Difference in clutch lever travel when cold for a shift or two?

[MNs10]

Hi folks,
Somewhere on here I read of something like metnioned in my title and I can't find it...but I don't think there was an answer.

The bike is stock, purchased new this spring. Currently 7000 miles. Broke in per the manual. Very little off pavement (I have a better tool for that) and the little it sees is just gravel roads. I'm very easy on the clutch and the bike (the rear BW tire still has at least 1500miles left in it). Shell 5-40 synthetic changed at 600/3600/6600 with filter change every time. The bike runs while I put on gear...usualy the temp gauge reads about 130 or more before I take off.

The issue: Only when cold. The clutch lever starts to engage when just off the bar. After a couple of shifts it returns to normal. If I actuate the lever 30 times or more in neutral while at idle after a cold start it still takes a couple of shifts. If I start the bike in 1st gear cold it takes a couple of shifts then works normal -I know I said I let the bike warm up while I gear up but when I leave work I have my gear on before getting to the bike...in this case I just pull the lever in and start it in gear and wait.

The cylinder under the clutch resevoir (the lever pushes this in - and the resevoir is full) does not return out to the lever when cold no matter how many times I actuate the lever. Because I know this, I have been trying different things to help figure it out...The bike goes into gear normally when this happens. There doesn't seem to be any drag during the one or two shifts needed before normal operation returns just a different actuation place in the levers travel. In first gear, clutch pulled in with the 'issue' happening the bike does not pull against me. After putting the bike in first gear today while this was happening I started from a stop a few times to see if if would return to normal. It didn't and required a shift to second gear before normal.

I have not taken this to the dealer yet because until recently the 'issue' has been hit or miss - you know how that goes when trying to show anyone... It is happening at almost every cold start now. The clutch fluid is full and looks fine. I'm sure some folks will say it's air in the clutch line and 'maybe' it is but not being able to 'pump it out' by working the lever many (many) times seems to point elsewhere -I think. Also the instant change to normal operation has me doubting air in the line. Oh, if I let the bike get up to temp before taking off, it still has done it.

Beside the obvious ''It's time for the dealer", any ideas?

Thanks for your time.

 

[Cykel]

Well...the other thread converged on air in the line. http://www.yamahasupertenere.com/index.php?topic=4639.0

I had the same issue a few weeks back and guess what it was?

It's so easy to bleed the lines you might as well give it a shot. The only bothersome part is the extreme lack of volume in the reservoir. Pretty much one pump per fill.

 

[Wanderer]

Howdy,
7k is a little early for a fluid change but the slave cylinder lives inside/on the motor and the fluid on that end takes a beating especially if you do get caught in a lot of stop and go traffic. I'd give that a shot first before the dealer since it is pretty easy to do. I usually change my clutch fluid every year and my brake fluid along with my antifreeze every two.
Later,
Norm

 

[Rasher]

Mine did this yesterday, with just 2300 miles on the clock, I rolled off the stand in gear as I normally and as I started to let the clutch out almost lurched into the front of my car :exclaim:

Will probably let the dealer have a look as it is under warranty - no point having a dog and barking yourself

 

[MNs10]

Thanks Cykel, I remember reading that thread (after reading it again)...I couldn't find it and I forgot the important part - the fix.

Wanderer, I work second shift so no traffic for me. In fact, it's very rare for me to get the fan to come on (I still remember the first time, man does that thing howl, I got stuck at an accident and the fan cycled about three times before I got through the intersection). -Considering the videos I've seen, I doubt that qualifies as much fan heat/fan work.

Rasher, the first time mine did this was not many miles beyond your report. The frequency increase has been recent. Mine is under warrenty too but I think I will just do mine in the morning and be done with it.

It's still odd to me that air in the line shows itself and goes away as if a switch was flipped after a couple of shifts.

 

[Rasher]

It's still odd to me that air in the line shows itself and goes away as if a switch was flipped after a couple of shifts.

I think the air bubble gets compressed and stays that way whilst the clutch is regularly being used, and then when it sits still it uncompresses again.

My GS had an issue where you would lose the clutch entirely if you drove for a couple of hours without using the clutch, a few squeezes of the lever and itt would come back again, the dealer sorted it by bleeding and reckoned it was air trapped in the hose somewhere.