Clutch Problems and Fix -WTF!? 2012 Kawasaki Vulcan 900

[@VP-vv2zk]

I have to say thank you and a million times more thank you!!! I looked for hours was ready to take the motorcycle to the shop till I saw this video. My motorcycle wouldn't move forward at all and it was because of a tight clutch who would of known!!?? you sir have saved me a full day and almost $400 which would of been what I had to pay to get a full inspection done. I tried everything! changed the oil, coolant, spark plugs and this is what fixed it!! thank you again

[@ManCalledHorse]

I am so happy that my video was useful to someone. Thank you for sharing what you were going through and commenting! 🙂

[@cadillac1smith485]

Great video! To Whom it may concern: for clutch lever adjustment: the manual says 2-3 mm's of clutch lever play- a nickel coin is 2 mm, and a quarter is 1.75 mm's. 2 quarters are: 1.75 +1.75 = 3.5. So I think I will just use a nickel: which is 2 mm's for the adjustment.

[@xc_4x4]

🤣🤣you're hilarious bro! I subscribed just for your humor and the fact we have the same bike doesn hurt

[@ManCalledHorse]

Blam! Much appreciated 😂💯👊

[@daveklasvegas4622]

How does it happen? We'll never know.... But, thanks for showing the fix!

[@ManCalledHorse]

Still a mystery DaveK. It will be of legends told, lol! Thanks for the watch and comment! 👊

[@Awjones65]

Nice video.

[@dankooljaca3693]

Same problem, It happened making “u” turn! Readjusting the cable did not solve my problem. Clutch will fully engage but It will slip on slightest touch on leaver. It is pain on intersections, as I have fully engaged or fully disengaged clutch. Big question is: is it clutch plates problem, springs problem, or “LEVER-COMP,CLUTCH RELEASE” problem, or “ROD PULL” problem . “Lever- Comp” is not going all way back and if I push it back , 3-5mm, it will return to previous position, it want stay all way back. Changing plates will definitely make big difference but for how long? My bike is done only 15.000km and before that incident clutch was ok. Opinions?

[@ManCalledHorse]

That almost sounds like your clutch springs are going bad. They create the tension in your clutch which you feel when you squeeze the clutch lever. Question, do you notice a "sticking point" when squeezing the clutch lever? If so, you might have a kink in your cable or it's getting pinched somewhere, which can cause that same problem of the clutch lever being hard to squeeze or not returning all the way. So, it can be either a pinched/kinked cable or worn springs. When your plates become worn, they will just keep slipping and get worse.

[@dankooljaca3693]

Cheers man, I appreciate your help. Cable is ok, but springs are most likely the cause. Still it is mystery why and how is clutch cable suddenly too tight? If it is loose it will make sense... I have to pull it apart no matter what , I’ll check everything , compare with new parts so we will know for sure what is happening. Fingers crossed. cheers

[@JeremyUSA]

Hmm...I suspect that when the bike heats up, the problem may/will probably come up again. The way we ride, and depending on how often you practice. If you're like me and you practice without letting the bike cool down, eventually I think we have to replace the clutch. Just like I had to on my panzer. How is your clutch doing now?

[@ManCalledHorse]

It started slipping again and I had to replace it. I got a video of it that I'm going to post soon. It was fried!

[@ManCalledHorse]

Update:. My clutch was burnt to a cinder, lol! kzbin.info/www/bejne/gHisnaZnncmfars

[@BigMarkon2s]

@@ManCalledHorse hey man. Good morning. But at how many miles at the time then..??? did you replace the clutch. Mines feels like it's going out. 09 Kawasaki Vulcan 900 custom. Got about 12,500 miles on it.

[@ManCalledHorse]

@@BigMarkon2s I couldn't say other than rider behavior (how hard or what the rider does that directly impacts clutch life). I was the second owner of my bike and I bought it with 4200 miles on it. About a year later, my clutch wore out (but I do a lot of clutch slipping stuff like slow racing and etc). OEM clutches are just cork and rubber on the friction plates. So I upgraded to Kevlar and so far they were holding up to the more hard riding like they were designed to do. Have you looked into kevlar?

[@BigMarkon2s]

@@ManCalledHorse Yes sir. I've looked into it.. I adjusted my cables today. I had no slack in them completely hard when pressed down on clutch. After adjusting I went on a ride took it to 70+mph n rode very great as usual.. I'll keep an eye on it. Thank you kindly,

[@kingjames7929]

I know this is an old video but I'm a new writer I got a '09 Kawasaki Vulcan I'm taking a lot of wind on the highway I have a helmet that's just a hard hat basically style so I wear glasses and a mask do you think adding that windshield will help me out enough to buy one

[@ManCalledHorse]

I have video of a removable windshield. Sooo worth it! You can put it on for when you want more wind protection (and road debris protection) or when you feel frisky and want to go naked, you can just take if off in a snap! Best of both worlds. 🙂

[@kingjames7929]

@@ManCalledHorse can you send me the link for your video

[@ManCalledHorse]

@@kingjames7929 here ya go! kzbin.info/www/bejne/aYOcnaZnirB2q5I

[@ao4cowboys]

Hit that throttle hard

[@ManCalledHorse]

Lmao!!! Yes!! 🤣🤣💯

[@corneilcorneil]

Some bubu installed the clutch cable. Don't talk about inches near a metric bike ... he will get infected and start leaking oil. 🤣

[@ManCalledHorse]

I know what you mean about talking imperial (standard) around metric. Honestly, metric bikes are made with metric parts, metric designs for a metric consumer. BUT they are in a place or home of where a person uses and understands only imperial (Standard). So, the switch between standard and metric for others to understand is a fine juggle. Personally, nowadays, I put my "metric hat" on when working on my metric bike. I use metric tools, parts and measurements. Thanks for the watch and comment! 🙂

[@centralvalleyvulcan6555]

🏍👍

[@corneilcorneil]

So, you have a slipping clutch, somebody tells you, that your clutch lever has no slack, and even then, you did not understand what was going on? Since the social media excist, i understand that most bike owners are no riders or bikers ... just owners. 😭😭😭

[@ManCalledHorse]

Thanks for the input Eric. My hopes of sharing new experiences (or experiences I had) with other new riders is the goal. Maybe someone can benefit from it. Everyone has to start somewhere and that is what makes it fun! Thanks for the watch and comment! 🙂

[@TheMaximomex]

I did that to my bike and it made it worse.

[@ManCalledHorse]

Worse as in how? Did your clutch slip more or started dragging? If the slippage got worse, it most likely was your clutch plates were toast. Did you find out what was the issue?

[@TheMaximomex]

ManCalledHorse I was having problems with getting the bike to neutral and having too much friction zone. I didn’t have any slack at all in the clutch and after giving it some slack I was having the same problems but I think it was because I have it too much slack. I readjust it this morning and now it works fine. Thanks.

[@ManCalledHorse]

@@TheMaximomex ah, sounds like you went the right way for your situation. More slack = more friction and tighter (less slack) = more slipping. My bike was slipping and o had to add more slack to get more friction.

[@corneilcorneil]

When you need to ask around and read manuals to manage this basic "problem" ... step away from bikes ... far away!

[@ManCalledHorse]

Thanks for the comment Eric. I don't know about anyone else, but learning about new things is just that, learning. Sometime ago, everyone didn't know about what can cause clutch slip or how to fix it. Just sharing with other new riders. Thanks for the watch! 🙂