clutch question

Eddie · Post by **Eddie** » Thu May 28, 2015 8:41 pm

High, need some info, I am changing the clutch cable on my gt750 and I took the side cover off to get to the end of the clutch cable and about a medium sized cup full of oil came pouring out, I know that oil can splash in there but im wondering if this might be a sign that the seal behind the clutch lever might be bad? sorry if this is a stupid question but I have never messed with the clutch at all since I have had the bike, so the oil might be normal but im not sure,,,,so is this normal? also just to update on my almost purchase of a cb1100 deluxe, the guy was going to sell it to me for 6,400 but I took to long on making the deal happen, to busy with work and I didn't think the wife would go for it ,,,but she did,,,so I called the guy and he already sold it for $7,500 crap@##(#(#(,,,,he was really nice I and think I missed out on a good deal but I guess it wasn't meant to be.....so back to the real vintage bike (gt750) is this normal? how much oil do you guys get when you take the cover off? im pretty sure I have a seal for it but don't want to replace it if its not bad...just to clarify I know oil is sent through the oiling shaft or whatever it is and I believe goes to the clutch end shaft but there was a lot of oil,,,,was I supposed to drain it 1st? I just changed the oil, and I can always add a little,, just seemed like more than I thought would be in there...

yeadon_m · Post by **yeadon_m** » Fri May 29, 2015 2:01 am

No worries, its normal. If you look at the inside face of the crankcase you'll see at the top a splash vent / gap and oil splashes over when riding and lubes the bits under the small, round cover. Usual to find a few tablespoons of oil falls out when you take that cover off.
It disconcerted me the 1st time also

Cheers,
Mike

GT750Battleship · Post by **GT750Battleship** » Fri May 29, 2015 2:19 am

There is a seal that fits in the centre of that cover,only found out today that the early bikes never had one fitted...think the part is 09285-25002 ?
Cheers,
Roger

Eddie · Post by **Eddie** » Fri May 29, 2015 8:06 am

Thanks guys !, your right about that seal in the cover , mine looks worn out so I might have a lot of oil because of the seal in the cover or the seal behind the actuator in the crankcase , I'm having trouble finding the seal , I doubt it would cause any problems if I just put it back together, or should I try and find the seal,? There wS so much oil it was leaking from that cover , it would have filled a red plastic cup to the top and maybe more , quite a bit of oil , I'm thinking there should be oil but that seems like a lot , and the seal in the cover is definitely bad .

tz375 · Post by **tz375** » Fri May 29, 2015 1:21 pm

There is always some oil in the pocket that feeds the clutch lift shaft, but the rest of it should remain dry inside.

Fit a new seal and check the end of the shaft. I have stripped a few motors with serious vice grip damage on the shaft where the seal sits. Not good at all.

If the shaft is bad it should be replaced or repaired.

This one was in a "rebuilt" 77 (B) motor with mismatched upper and lower crankcase halves, "rebuilt" J/K crank, J/K transmission etc.

It's not hard to work out why that puppy leaked..

yeadon_m · Post by **yeadon_m** » Fri May 29, 2015 2:23 pm

I've jut recalled that the purpose of the seal is to allow the oil splash, which is directed down the inside of the small clutch cover and into the centre of the hollow clutch shaft, to minimise the oil that leaks into the voic, uselessly (only to fall out when you remove the cover). I think. Or I might be confusing the design with that on the GT550.
If you inspect the clutch cover you'll find a nifty oil guide system. Clever.
Cheers,
Mike

Eddie · Post by **Eddie** » Fri May 29, 2015 10:01 pm

The shaft on mine is very badly pitted and needs to be replaced and the seal is shot , I went ahead and put it all back together until I can find a new shaft and seal , it looks like it was rusted like it had water in it at one time but not anymore, I'm sure it had way to much oil for that area or it might be normal either way the shaft is definitely bad on mine .

Eddie · Post by **Eddie** » Sat May 30, 2015 8:46 am

one more question, is there any difference in the clutch push rod between the different models? or years? mine is a 74 and I found a good looking 76 model on ebay? they look the same but im not sure? also I guess to replace the rod , the whole clutch needs to come out correct?

maybe I should just replace the clutch if im taking it all apart? I had a good 1/4 or almost 1/2 quart of oil come out when I took the clutch cover off, the end of the pushrod shaft is really badly warn, I tried fine sand paper and got some of it smooth but the pitting is very deep it must be leaking like crazy there,,,thanks tz for the picture, I should have taken a pic of mine ...

tz375 · Post by **tz375** » Sat May 30, 2015 9:23 am

I forgot to mention water.... Rain and condensation and water from washing the bikes run down the clutch cable into the cavity under that cover and rust.

The shaft is the same and to replace it, the clutch pressure plate has to be popped off, but the plates, drum, hub etc can stay where they are. And of course much of the trans oil will also fall out when when the clutch cover is removed. You could probably clean up a gouged shaft and build it up with weld or braze and turn it back to size on a lathe.

The covers changed over the years as did the clutch lifter mechanism, but I'm pretty sure the shaft is the same.

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Sat May 30, 2015 11:34 am

build it up with weld or braze and turn it back to size on a lathe.

I believe clutch push rods are flame hardened on the tips to withstand years of wear. Welding would destroy that heat treat.

tz375 · Post by **tz375** » Sat May 30, 2015 1:57 pm

Good point about push rods. The 750 doesn't have a push rod. It has a PULL rod and the end is soft and all it has to do it to not wear from teh rubbing seal. There may even be a sleeve that could be pressed on.

Eddie · Post by **Eddie** » Sun May 31, 2015 7:43 pm

I was looking at the side cover right now and it looks like you have to take ,or move the the right side muffler just to get the side cover off, I have never messed with the clutch before on the gt750, but im just wondering since im going to be in there should I put a new clutch in??? the clutch is original,,, I was not going to replace it before, but now that I have to take the side cover off im debating it....any thought? also I ordered the pull rod and a gasket set just for future use incase I end up rebuilding it,,the gasket set was from Athena , what do you guys use???

tz375 · Post by **tz375** » Sun May 31, 2015 9:11 pm

I would recommend inspecting clutch springs and plates and if they are OK, leave them in there for another couple of decades.

Athena are fine. I have bought 4 or 5 so far and no problems so far - of course having said that the next one will probably leak....

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