nyc 84 venture Posted March 20, 2010 #1 Posted March 20, 2010 Hello all, I'm new here - thanks for letting a visitor in to ask a few questions. Lovely first day of spring here in NYC - I began it my picking my 84 Venture up off the ground - it was knocked over in its parking space during the night. http://venturedown.yolasite.com/ (pardon the over exposed photos - cheap camera phone - bright morning light) This wouldn't sting as bad is it does - but there's a brand spanking new battery in there as well as a very fresh oil change. The bike was happy, we were about to go on a nice long ride. Anyways - here's the state of things: Bike in neutral, two wheels on the ground, shift to first - feels like a clutch dump even though the clutch is in. (I bled the clutch right after this just to make sure there was no air in the line.) Bike on centerstand - rear wheel in the air - from neutral it will shift into first with or without the clutch. In first gear (or second) the rear wheel spins. It doesn't stop spinning when the clutch is pulled in. There's also an audible clanging coming from somewhere in the lower rear of the engine while in gear and the wheel is spinning. I'm feeling like the clutch rod has been thrown or broken but I don't know. I've never been in the guts of this bike so I turn to you folks for opinions. I've done rebuilds on various bikes before so am not new with cracking cases and putting humpty back together again. However, at the moment I'm without a garage and tools. A major operation is a near impossibility. I really try to be a motorcycle shop free zone. I lack the money and the trust to deal with the mechanics in my area. Any insight would be greatly appreciated. Thank you, D. Barn NYC 84 Yamaha Venture (bought in Long Beach, CA - we likes to ride)
6m459 Posted March 20, 2010 #2 Posted March 20, 2010 I take it all was working fine before the tip ? Have you done simple things like check the fluid levels in the clutch reservoir yet? A tip like that might have introduced some air into the system. Perhaps a bleed is called for. Let us know & good luck, Brian H.
Condor Posted March 20, 2010 #3 Posted March 20, 2010 There could be a lot of differnt things that could cause the problem your having, but I'm gonna second the air in the lines....
nyc 84 venture Posted March 20, 2010 Author #4 Posted March 20, 2010 Brian, Sadly yes, I bled the lines thinking it might just be air (paragraph 5). It's the clanging while the wheel is in motion that is leading me to believe there is trouble afoot in the belly of the beast. Funny enough, Brian - you're the man who turned me onto this site. About a year and a half ago you sent me some photos of your fusebox and helped me sort out an electrical issue I was having. (I think I had given up and was contemplating selling on craigs list. I found your email this morning with the link to this site. So once again - thank you.
Squeeze Posted March 20, 2010 #5 Posted March 20, 2010 I'm sorry to see your Bike lying there. I'd love to meet the Person who knocked it over and have a intense Discussion about the Incident. The Fact that Wheel does turn even when the Clutch is pulled doesn't mean much in first Place. Did you try to stop the Wheel from Turning with the rear Brake ?
nyc 84 venture Posted March 20, 2010 Author #6 Posted March 20, 2010 Haven't tried stopping wheel with brake. Going to go out and bleed the clutch line again, just in case. Will hit brake while I'm at it and report back. Thanks.
MiCarl Posted March 20, 2010 #7 Posted March 20, 2010 The Fact that Wheel does turn even when the Clutch is pulled doesn't mean much in first Place. +1. The viscosity of the oil creates quite a bit of drag between the clutch plates, especially cold. It's normal for the wheel to spin on the stand in gear with the clutch pulled. If it didn't you could worry about bearings or dragging brakes. Clunking sound could be U joint or something else in the drive line. Likely unrelated to the knock over.
mrich12000 Posted March 20, 2010 #8 Posted March 20, 2010 (edited) Go though the gears with the engine on, use the centre stand if you can get it on this will confirm the transmission is working. I don't think the bump damaged the drive. But could have damaged the shifter, the claw that engages the shift drum may bumped out or the push pull pall . anyway thats a good way to change the tires or oil (sic) sorry. hope one of the gang here helps... Edited March 21, 2010 by mrich12000 silly typo's
bongobobny Posted March 21, 2010 #9 Posted March 21, 2010 Perhaps your slave cylinder is giving up the ghost. After all it is over 26 years old! You can either rebuild it or replace it for about the same cost from what I've been told. Also, you may have a lose mechanical seal on one of the lines or a leaking line. It wil bleed ok but still fail dynamically. Keep in mind the rubber is also 26 years old. If you replace lines, replace with Stainless Steel shielded lines, makes a huge difference!
nyc 84 venture Posted March 21, 2010 Author #10 Posted March 21, 2010 Update: I went back and rebled the clutch. Put it in first, hit the rear brake - bike dumped. My bleeding skills are... meh, ok - done it a lot, pretty sure that end is fine. Though yes - it's getting time to replace the old parts. Ran through all the gears with the bike off as mrich2000 suggested, it made it to 3 and then wouldn't go to 4. I jimmied the wheel back and forth a bit and it clicked into 4 and 5 and back down. Then ran through the gears up and down with the bike on - no problems. Tranny is fine. Then back in 1st gear I hit the brake and the rear wheel stopped - bike kept running. Ok. Interesting development. Not really sure what just happened there. Back to both wheels on the ground - clutch engaging with no trouble it seems. Will wait till daylight to take it on a test spin. So I'm not sure exactly what the fix was and what the problem was. Air in the line, the claw not sitting pretty, a combination of things or just a moody Venture that was sulking because of the tip - but it seems I'm back in business. Thank you all for your input. Seeing the bike laying on it's side kinda made me nutty, not think straight and assume the worst. There's a long history of bikes going down in this area due to jerky cagers. It makes me crazy. I've picked up my share of bikes in the morning that aren't mine. Thank you for your calm suggestions. I am, however, going to install impact charges for the next time.... boom.... Thanks a bunch everyone. DBarn
mrich12000 Posted March 21, 2010 #11 Posted March 21, 2010 You are not the only one to have their bike tip; Well, two weeks ago, with new leathers on and the second ride, I was exploring Banff. Alberta, Into the town I drove have done this many times. BUT, this was different. It was the second time I had explored the fabulous Château Banff Frontenac. drove up the driveway past this huge statue and into the rear where the parking was as I didn't need to stop. I started a turn not seeing the very fresh and nor placarded wanning of any kind, Pea gravel place over the left lane lower asphalt, @3 mph; down and ejected off the Venture @ 4 ft. smashed my Shoe helmet engine revs, I get up,hit the kill. many passersby saw the adventure and helped Mule righted to her side stand. I was amazed the hotel had done this without warning's of loose gravel. Made a incident report with a reluctant security head. checked over my mule and drove off with a splitting head ache and dirty new chaps an rocket agatt. pissed of but she is old and only has PLPD on her. neck still ache. glad your steed is back up..Mike in Calgary..
Flyinfool Posted March 21, 2010 #12 Posted March 21, 2010 Since it was laying on the right side for a long time, is it possible that with all of the oil in the clutch area that it added to the viscus drag of the oil on the clutch till it ran a little bit to get everything back where it belonged?? Just a thought.
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