crf450 clutch/stall/start problem

[tnrider]

when i stall out my 03 crf450, i can't get the bike out of gear AND pulling in the clutch lever does not disengage transmission.

For example yesterday, came into a turn hard, locked up rear wheel and was a little slow pulling in the clutch - so bike stalled, i straigtend out and released clutch - engine blipped once but did not restart. i could not get out of gear AND when I pulled in the clutch to kickstart - the bike would rock forward with each kick. i had to mess with shifter up-down-up-down a number of times before it moved and rock the bike forward-rear before i could get into neutral.

other than "be a little faster on the clutch next time" what is up with this and how can prevent.

 

[yitsock]

It sounds like your clutch is out of adjustment. You probably have too much play in your clutch cable. You should have a small amount of slack in your clutch cable (so the clutch isn't slipping ALL the time), if you have too much, the clutch will never fully disengange.
I've also seen clutch levers bent so they don't allow the rider to fully pull them in.
I've got an 04' crf450 and I can have it in first with the clutch pulled in at idle and it won't stall, so yeah, there's definitely a problem on your 03'

 

[tnrider]

It sounds like your clutch is out of adjustment. You probably have too much play in your clutch cable. You should have a small amount of slack in your clutch cable (so the clutch isn't slipping ALL the time), if you have too much, the clutch will never fully disengange.
I've also seen clutch levers bent so they don't allow the rider to fully pull them in.
I've got an 04' crf450 and I can have it in first with the clutch pulled in at idle and it won't stall, so yeah, there's definitely a problem on your 03'

most of the time it works fine - the lockup only occurs at a stall. do you still think it is the adjustment?

this is my first "modern" race bike and the clutch does seem rather abrupt - it starts to engage in the first 1/4" of release. my only comparison are my trail bikes TTRs, XRs and these do not engage until the clutch is about 50% out. guess i better pull out the shop manuals and do some reading...

 

[Red450]

Try putting it in 1st and pulling up a half click. This should put it in neutral. It takes some time to get used to. Good Luck.

 

[tnrider]

Shifter will not move when this happens - have to rock the bike back-forth few times before can move shifter at all. I'll have a more experienced rider with me tomorrow - lets see if he can duplicate the problem.

 

[GREENBEAN]

I had a clutch slippage problem... When the clutch starts to wear it looses the Free play which is when you wiggle the lever and it still doesnt move the clutch should be one or two millimeters. It sounds like you just need about a half turn on the adjuster. Dont forget this is where I screwed up. The adjuster on my 04 is reverse thread so when you are turning it clockwise it is actually tightening the clutch. You probably need a half of a turn clockwise.

 

[BamBam20]

I had a clutch slippage problem... When the clutch starts to wear it looses the Free play which is when you wiggle the lever and it still doesnt move the clutch should be one or two millimeters. It sounds like you just need about a half turn on the adjuster. Dont forget this is where I screwed up. The adjuster on my 04 is reverse thread so when you are turning it clockwise it is actually tightening the clutch. You probably need a half of a turn clockwise.

I have a problem with the clutch lever slacking up on me after a moto. I was told that it was because I was using the clutch too much around the track, but I reduced the amount I used it and I still noticed issues with the clutch slack being different from when it was cooled down and it heats up wicked hot. Any suggestions? would greatly appreciate it.