after a tear down on mine... There were spots that we're not accessible to clean... So I still was cleaning the engine filter the first two oil changes with the new top end
..

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dirtrebel · Jan 20, 2018

Yeah it might be a lost cause, a whole used motor is about the same than all parts needed to fix, and there's always the chance of a clogged passage causing new parts to become scrap, as of now I'm back on the 2 stroke train! Haha bought back my ol yz 250! Anyway just a public service announcement don't let cur clutch kill your engine!

wwillf01 · Jan 20, 2018

Haaaaa... Did the same it was a nightmare.. so the bike up bike is now a yz250

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dooman92 · Jan 20, 2018

What kind of oil was in it?

dirtrebel · Jan 20, 2018

wwillf01 said:
Haaaaa... Did the same it was a nightmare.. so the bike up bike is now a yz250

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Yup 2 stroke 4 (for) life!!!!! I'm on backup may never go back

dirtrebel · Jan 20, 2018

dooman92 said:
What kind of oil was in it?

Klotz o-40 been running it for a couple years now with no problems

Jaso-ma all that

That racy scent combined with burnt clutch= puke

M5- · Jan 21, 2018

Same thing happened to Summitboy last season. We were out riding and all was fine, no issues then half hour later his YZ clutch is slipping. He caught it in time so only the clutch needed replacing. After 2 complete rebuilds on my 520 KTM I got turned off the 4 stroke thing for snow biking and spent the last three seasons on the CR500. I went back to the dark side this season only because you can buy a low hour 2010-2013 YZ for the same money as a complete KTM rebuild so I figured WTF basically they are disposable. I can't bring myself to part with the 500 yet though. My kid loves it.

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Keep an eye on your clutch

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