Triumphrat

Dunlap

Hi everyone,
I'm new to this forum, but I've been gleening information off of here since I bought my bike a while back. It's a 67 Bonneville w/ a 79 t140e motor. Rebuilt last year and running well engine-wise, now that I've gotten most of the kinks out.
Here's my problem. My clutches had been slipping for a while when I got on the throttle, and eventually the bike wouldn't kick start when cold (once warmed up, it would start first kick. ) It would always push start after a few runs, but that gets old fast, as most would know. I ended up replacing the clutch plates and springs, and the bike kicked over just fine the first few times. The next morning, I was back to push starting, and now, 2 weeks later, I can barely push start it. It's like the plates are slipping again, because there's no compression when the clutch is let out. Is this just a mis-adjusment with the clutch springs, or a clutch problem that just happened to coincide with a kicker problem? The fact that it will kick over when warm makes me think it has to do with plates, and they need to be re-adjusted. I did the whole job by the book, so now I'm stumped. Any help would be appreciated!

tip rat

do you free your clutch before you try to start your bike???by this i mean hold in the clutch and kick it over a few times?? and then try to start...

Dunlap

Yea I'll engage the clutch and kick it a few times, and I've also put it in gear and kicked it over (while on the center stand). Today I put it in gear and rolled it back and forth to see if the clutches were just sticking, but it still won't start...

Plewsy

Hi Dunlap, and welcome.
It sounds like the clutch pushrod wants adjusting.
Undo your clutch cable adjuster, I use gearbox end one.
You should have an inspection cap, rear center of primary chain case. Remove cap and slacken lock nut on adjuster, then screw in adjuster until it makes full contact with the push rod,
then back it off a turn or two, and then back in until it just touches the rod, then back off a midgies! about 1/4 of a turn and tighten lock nut.
Then adjust the cable so there is a little free play at the lever.
If it still slips, the plates will be contaminated, so must be removed and washed in paraffin (kerosene)

Dunlap

Sometimes it's the most simple things that seem to slip by...
I just went out and slackened off the clutch pushrod adjuster, and voila. Thanks a lot Plewsy! This made my 4th of July!
Kind of ironic that I got helped by a Brit on American Independence Day!

Plewsy

Nice one Dunlap glad it was an easy one for you
Ooo! yes! A happy Independence day,
I will partake in a beer or two myself in celebration with ya if I may, Cheers!