Noisy Clutch Suddenly

[YamahaCruiser]

Hey all,

Today I lightly set my bike down on it's right side in a parking lot. I was pulling out, going to make a sharp right-hand turn out of the parking space and exit the lot. The engine suddenly started to 'skip a beat' as I was letting out the clutch. The engine died, and I just managed to get my foot down, but not before it was leaned over too far to pull back upright. I righted the bike back onto it's side stand, turned off/on the key and fired it back up after cranking a bit. I get down the road a mile, and am turning right at a stop light and the same thing! I managed to catch the bike, but the engine was killing as I was accelerating off from a stop. At the next red light, I had to give it quite a bit more throttle and it sounded like I started off from 2nd gear...but I was in 1st gear. The clutch was noisy and clattering. Now I am noticing the clutch is noticeably loud in neutral, and quiets down when I pull in the lever. It seems to need more throttle to get started from 1st. My bike is a '14 with only about 6,500 miles. The oil is full and looks/smells new with about 2k miles on it. Today was mid-90s and humid. I put on about 140 miles of mixed interstate and highway today, so I dunno if the oil was just real hot and causing the clutch to act up? I know I've ridden in similar heat, and my coolant temp never exceeded 120's-F. My bike had only been sitting in the lot for 10 minutes while I ran in to get some McDonald's (ignition off, not running).

I know I dropped the bike because the engine killed and the tire locked up when I wasn't expecting it. I have owned the bike long enough where I can work the clutch/throttle in my sleep, and can keep it feathered and rolling with my feet up in slow traffic no problem, so this sudden change in clutch behavior is like I am popping the clutch like a new rider and killing it. It seems as if there are too few miles to be having clutch issues. Luckily, my OEM warranty is good through August and I even picked up a 4-year YES. I am hoping this would be covered, should there be an issue. Does anyone have any thoughts?

EDIT:
PS, the handle bars slightly bent from picking it back up...which had me a little pissed. Tried to wack the front wheel against my garage, and have them somewhat bent back...but they're still slightly off. *sigh*

 

[Squibb]

TBH this could be a whole host of issues, so it would probably be best to have your dealer take a look & check for any codes, as you are under warranty.

My initial thoughts would have me check for air leaks & TB sync. Are the throttle cables adjusted per the book - they sometimes get dislodged & jump out of the twist grip/adjusters when righting a fallen bike. Sounds like the triple clamps need slackening BTW, to allow you to get the bars back to normal.

Secondly, the clutch - could be air in the line giving an unpredictable take-up point. Has the fluid been changed recently? pumping the lever around 10 times before setting off usually compresses any air bubbles & lets the clutch work as normal, but only for a short period, so I would suggest bleeding the line asap. The noise you mention is difficult to identify without seeing/hearing the bike - could it just be a normal rumble from the gear sets, that will disappear when you pull the clutch in? If it sounds like a Ducati dry clutch, clattering away like a bag of spanners, then have your dealer take a look pronto.

I hope this helps - good luck getting things sorted ......................... KEN

 

[ace50]

My clutch is very noticeable at idle in neutral. Pull in clutch and much quieter.
I didn't notice this until I put the stock exhaust back on though!

 

[Checkswrecks]

I'm with Squibb, in that you are describing at least two separate issues. One is the engine dying and the other is the clutch, and he gave good advice on each.


On the power, throttle body sync, CO (mixture), and air leaks are the most common problems. We have had a few people with issues with the throttle position sensor and there are threads for each of these topics.


As far as clutch, when the bike is on it's side it's possible to get a bubble into a line, especially if the reservoir wasn't full or had a big one under the rubber cover. But that's usually felt as a spongy clutch level, which you didn't write about. A clattering is unusual and could possibly be some grit in the lever assembly, holding the rod from seating in the slave cylinder, etc. But more likely if you had an aftermarket exhaust is that the transmission does make it's own noise which you may've not heard for a while. Pull the clutch and the trans is out of the picture.

 

[YamahaCruiser]

Thanks for the info, all. The clutch lever feels like it always has, so no change there. When I get going and start shifting through the gears, the engine and power seems normal. It really felt like the friction zone had changed, though. I had mentioned that when taking off in 1st gear, it felt and sounded like I was taking off in 2nd gear (you know, that sorta chattery, tambourine sound like a Ducati makes). It just seems like I need to give it a lot more throttle from a stop to get it going and keep it from stalling the engine. Seems like a clutch issue to me. I don't think the drop *caused* any of the issues (save the bent bars) I am experiencing. Rather, seems like this clutch issue and the changed friction zone just caught me off guard while I was taking off from a stop as I normally would. The loud clatter in neutral is definitely new. It's never been that loud, as I really know this bike and the sounds it makes. After work today, I will definitely get back on and see if things are still the same. I may just have to bring it into the dealer to investigate. That is why I got that YES warranty, after all!

 

[snakebitten]

In my opinion the clutch on the Tenere is the one weak spot. Not because it isn't a good clutch design, rather because it is a BIG PIG bike with a clutch that can be subjected to extreme abuse, even if for a very short duration, due to the circumstances the rider is momentarily put in. (Think stuck in mud. Or sand with TC setting 1. Or...)

In other words, less miles related, but more "abuse events" count.

It could go 100,000 miles trouble free. Or it could get toasted in 3 minutes. Know what I mean?

Plates are cheap. And definitely easy enough to approach as a process of elimination task.

Hope you get it figured out!

 

[EricV]

The bars may not be bent. The gen 2 bikes have vibration dampers at the triple tree. It is possible to have things shift. Try loosening the bars and risers and see if things straiten out.

 

[WJBertrand]

Check the lubrication of the clutch lever. I was having trouble with smooth releases away from a stop and even stalled it a couple of times. I felt like a complete beginner after 40+ years riding. Turned out the clutch lever was binding pretty severely. Took it all apart and lubed every moving bit. Smooth as glass now.


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[YamahaCruiser]

The bars may not be bent. The gen 2 bikes have vibration dampers at the triple tree. It is possible to have things shift. Try loosening the bars and risers and see if things straiten out.

I was able to knock the tire against the side of my garage and had to do that back and forth a few times to get it back, but it's still off about 1/4". Are you referring to the 4 bolts down near the inside of the fairing, or the two allen bolts up near the top of the forks? I don't have a diagram in front of me, so I'm not sure where to loosen and re-tighten.

 

[EricV]

What I'm suggesting is that it's not the forks that are out or the bars that are bent, but just the risers and bars twisted a bit. The bolts under the risers go through rubber bushings. Loosen thise, then the clamps for the bars and see if things will straiten out.

 

[YamahaCruiser]

After work today, I decided to take her out to see if the clutch issues were persisting. Well, letting out the clutch and the friction zone was behaving normally. I was accelerating away from stops normally, took it through all the gears and back down to first without any issues. The shifts were nice and smooth. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy...but am left wondering why it was acting up like that. I haven't bled the clutch/brakes since getting it last August. However, it is a 2014 which was purchased new...so that fluid is probably about due, eh? May as well do the lot.

 

[2daMax]

Clutch fluids drain and flush is pretty straight forward but the ABS brakes needs a little more attention. Remember to cycle the ABS pump, either by riding over sandy area and braking to actuate the pump or use the ABS ECU method (as mentioned in the service guide) after 1 flush. Drain completely again and then refill. Cycling the ABS pumps removes some stuck fluid within the pump.