SuzukiSavage.com - Clutch slipping in 1st under WOT?

och Serious Thumper Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 639	Clutch slipping in 1st under WOT? 12/25/21 at 07:48:30 I believe it was always the case with my bike ever since I got it new in 2016 - when taking off hard from a dead stop, it feels like there is some slipping in the clutch in the first gear. If I'm easy on the throttle till about 10mph, and then open it up, there is no slipping. Is it normal?
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ckahleer Full Member Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 121	Re: Clutch slipping in 1st under WOT? Reply #1 - 12/25/21 at 08:02:46 I is usually high gear at WOT that a clutch begins to slip.
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och

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Re: Clutch slipping in 1st under WOT?
Reply #2 - 12/25/21 at 08:09:45

ckahleer wrote on 12/25/21 at 08:02:46:

I is usually high gear at WOT that a clutch begins to slip.

Everything is fine in 2nd-5th gears. I'm not sure if what I am describing is clutch slipping, but basically from a dead stop at WOT, it feels like it takes off and stays at 3-4000rpm, instead of gradually increasing RPMs when I'm gentle on the throttle.

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verslagen1 YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline Where there's a will, I want to be in it. Posts: 28996 L.A. California Gender:	Re: Clutch slipping in 1st under WOT? Reply #3 - 12/25/21 at 09:03:31 So basically you're over powering the clutch before it gets a grip. Once it's got a grip it's fine. Is it the same cold or hot? I'd have to say someone might have used car oil at one point or another. And you'll probably have to disassemble the clutch and scour the contact surfaces.
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och

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Re: Clutch slipping in 1st under WOT?
Reply #4 - 12/25/21 at 09:26:02

verslagen1 wrote on 12/25/21 at 09:03:31:

So basically you're over powering the clutch before it gets a grip. Once it's got a grip it's fine.

Is it the same cold or hot?

I'd have to say someone might have used car oil at one point or another.
And you'll probably have to disassemble the clutch and scour the contact surfaces.

Yes, overpowering the clutch sounds about right. The bike only has 3k, and I believe it was always behaving like this since I bought it new. I've done two oil changes on it, both myself, using genuine Suzuki synthetic oil/filter kit.

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och Serious Thumper Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 639	Re: Clutch slipping in 1st under WOT? Reply #5 - 12/25/21 at 09:28:04 And yeah, its the same regarding whether its hot or cold.
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Evanswv Junior Member Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 78	Re: Clutch slipping in 1st under WOT? Reply #6 - 12/26/21 at 05:47:56 I wonder if it could be spinning the tire some.
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och Serious Thumper Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 639	Re: Clutch slipping in 1st under WOT? Reply #7 - 12/26/21 at 07:29:09 LOL, not with my fat 230lb ass on it!
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Re: Clutch slipping in 1st under WOT?
Reply #8 - 12/26/21 at 07:54:51

There are a couple of things to check before opening it up.

Cable adjustment, make sure you have a gap in the lever about wide enough for a nickle to slip into. If you don't have any slack, it will affect the clutch.

Position of the lever on the case, when you pull up on it, it should be between the marks on the case. This is an indication of clutch wear.

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och Serious Thumper Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 639	Re: Clutch slipping in 1st under WOT? Reply #9 - 12/26/21 at 08:02:31 I'm thinking maybe its because I'm relatively heavy at 230lbs, and I sit all the way back on the passenger part of the seat, so with all the load over the rear wheel perhaps that's what causes the clutch to slip.
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verslagen1 YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline Where there's a will, I want to be in it. Posts: 28996 L.A. California Gender:	Re: Clutch slipping in 1st under WOT? Reply #10 - 12/26/21 at 11:07:53 only if you fully compressed the shocks and lock the tire up on the fender. Or do you ride w/out a fender and seat? ooh
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TheSneeze

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Re: Clutch slipping in 1st under WOT?
Reply #11 - 12/26/21 at 11:17:06

och wrote on 12/26/21 at 08:02:31:

I'm thinking maybe its because I'm relatively heavy at 230lbs, and I sit all the way back on the passenger part of the seat, so with all the load over the rear wheel perhaps that's what causes the clutch to slip.

I think you should still follow Versy's advice about the adjustments and verify everything is correct (if you haven't already).

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justin_o_guy2

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Re: Clutch slipping in 1st under WOT?
Reply #12 - 12/26/21 at 12:10:11

The lever needs to swing free a bit before you feel tension on the cable.
You are a big guy, so you probably blip the throttle and start letting the clutch out. Then you probably goose it when you feel the clutch enter the friction zone, to keep it running. I'd bet that if you played it easy getting it to ten mph and had the clutch lever all the way out and then pinned its ears back, it would not slip.

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justin_o_guy2

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Re: Clutch slipping in 1st under WOT?
Reply #13 - 12/26/21 at 14:21:24

BTW,I'm nowhere Near your weight and if I rip away from a stop I can feel when the clutch finally locks up.
Slipping, according to my definition, is increasing rpm without a corresponding increase in speed. That is a symptom of a polluted, maladjusted or worn clutch that will show up in higher gears. I don't think you have a problem. It's a good thing you're paying attention to how it acts. Make sure the adjustment is right and think about what I said.
A pickup driven without a trailer would give a longer clutch life than one that always had ten thousand pounds to launch at every stop,right! Operate it accordingly.
Or, GOOSE it and giggle,, and be prepared for maintenance. Enjoy your bike,man!

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och

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Re: Clutch slipping in 1st under WOT?
Reply #14 - 12/26/21 at 15:04:07

TheSneeze wrote on 12/26/21 at 11:17:06:

och wrote on 12/26/21 at 08:02:31:

I'm thinking maybe its because I'm relatively heavy at 230lbs, and I sit all the way back on the passenger part of the seat, so with all the load over the rear wheel perhaps that's what causes the clutch to slip.

I think you should still follow Versy's advice about the adjustments and verify everything is correct (if you haven't already).

I definitely will, and I thank everyone for the advice!

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