Clutch slipping

[tombaran]

Hi, I was wondering if anyone experienced the same issue I did: My last ride of the last season was sometime in October of 2022. Since then the bike was winterized and parked in the garage until now. Last week I've started it to worm it up the change the oil. I got it changed, started it up again to pump the oil through the system and verify if there is no leaks. Other than that no other services were performed.

Yesterday morning I pulled it out to ride to work (1st ride of this season) and as I was going through my neighborhood roads I noticed that with the clutch released the engine was revving up (kind of like it would with clutch depressed half way during parking maneuvers).

I couldn't ride it like that so I came back (barely made it up the hill), parked it by the house and drove my car to work. Upon my return I checked the level of the hydraulic fluid in the reservoir thinking that maybe it got below the minimum, but that's not it. Fluid was visible through the little glass window and it was up to more than half of the reservoir. Would old fluid cause something like that? I don't believe I've ever changed it.

My next suspicion is that the clutch friction plates worn out, but would it be possible below 30,000 mi?

If that's what has to be done - I'll do it. I was wondering if anyone knows of a kit I could order that consists of everything needed to carry out this task (plates, nut and washer, gaskets, etc.) ? Is there a good write up on how to do it? I have the service manual, but for someone like me it's rather lacking some of the details that a mechanic would likely know. I've searched for a video on you tube and not a whole lot of luck either. Any help would be grately appreciated

Tom

[Coconut]

Hi tomaram,

To answer one of your questions : "Would old fluid cause something like that?"

That's not likely - the Hydraulic Fluid is used to disengage the clutch
when pressure is applied by operation of the Clutch lever.

It is recommended to change the fluid every 2 years at it has "hygroscopic" properties,
meaning it can absorb water, which can then result in reduced hydraulic pressure,
making it more difficult to disengage the clutch - which is the opposite of your problem !
( The same type of fluid i used in the Brake system, and thsi can result in loss of braking ! )

Replacement clutch parts are available from Triumph, which can be seen ( and purchased ) on line here :

World of Triumph / Trophy SE / Clutch

It may be that the Clutch is not worn though - it could be that the Slave Cylinder
is sticking and is preventing the clutch from fully disengaging.

It is a much easier job to service the Slave cylinder, than replace clutch plates & friction plates
so I'd take a look at that first, following the guidance from Chapter 4 ( Clutch ) - Page 10 onwards, of your service manual.

Note the warning about any Brake Fluid thjat leaks from the Slave Cylinder will contaminate the engine oil,
which will then need to be drained and replaced, plus a new Filter - all at extra cost of course !

A service kit for the Clutch Slave cylinder is available from Sprint Manufacturing for £23.95 + Shipping.

If the Slave Cylinder proves to be OK, and you are not confident in servicing the clutch after reading the Service Manual,
then I would entrust the work to a Triumph Dealer or other competent motorcycle mechanic.

Cheers 

[tombaran]

Thank you.

I'm getting the fluid changed this weekend and will inspect the slave cylinder before I move any further. I've changed both front and rear brake fluid about a year ago and I don't know what I was thinking not changing it here. Thank you for your prompt response. Much appreciated 

[jim515]

Another note about Brake / Clutch fluid is it will strip the paint from many surfaces, damage plastic, and just be annoying. I recommend using a rag to cover anything painted, or that you don't want coated with it.

I generally don't use gloves for most maintenance, I just scrub the heck out of my hands afterwards. I use them for dealing with brake / clutch fluid.


Polarjim515

[Stripyface]

i would check that the correct oil was put in with the oil change.
I once used some car engine oil I had left over in a bike, and that made the clutch slip, changed to the corrrect bike specific oil and no problems for the next 4 years with the clutch

[swilkins65]

@Tombaran  - I had this exact issue occur in 2022 (could only barely use the throttle and stay under 3K rpm anything more the engine would lose tension and start racing up in RPM with no power to real wheel).  Asked a lot of the same questions you're asking on this forum (original post from April 2022 title: TEMPORARY CLUTCH SLIPPING ISSUE).  Now lucky for me it just started working again within a total of 15 miles and now with another 10K miles since then it hasn't done it again since then.  Hope you're as lucky as I was.

[redcap0006]

Hi
my slave cylinder gave up on a long trip couple years ago, gear changing felt strange and in the space of 10 minutes I had no clutch available as the oil was dumped into engine. The kit mentioned by coconut was the answer plus engine oil and clutch oil replacement.
G

[STJIM]

How many miles on the bike ?
 
My guess would be a sticky clutch slave cylinder or a plugged vent hole in the clutch master cylinder.

How does the clutch lever feel when it's pulled in ?