| Author | Message | ||
     Ratbuell |
So, it was about 10 degrees in the garage last night. Time for work today, head out to the garage, fire up the bike, push it outside to warm it up while I gear up. Overpants, heated jacket, balaclava, outer jacket, helmet, gloves - good 5 or 7 minute idle time. Close the garage door, saddle up, plug in the gear, stand 'er up, kickstand up....grab the clutch lever. OOOoooommmpppphhhhh-OMG that thing is HEAVY. I swear, I thought I was gonna snap the cable. Release it, grab it again, still heavy but not excessive. Every pull - did it 5 or 10 times before putting it in gear - got easier and easier. I dri-slide weekly and know there's no water - at least not from the outside - in the cable. Could cold-weather 'milkshake' be causing this? Once I hit the highway - about a mile and 2 stop signs from the house - everything was just fine. Kept it in the heated shop at work all day, no issues going home. We'll see how she behaves tomorrow morning. <shrug> | ||
| Crusty |
Have you ever tried to pour Formula + from a bottle when it's been sitting in 10° temps all night? I once rode my M2 to work when it was 8° out. It wouldn't shift from first to second until I had ridden almost half a mile. When Dave Barr rode his Sportster across Siberia in the winter, he would light a fire under the engine to get the oil to flow so the bike would start. | ||
| Ironhead1977 |
Might want to try draping an electric blanket over the bike. | ||
| Towpro |
Maybe check the seal on the clutch cable adjuster. Water can get in there, then lay in the low spot in the cable, which is just in front of the trans. PS: Yes the water also runs into the trans, might want to check the trans fluid. | ||
| Tootal |
Synthetics? | ||
| Panhead_dan |
Moisture from condensation in the primary/trans. I've had problems like this with big twins for years. The water content will freeze to the clutch and friction plates. Usually, the ice is weak due to the oil that is with it and it can be broken loose and ridden. I've had worse trouble with engine oil being so viscous that the clutch will slip rather than the engine turning over sufficiently at startup. I hate winter. | ||
| Ratbuell |
I run Syn3... I used to have an FLHP, had a plug-in heat blanket on the bottom of the oil pan. Maybe I should get another one....drape it over the swingarm, or the primary. | ||
| Etennuly |
Bungy it to the bottom of the engine/primary. Have you taken the clutch cover off lately to see if you have developed a "milkshake" lube mix? Might be time to look, eh?  | ||
| Ratbuell |
I'm sure I do; service was done less than 2k ago but with these temps, I'm sure I have that lovely mix. <shrug> She was happier today, after a couple ounces of Dri-Slide yesterday. Might have been some moisture in the cable after all. Working on making some covers for the RSS, LSS, and oil cooler, out of an old car bra. Covering those up might help. Some. Maybe. |
