Clutch help please

[Overkill]

Well after a long cold winter I got the valk out and low and behold the clutch is not completely disengaging. The lever does not have a lot of pull to it like it should. It was fine when I put it to bed last fall. I did take it for a ride and held the clutch in and popped it a few times but did not help. The fluid level is fine and there is no puddle under the bike so I am at a loss. Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. She is a 1998 with about 35,000 miles on her. I don't know how to bleed the clutch and I have never changed the fluid, it has worked fine until this spring. This is the first time I have had a problem, that was not a simple fix, since I bought her brand new in 2000.

[Michvalk]

Changing the fluid is a simple fix as well. There are several good rightups about the clutch on the tech board. Just use the search box on the tech board and type in bleeding clutch. You will get lots of info on bleeding the clutch and some with pictures! Or, find someone near you who has done it before. There are lots of people who will help for a beer and a story

[The emperor has no clothes]

You've had the bike for 14 years and never changed the clutch fluid? At a minimum you need to do that pus both front & rear brake fluid. It's pretty simple if you've done cars it's the same principle . I don't use a mityvac as some do. Just do it the old fashioned way. I would suspect after this amount of time it's going to be pretty nasty, you might have to run a bit of fluid thru it to clean it up. Maybe even take calipers apart and clean. But I would start with fluid replacement .

[tank_post142]

look above the alternator on the left side you will see a chrome tube sticking up from behind the engine, it has a brake bleeder on the end. this is the bleeder for the clutch. be sure to put a long tube on this so you don't dump clutch fluid on your engine (it will eat your paint) then bleed as you would your breaks. as a side note: the clutch fluid can leak into the engine rather than just on the ground.

[gordonv]

To make things over simplified, this could be a fluid issue (most likely) or a mechanical issue.

Like mentioned, fluid should be changed every 2 years. I know I go a lot longer, to the point of it as being over looked.

As for the mechanical issue, check the clutch lever pivot bolt, and while being moved, see if it is warn to the point of not actuating properly. Most likely not the issue, as this usually results in the clutch switch not being depressed when it should be (starting the bike in gear).

[Overkill]

Thanks for the help guys I will try flushing the oil and bleeding it out. I know I should have been changing it. I do adjust the valves and flush the radiator but I thought the clutch was a sealed system and as long as it did not get compromised it would be clean and ok. I was not sure where do bleed it ether so you guys helped a lot I will give it a try. Thank you

[gordonv]

Do you have a service manual yet?

Here is the PDF link. I also have bought a paper copy for the road.

http://valkyrienorway.com/download.html

[Thunderbolt]

Fluid should be changed as noted.  Some have had residual air in the lines that can be removed by tying the clutch lever down to the bar with tyrap or other means overnight.  This lets the bubbles surface to the reservoir and out. 

[bscrive]

I would also look at rebuilding the master cylinder. Not expensive to do.  I had to do mine about 4 years ago because it did the same thing.  I also changed the brake fluid at the time.  I guess it is time to do it again.