Odd clutch behavior on my 350x

[ps2fixer]

I'm not much of an expert on clutches so I figured I would run it by here. Basically if I'm riding the machine nice and easy, it shifts fine, and the clutch pulls in easy like it should. If I ride it fairly hard, around 4th or 5th gear the clutch lever only allows me to pull it in around half way. I suspect the clutch disks might be badly worn, and possibley the clutch basket needs to be filed to make the slides flat again. I have to change the timing chain in her some time, so I'll be able to see it first hand what is going on (hopefully).

Second question, I have read/herd somewhere that the 350x, 250x, 250es, 250sx and a few other machines you can completely swap the entire clutch basket, if that is the case, I have a spare from a 250es and since it is a manual, the clutches have tons of life left on it. Can anyone confirm this?


Thanks!

[El Camexican]

You may have a deep groove in one of the baskets. If you back off the gas and coast in 4th or 5th can you pull it all the way in?

[ps2fixer]

It seems to act up somewhat random, when I'm down shifting it takes down till around 3rd gear before it willl pull all the way in. Really strange how what gear it is in seems to effect it, but I am thinking it is the basket. The timing chain is slapping pretty bad, so I don't really ride it currently, and I'm keeping her out of the spring mud lol.

[El Camexican]

You may have a broken plate in there as well. Sounds like the stop riding and start wrenching plan is in effect.

[dougspcs]

How is it to shift from 1st back to N while idling, Cory?

The grooved basket often cause it to stick also..

[ps2fixer]

That is the funny thing, it shifts to neutral better than my 99 yamaha ever did since new, never owned a manual shift honda, so I can't really judge it, just it isn't hard to do, miss it sometimes but most of the time I get neutral just fine. Never had any problems going from first to second like my cousin does on his 250r.

[Yamaha_Rules69]

How is your clutch cable, and is it adjusted correctly to allow the right amount of play? Sometimes on the 85 they can melt near the exhaust header, and cause problems. I dont really see why a worn basket would effect a machine if it is in high gear and shifting, I would think it would do it all the time, and if the plates or discs were worn it would slip, especially in higer RPMs. Does it do the same if you are in a lower gear and at a slower RPM? I would say check the pushrod assembly that runs through the clutch shaft, connecting it to the clutch actuator arm on the right side case. Remove the right side case, and check it out.

[Dirtcrasher]

Confusing, had you said every gear had an issue -fine. But to have an issue in the 2 top gears seems strange.

I abuse clutches severely. Yet my baskets always seem to be AOK.

From idle, click up to 3rd. Get on the gas and dump the clutch; It should bog down a bit until u hit the speed u would normally be in 3rd gear.

If it revs way up and back down slowly with not allot of forward movement, the clutch is shot.

Make sure the cable is smooth and from there make sure you run the right oil.

Then if it continues, tear it down and inspect per the manual. Never buy an EBC or VESRAH clutch plates, stick with Barnett and OEM.

I just grabbed a complete White Brothers kit for 90$. I don't need it now but the price was right and Barnett made the kits for White Bro's.

If you aren't comfortable in changing it, grab a friend or 3WW to give you a hand but common sense is your best friend..........

[ps2fixer]

Thanks for the tips, there is no problems with the clutch slipping, from my memory the clutch lever was a little hard to pull in compared to say my cousin's 250r, but it is about the same as my Yamaha 350 warrior. If I remember right, I can wheelie it in 4th or 5th gear and it never reved out or felt any slipping. I don't have a problem ripping into the engine, I have to change the timing chain anyway. I do have a second 350x that was beat up and thrown to the curb wet. Been a while since I rode it, but it don't seem to act much different except it never gave me the clutch problems lol. That one needs a ton of work including the common frame repair, engine swap (I have a spare engine already that *should* be drop in and go from a member here), forks, tires, brakes, air filter box..... yea she needs alot, and wish I never bought all the parts for it since I got my nice on for a fair price (waiting around 9 months before one came around).


My interchange question above is still bouncing around in my head, if the basket and/or clutch is the problem I would be looking at putting in the whole assembly from a 250es if it is possible. If not, I'm around 90% sure the clutch disks will swap over.

I have around 4 projects I need to finish before I crack the case, probably be a couple of weeks. I have to check if I have a new timing chain on hand or not, don't remember if I ordered one or not lol (Don't think I do). Hopefully the slides are in good shape from all the abuse they have received over the years. Last owner said it made "that noise" for all of the 3 years he owned it. Good news is, he got a quad a couple of months after the 3 wheeler, and he barely rode the 3 wheeler.

I'll have to check the clutch cable as well, the machine is at my mom and dad's (8 miles away) so it isn't right in front of me or on the top of my to do list currently, but not too far from the top :).