tri z clutch help!

[kaboink]

Havnt rode tri since sept. Pulled it out of barn and started in 3 kicks. Put in gear and it jumped while clutch lever pulled in and stalled. Started again and jumped again but I didnt let it stall I took off and started shifting and all of suddend started loosing gear power and I stopped and there it stood all alone and could only rev up. I pushed it into garage and tore off cover and looked at clutches they stuck all together and nothing seemed strange until I put pressure plate back on and tighted springs down snug. The pressure plate would not move at all when I pulled in the clutch lever. Very very very tight so I loosened springs till I could pull in the clutch lever and move the pressure plate. I put on cover and added new oil. Started with ease put in gear and it engaged so I let off clutch lever and it moved slowly 2 feet and that was it, nothing more. I drained oil and pulled off cover and nothing strange other than clutch plates sticking to each other and I separated one by one with small screwdriver. Clutch plates still look good and have fiber on them. I put clutch pressure plate back on and tighted springs and once again when I pulled on clutch lever very tight and pressure plate wont budge at all. So I disconected cable from push lever and pushed lever with some real pressure and it would not move that pressure plate. What could it be and why wont the clutch or tri move at all even when I have it in gear when assembled?????

[MTS]

Sounds like Your plates where stuck from sitting to begin with, Did you get the "pressure" plate lined up correctly with the Hub when you put it back on? there are arrows on it and Notches in the plate if i remember right. if the notches are not lined up properly the plate Sticks out further...and leaves the clutch Disengaged. Also make sure the Adjuster is sitting in the grove on the back of the pressure plate properly.

[kaboink]

You right! I forgot about the arrows and just put the pressure plate back on. I did remember the notch on the backside of the push rod. Well I will tear it apart and clean off clutches again. A friend told me to use light sandpaper on all the disks and metal dividers and this would keep clutch disks from sticking?

[tri again]

There is much more fix it traffic in the trikesylvania forum
but it also sounds like you already got the best advice from MTS already.

Welcome btw

[kaboink]

Well I tore it apart and cleaned up clutches aligned arrows and push rod on opposite side of pressure plate. I tighted pressure springs and pulled in clutch lever and pressure plate worked like it should. I put back together and added oil till run out of check hole. Started, put in gear and it grabbed like it should when engaged and let loose of clutch lever and nothing. What I dont understand is that my clutches still have notches of fiber left on all of them. Clutches???

[Tri-Z 250]

How knoched are the basket fingers? The fibers will have material even after they reach the recomended replacement messurement. The steel plates also thin out and need to be replaced...How long have you been running these same clutch plates...3-5yrs? If so replace them if you ride hard and fan the clutch a bit. Was the bottom oil clean the frist drain...metal gook on inside of cover? I believe the fibers and steel were under the $100 with springs just over. I do all of them when I do a clutch reguardless, note heavy springs make the lever pull a tad stiffer. The grab or ingagement of the clutch becomes more positive...it's a trade off. Rule of thumb mod motor heavy springs trail rider stock is fine.

[kaboink]

Ok all is well after having the case apart 6 times in 2 days. There is an adjustment phillips head screw on the push rod. This cannot be turned all the way towards pressure plate and then secured with nut and lock washer. If this happens you have play in the clutch plates like as if the clutch lever is pull in. So after I loosened phillips head screw and let the pressure plate rest onto the clutch plates now I have contact when in gear. Funny how no diagram or instructions tell anyone that tri z has another clutch adjustment other than the one at the lever! So when you think you run out of clutch lever adjustment, you dont! You can still adjust at the pressure plate, to bad I didnt know this when I first cracked open my clutch cover. Thanks to all for the advice.

[MTS]

Glad you figured it out yourself, forgot to mention that adjustment , and just a foot note,, they like a whole quart or (liter) of oil in the bottom end for smooth shifting....the old manuals I find a tad missleading.