Semi-emergency: clutch springs needed for 2001 venture near Milwaukee

[Squidley]

Nice work JJ!

 

Glad that things worked out for the better, I can only imagine the pucker factor being a few hundred miles away from home and have a dead bike.

[Keemez]

Feels good to be back in IA. Almost home.

 

!!!!!!!!!!! Are you texting and motorbiking, buster?

[Guest scarylarry]

!!!!!!!!!!! Are you texting and motorbiking, buster?

 

There is nothing wrong with that as long as he is using his cruise control:rotf:

[DKleven]

Just reading all the posts for the first time....... you guys are all amazing...... great job!!!!

[GG54172]

!!!!!!!!!!! Are you texting and motorbiking, buster?

 

 

I was stopped for fuel at the time

[GG54172]

So I made it home. The ride was blissfully boring. WI does have some beautiful countryside though...

 

Thanks to Redrider, Boo, and Squidley for helping me out! I knew the only way i was getting home from WI with my motorcycle was with the generous help from Venturerider.org, and you guys really saved me a lot of work.

 

So here is the whole story:

 

I am an MSF ridercoach for Southwest Tech in Fennimore WI and I signed up for this class to recertify as a rider coach. (WI DOT and MSF requires recertification every two years) So my venture has done quite a few BRC demonstrations. I rode from Dubuque Saturday to Richland center to stop at Vetesnik's and get a new helmet, then cruised the back roads across WI to Waukesha. Sunday morning I started the Ultmate Bike Bonding Rider course. It's a pretty sweet class, can't wait to go back.

 

Exercise one is a slowest bike contest across the range. There was a guy there on a Wing and I had to represent the Ventures, no way I was letting a wing beat me. About the third run through I noticed my clutch was really soft and slipping. Within a few seconds it go to the point I could stop in first gear without pulling in the clutch.

 

I did the next two exercises hoping the clutch was just hot and would cool down. I finally waived the instructor over. He stood next to me and I told him I think my clutch is shot, he asked me "what makes you think that? I replied "I am in first gear right now" while waiving my left hand at him, with the bike still and the engine running.

 

I pulled the venture into the garage and started tearing it apart to figure out what happened, in the mean time I posted the Hail Mary asking someone from Venturerider to sell me a clutch. I spent each break working on my bike, and rode the exercises on a BRC Nighthawk 250.

 

Boo responded first, and was actually on his way with a used clutch set when Redrider called indicating he had new set available. I called Boo and thanked him, but I was glad Redrider offered to bring the upgrade kit.

 

Redrider was awesome, he brought clutch disk, friction plates, oil, and an oil filter. He even asked whether I wanted synthetic or dyno oil. At that point he could have brought a tub of crisco and i would've been happy.

 

We got the bike back together just in time for me to take the final eval. The clutch was sticky, and the rear skidded when i downshifted without using the brakes. The friction zone was really short and moved each time I tried to clutch. Somehow I still survived and they handed me a completion card, so i guess I did alright.

 

Ride home was uneventful, I plan to change the oil+ filter tomorrow. And I will probably change the oil+filter again next week. Should be good to go after that.

 

By the time I got home, the clutch friction zone was back to its normal spot, it's stiffer with two springs, but grabs nicely. I didn't work it too hard, but after a few miles I plan to giver $#@! and see what I have been missing with the OEM clutch.

 

Thanks so much. I have to go on Bikebandit and order the replacement parts. Redrider should have them by the end of the week.

 

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y191/Ggerg1186/Venture%20Clutch%2015May2011/DSC02141.jpg

 

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y191/Ggerg1186/Venture%20Clutch%2015May2011/DSC02142.jpg

 

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y191/Ggerg1186/Venture%20Clutch%2015May2011/DSC02143.jpg

 

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y191/Ggerg1186/Venture%20Clutch%2015May2011/DSC02144.jpg

 

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y191/Ggerg1186/Venture%20Clutch%2015May2011/DSC02145.jpg

 

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y191/Ggerg1186/Venture%20Clutch%2015May2011/DSC02146.jpg

 

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y191/Ggerg1186/Venture%20Clutch%2015May2011/DSC02147.jpg

 

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y191/Ggerg1186/Venture%20Clutch%2015May2011/DSC02148.jpg

 

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y191/Ggerg1186/Venture%20Clutch%2015May2011/DSC02149.jpg

 

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y191/Ggerg1186/Venture%20Clutch%2015May2011/DSC02150.jpg

 

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y191/Ggerg1186/Venture%20Clutch%2015May2011/DSC02151.jpg

[BOO]

Glad you made it home and the clutch is working okay.

The clutch I had was slipping when I took it out so you would have had to do the job again.

I have never seen a clutch burnt like that in a RSV or a Gold Wing and I understand what you were doing at the time and that is sure hard on a clutch.

This is a great site and a lot of good information here so hang around!

BOO

[flb_78]

Ouch!!

[Snaggletooth]

Greg welcome aboard. What a way to meet up the first time eh? Glad it all worked out for you.

 

I've been around here for about three years and the members of this club never cease to amaze me. Makes me pretty proud to be a member here.

 

 

Mike

[Guest Zak202]

What a great group, it was cool to watch the updates and see how everyone stepped up to help. My question is how many miles are on your bike?

[jemorrisonjr]

Sorry, didnt get the voice mail until I got to work, Left my cell plugged in on my desk.. Only live a few miles from WCTC and could have brought all my tools out..

[Squidley]

That is the most smoked clutch assembly I have ever seen in a Venture

Jeff is a great guy and you couldn't have asked for a better member to help you out. I was very glad that you got it home in 1 piece. I keep a clutch assembly here at the house for just such an emergency, you never know when a brother will need it.

Nice work to everybody involved