Clutched up...

[Honch777]

So...
Today's ride started well for the first 20 miles... However, my clutch engagement point slowly started slipping from the top of the handle pull to the bottom... til it fused.

No matter how much I pulled, the clutch wouldn't disengage.

After flagging down a person with pliers and fooling with the clutch cable adjustment nuts, I still couldn't get progress.

I rode it back home with no clutch, forcing gears and popping into neutral for stops... and then From stops, walking the bike forward and popping into gear...

Whats going on here?
PS - It's an '04 XB12R

 

[mrlogix]

I don't know, but it sounds like it sucked. 20 miles back doing that ****

 

[50dro]

Do you still have pull (feel the spring force of the clutch) on the lever or is it free?

 

[Sirius815]

Sounds like your clutch cable just gave up the ghost. You can try to adjust it at the front of the motor, you should get the clutch working for a little while again - until the cable stretches more or snaps completely. Just read you did that on the road, but it may be easier at home.

In short - I'd guess you need a new clutch cable.

Also check your clutch ramp on the primary cover!!! [up]

 

[50dro]

^^ What he said. [up]

 

[Honch777]

I don't know, but it sounds like it sucked. 20 miles back doing that ****

Man, did it... the Traffic Gods smiled upon me though, I had all green lights back to the house so I didn't have to stop, heh.

Do you still have pull (feel the spring force of the clutch) on the lever or is it free?

Well once before I had adjusted the cable nuts, it was totally free pulling with no resistance. Once I had tightened the cable nuts, the lever had Zero give to it, like it was hung up on something.
I'm assuming its something like Sirius said, inside the primary cover... there's nothing on the exterior / cable itself (which is only a year old) that I can see which would warrant this kind of problem.

Also, the thing that really gets me, is that this was a gradual change... the engagement point slowly faded down until it was full on stuck. [confused]

 

[dflack001]

It doesn't really sound like a clutch cable problem to me. You can check out this link if you think its the lip that holds the clutch ramp assembly...
http://www.buellxb.com/Buell-XB-For...B12Ss-CityX-XB12Scg/Fix-for-the-Primary-Cover
Keep us posted and Good luck!
-Dave

 

[Honch777]

Well I do believe I've found the problem...

Looks like I'm now in the market for a primary cover.
Any ideas on what would cause this?

 

[Boston08xb12r]

Yeah buell primary covers suck. Just replaced mine for the same reason..only has 8,000 miles on it

 

[dflack001]

I have a fix for that!!

http://www.buellxb.com/Buell-XB-For...B12Ss-CityX-XB12Scg/Fix-for-the-Primary-Cover

You can shoot me an email with any questions...
[email protected]

Boston: I'd be interested in your old primary cover if you still have it!

 

[Honch777]

Hey there Dflack, I appreciate your offer and if the exterior was in better condition, I'd take you up on your part.

However, my cover really needs painting (no scuffing / dmg tho) and I'd rather just get a new one with a nice finish (see below).
http://americansportbike.com/newdir/Item/17530

But, I see you're looking for old covers. Interested in mine as well?

 

[dflack001]

Yeah I'm interested in your old one...shoot me an email.

 

[gbalias]

new one will break too if the tension isnt set correctly

 

[dflack001]

You do seem to get quite a bit of life out of them before they break though...