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V7 Clutch slip

johnpaul

johnpaul

Just got it firing!
Joined
Sep 14, 2013
Messages
16
Location
Williamsburg
Hi all. I've got a 2013 v7 Special with about 14,000 miles on it. The other day I twisted the throttle to pass a car on the highway while in 5th gear and the rev counter sped up, but the bike did not accelerate correspondingly. I let up on the throttle, and turned it more slowly and was able to accelerate fine. I have recreated this scenario several times since, and it seems to only happen with hard acceleration in fifth gear at high speed (like 80 mph or so). When I crank the throttle in this situation, the tachometer will shoot from about 5000 rpms to 6000+ rpms without corresponding change in speed. I've checked the clutch cable, and it seems to have sufficient free play. Is this a sign that the clutch is going? At 14,000 miles? Is there anything else that could cause this symptom?
 
Yes. Have you been slipping the clutch? That will cause premature wear. It is also possible the clutch spring has weakened.

Do make sure the arm at the back of the gearbox is retracting like it should. If there is dirt or corrosion on the lever/pin it may not be releasing completely.
 
john zibell said:
Yes. Have you been slipping the clutch? That will cause premature wear. It is also possible the clutch spring has weakened.

Do make sure the arm at the back of the gearbox is retracting like it should. If there is dirt or corrosion on the lever/pin it may not be releasing completely.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply. I have felt the clutch slip about 3 times now, once when I tried accelerating hard to pass someone - the first time I noticed it; and twice when I recreated that scenario to verify that it was indeed slipping. I have not otherwise been "slipping the clutch" though (but I'm not entirely sure that I understand what you mean by this - I apologize for my ignorance if I misunderstand). I will look over the arm to be sure that everything is moving/retracting the way that it should. Thanks for the advice.
 
Slipping the clutch means using excessive time in the friction zone of the clutch, not fully disengaged or engaged. Usually done to controls speed in slow maneuvers, or if slow on clutch release when shifting or not matching engine speed to ground speed when down shifting.
 
john zibell said:
Slipping the clutch means using excessive time in the friction zone of the clutch, not fully disengaged or engaged. Usually done to controls speed in slow maneuvers, or if slow on clutch release when shifting or not matching engine speed to ground speed when down shifting.
Click to expand...

Ahh. Thank you for that explanation. I have not been slipping the clutch.
 
johnpaul said:
Ahh. Thank you for that explanation. I have not been slipping the clutch.
Click to expand...

That's good. hopefully it is a sticky clutch arm. If not you are looking at a clutch job. Be sure they install a new pressure plate. Looks like you have to replace the assembly and not just the spring section.
 
Well, I looked closely at the clutch arm mechanism and it was not binding up against anything, but it was pretty gritty under there. I gave the whole bike a good wash making sure to wash away all the grime in the area of the arm, then when it was dry I sprayed it with some dry graphite lubricant along with the exposed clutch cable while pulling the clutch in and out to be sure to get all of the exposed moving parts. I also loosened and readjusted the clutch cable being sure to give it plenty of free play. It seemed good, but just to be sure. I took it for a ride and tried to replicate the scenario where it was slipping - 75-80mph or so, heavy throttle - and it didn’t slip. Tried it a few times and couldn’t get it to slip. I’ll keep a close eye on it and see how it does, and I’ll be very conscious of my use of the clutch for a while to be sure that I’m not inadvertently slipping it with sloppy shifting. I don’t think so, but we never can be too sure of ourselves I guess. Thanks for the advise and education John Zibell. Hopefully it really was just a sticky clutch arm.
 
Unfortunately, my hopefulness was short lived. I felt the clutch slip again. I took a look in the bell housing through the timing/inspection hole while shining a small flashlight into the hole and cocking my head awkwardly to see as much as I could in there, and when the light shone towards the bottom of the bell housing it was glistening with oil, like Luigi's hair on a Saturday night. I also inspected the outside of the cases closely, and discovered that there is oil seeping around the seam where the bell housing meets the block. Must be a leak in there - I guess it would have to be either the main seal or the gearbox... and the clutch must have gotten oil on it... Ugh.
 
My best guess is gearbox seal. However, once you have it apart I'd do everything I could in there so it won't need to come apart again. That is all seals and any gaskets plus new friction plate and pressure plate.
 
John Paul. Did you ever get a solution to this. My wife’s 2012 racer has started doing the same at 65000 klms. There is an oil mist around the inspection plug.

would be interested in your outcome
 
mcguyver63 said:
John Paul. Did you ever get a solution to this. My wife’s 2012 racer has started doing the same at 65000 klms. There is an oil mist around the inspection plug.

would be interested in your outcome
Click to expand...

There should be no oil in that area. Time to take it apart. Again my bet is on the gearbox input seal.
 
If there is oil in there it can only come from two places:
Gear box input shaft seal;
Rear main oil seal.
Either way-bike off-drop gear box.
 
kenrover said:
If there is oil in there it can only come from two places:
Gear box input shaft seal;
Rear main oil seal.
Either way-bike off-drop gear box.
Click to expand...

I note that neither OP nor mcguyver have been for awhile.

My two V7's have no incontinence issues, but my Norge has developed what is most certainly a rear-main-seal leak.

The following is "Bill Hagan on Moto Guzzi Maintenance," i.e., not to be relied upon by anyone who really knows what they are doing! :fubar:

I am sure if I am wrong, however, that some or many from that more-informed class will chime in with flamethrowers. :giggle:

Gear oil and engine oil smell and feel differently. If the former, yup, there's lot$ of work ahead. If engine oil AND it's actually involving the clutch, well, ditto.

IF, however, we are merely talking about engine oil seeping from a rear main seal, so what? If I can get Wayne Orwig to spend a week up here this year, "we" may tear into the Norge's just 'cuz. Otherwise, I just plan to live with it. It's a minor matter to me, and seems more of a cosmetic concern than anything else.

The OP and mcguyver seem to have the same problem, tho I am unclear if the latter also has clutch "slippage." I don't doubt that both may have more miles in saddles than I, and the OP's description does sound as if it "real" clutch slippage. That said, my occasional surprise experiences -- though they have all been surprises! :eek: -- with traction control felt very much like a clutch slipping, so I mention that FWIW, and recognizing that that may not be much. ;)

Off to Erie in a cage ... must go to keep Kathi from bringing her closet on a three-night trip. :inlove:

Bill
 
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