Three-finger vs. four-finger clutch pull, N to 1st clunk/jerk = problem or normal?


P

Pointman1776

Member
Elite Member
A couple of questions about 3-finger vs. 4-finger clutch pulls, and N-to-1st clunks and small lurch/jerk forward.

When I'm stopped, even with clutch fully disengaged to the bar using a complete 4-finger clutch pull, and shift the lever from neutral to first, my FZ6R gives me a very enthusiastic "clunk" and wants to move forward a bit.

When I have the FZ6R on the rear Pit Bull stand and start the engine with clutch disengaged and in neutral, and then shift into first, the rear tire starts to spin.

Sometimes the tire will stop spinning on its own, other times it will keep spinning.

I thought this might be a problem with my preference to use a three-finger clutch lever pull (so the lever is pulled against my pinky finger and not quite to the bar), but it ALSO does this if I use a full four-finger pull and bring the lever all the way back to the bar.

I saw this post by Perdurable (and subsequent post by buzzbomb), and the answer by Deanohh, but it didn't quite answer my question about three-finger pull vs. four-finger pull, and the clunk and small pull/lurch forward.

According to the fantastic post by JSP, I have the right amount of free play; about 0.6 inches, maybe a hair more.
But if I turn the knob in direction "B" one full turn, the free play is 0.2 - 0.3 inches (which I think maybe is not enough).

Is this normal? Do I need to adjust the clutch cable?

Should I take it into the dealer?

Thanks for your help!
 
Bert-Aus

Bert-Aus

Well-Known Member
No way, you should be double clutch shifting all the way up and down:p
 
M

Michael Wilson

New Member
if you r bike doesnt "creep" while you have the clutch pulled in and you are stopped i wouldnt worry about it. The clutch will always slightly drag enough to make the rear tire spin while its on a stand.
 
M

MaximumHP

New Member
Most of the bikes I've ridden like to lurch a little when you drop it in first, and go into gear with a good thunk. If it's moving when the clutch is in when in gear, then you might have a problem.
 
C

Chucker

Active Member
It's normal. You notice it more with a cold engine.
 
S

Scott_Thomas

Insert title Here
Elite Member
Chucker said:
It's normal. You notice it more with a cold engine.
Click to expand...

Agree 1000%, after riding for a while it doesn't really jerk anymore. Cars usually do it too when going into drive.
 
D

DaIrishman

New Member
the thunk

My 2013 bike is a bit of a clunker when going into first. When I first got it, the transition from neutral to first was pretty mellow then after 300 or so miles its was fairly bad then quieted down again at around 800 miles or so when I noticed it wasn't as bad.

On a related note on cold mornings the first shift to 3rd gear never happens on my bike, I have to try to get it to go then retry again, sometimes its the third time that's the charm literally. After that its a pleasure to drive and shifts flawlessly.
 
N

nismos14

I'm movin on
Elite Member
All of this is normal, albeit, strange behavior. I was told this ahead of time when I bought the bike, I just can't seem to find any of the posts now.
 
D

dnielson45

Member
Elite Member
It's pretty normal. I've noticed the clunk and slight forward motion on every larger bike I've ridden. The only bikes I haven't seen it on were bikes that were 250CC or smaller. Not sure if it has to do with size, but that's been my observation.
 
F

FastFreddy

New Member
I'm not as dumb as I look.

I thought about this some more, when the dog goes into the side of the gear, that will lock the gear onto the output shaft.
Here's a GIF on the concept, I found on short notice. (except I've noticed the motorbike transmission doesn't have a weak looking red plate thingy, but rather uses the dogs sticking out of the adjacent gear wheel instead,so it is much more robust looking than this gif)
http://www.gadgetjq.com/transmission.htm

So its the dogs of first gear locking into the output shaft and then stopping both shafts from turning, because then the stopped rear wheel is locking the input and output shafts at that point and the clutch is keeping the engine mechanically separated.

The clutch when pulled in, must have some light engagement (or weak torque) by design so you can get it back into first gear from a stop, so the gear box shafts are turning until you clunk in first gear.

The momentum of the gearbox shafts coming to a sudden stop when the first gear dogs jam in, imparts a clunk.
 
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F

FastFreddy

New Member
Imagine a spinning bowling ball, with the 3 holes at the top , then you lower your 3 fingers down until the 3 fingers slip in the holes. That's what is happening on the side of the first gear cog. Except instead of your fingers getting wrenched sideways, you hear a clunk. errr

Therefore absolutely normal, or as the doctor said when my mum had me tested, abnormal.;)
 
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