Clutch issue

[dreamaker]

I when in the garage and started the Valk. I decided to put it in gear and noticed that the clutch was soft, I then put it in gear and the bike jumped. Tried to pump the handle but doesn't seem to be any help. The clutch worked fine last fall.  Haven't started working on it yet.  First I'll probably bleed the clutch to start. Has anyone had this experience with the clutch.

[Skinhead]

I when in the garage and started the Valk. I decided to put it in gear and noticed that the clutch was soft, I then put it in gear and the bike jumped. Tried to pump the handle but doesn't seem to be any help. The clutch worked fine last fall.  Haven't started working on it yet.  First I'll probably bleed the clutch to start. Has anyone had this experience with the clutch.

Sounds to me like you need to rebuild the slave and/or master cylinders.  Especially if you haven't changed the Hydraulic fluid regularly.  I had an 87 goldwing that the slave cylinder collected moisture from the hyd. fluid and acted the same way.  The piston rusts and the rust particles wear the seal out and the pressure bleeds by.  Not a hard job if your in any way mechanically inclined.

[wizard -vrccds#125]

Had that on one of the Valks today. Clunked bad going into first from nutural. Opened master cyl. and things in the bottom looked like they were growing. Cleaned and refiled, then bled and all is well again !   

[Valkpilot]

I when in the garage and started the Valk. I decided to put it in gear and noticed that the clutch was soft, I then put it in gear and the bike jumped. Tried to pump the handle but doesn't seem to be any help. The clutch worked fine last fall.  Haven't started working on it yet.  First I'll probably bleed the clutch to start. Has anyone had this experience with the clutch.

Bleed first.  If the fluid is old, you're likely to have coagulated nastiness in the lines and master/slave cylinders.

If you still have problems, especially if the lever won't pull all the way to the grip, you may have a bigger issue. 

I had to replace my clutch plates a few months ago: http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,20870.0.html

[Tropic traveler]

Check the brass bushing in the clutch handle first. Similar symptoms years ago turned out to be the bushing, pin, & clutch lever badly worn. About $25 worth of new parts from HDL and all is good!

[Gryphon Rider]

1.  Changing (bleeding) hydraulic clutch (or for that matter brake) fluid that is more than two years old is always a good idea.
2.  A momentary jump forward when you put it in gear is normal if the engine oil is cold and/or the bike hasn't been run and put in gear in a while.  While your bike is sitting over the winter, the oil that is between the clutch plates has a chance to take a set and temporarily glue the plates together.  Pulling in the clutch takes the pressure off the clutch plates, so the springs are no longer holding them together, but that oil "glue" is still making a connection between the driving and driven surfaces.  When you have the clutch pulled in and you put it in gear, that "jump" is the result of the force required to break the "glue" bond.  If, after that initial jump, the bike stays at rest while in gear with the clutch pulled in, all is well.  If you have to continue to use the brakes to prevent the bike from rolling forward, then you have a problem to solve.

[Ricky-D]

Is the giveaway!

The old master cylinders will deteriorate pretty quickly from not being used especially when cold temperatures are in the mix.

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[dreamaker]

I thank you all for all your help. If weather isn't bad I am going to tackle it tomorrow.