Back to the clutch adjustments...

[mga]

I get it, turn counterclockwise will decrease, turn clockwise will increase.  My question is what exactly am i increasing or decreasing? Is it clutch pressure? In many videos i've seen it's always "turn counterclockwise" until you feel resistance then back off. Why is it always to decrease? 

I'm just curious as to what exactly is going on when i turn that screw right or left. And, since there's no manual clutch to engage or disengage, what is going on inside? 

Reason why i'm asking is while going down a hill in 1st gear, it appears to pops out of gear, but no neutral light, and if i stop, it's in 1st gear still. BUT, (always a but) if the engine is warmed up, it stays in 1st gear. The hill is too steep to use any other gear, so 1st with the brakes is the only way to go down.

Edited October 30, 2024 by mga

[Mech]

That run away down hill symptom sounds like your sprag clutch in the centrifugal clutch isn't working.

The clutch adjustment is adjusting the linkages between your shift lever and a plate clutch. The plate clutch is to stop the gears getting mangled when you do a gear change at speed, when the centrifugal clutch is locked up. When you move the shiftlever up or down it disengages the plate clutch.

When you are going down hill the plate clutch and then centrifugal clutch are both transmitting the over run to the engine giving engine braking. One the bike slows enough that the engine revs get near idle speed the centrifugal clutch lets go, and the bike would start to run away down hill(as your's is), so to prevent that run away situation they have a one way ratchet(sprag clutch) in the center of the centrifugal clutch that lets the gearbox shaft turn the engine whenever the engine is rotating slower than the gear shaft. That gives you engine braking right down to a stop.

The way to test the sprag is put the bike in gear with the engine off and try to push it forwards. If the sprag is working it will try to turn the engine over.

[mga]

excellent! thanks for the explanation. I wanted to know the mechanics behind the adjustment procedure, not the simple youtube "turn left" videos.  I really appreciate you explaining that. It helps to know exactly what i'm adjusting.

I've never had a problem with it going downhill until recently, most likely my doing. I was thinking i was adjusting the clutch, (watching those damn youtube videos) and i turned the screw all the way to the left until i felt it getting tight, then backed it out 1/2 turn. I'm going to put it back to where it was and it should be OK (hopefully.) The hill is steep and i depend on it remaining in 1st gear until i get down it. I will definitely do as you suggested to make sure it's working.

again, thanks! apparently the issue i'm having is "pilot error".  

[mga]

update: it worked.  apparently it didn't like being adjusted all the way counter-clockwise, so, i backed it off and it remains in 1st gear going down the hill.

thanks again!!

[Mech]

Good work.

You can test the plate clutch, and use it like a manual clutch, by shifting up or down so you are in the gear you want to be in, but hold the lever with your toe, don't let it go back the the center position. Then, if you need to jump up out of a ditch or over a log, or to drop a wheely to get moving in bad mud or on a steep hill, you rev the engine and let the lever up or down.. It works like dropping a manual clutch lever on the handlebars.

[mga]

what i found out was if i went down the steep hill while the engine was cold, it would slip into a free-wheel, so i just brake to a stop and it's back in gear, so to speak.   But, when it's warmed up, it holds that first gear very securely.

how exactly do you find that "sweet spot" on the clutch adjustment? Also, doesn't that effect how easy it should change gears? Like i said, once the atv is warmed up, it seems to be almost perfect.

Does the oil play a part in all that?

[Mech]

Does the clutch slip if it's cold and you are going up hill ? If the plate(adjustable) clutch is slipping ever, whether hot or cold, it should slip more under power than it will when it's only providing engine braking.. Engine power is far greater than engine braking and should cause slippage going up hill..

And yes if you have too much oil or the wrong grade oil it can cause slipping clutches, and dragging clutches too.

[mga]

On 11/24/2024 at 1:53 PM, Mech said:

Does the clutch slip if it's cold and you are going up hill ? If the plate(adjustable) clutch is slipping ever, whether hot or cold, it should slip more under power than it will when it's only providing engine braking.. Engine power is far greater than engine braking and should cause slippage going up hill..

And yes if you have too much oil or the wrong grade oil it can cause slipping clutches, and dragging clutches too.

no slipping going up a hill, only down a steep incline, but, once it's warmed up..it holds the gear.

i played around with the adjustment, and i kept backing it off (decrease) and each time i turned it 1 turn, locked it down and drove it. I think i finally got it to shift real nice..it only takes a little force to get all my gears, and, reverse doesn't stick any more. it's never shifted so smoothly..my toes will thank me now. and, going down that steep hill out back waas a breeze...engine breaking held. Just to give you an idea how steep it is, you can't make a turn on it without the fear of flipping over..it's only straight up or down

also, my road has some steep hills and it seemed to handle them (at slow speed) better...no slipping!! Your earlier post explaining the mechanics behind adjusting that screw was excellent. As i said before, most videos just say "turn left then tighten" without telling me why i'm turning that screw and what it's doing.

i do appreciate the feedback !!!!!

[Mech]

Ok. Good stuff. Clutch adjustment can be fairly critical on any bike, and once there is wear they can get trickier still.