Clutch problem maybe?

[Geodude]

Bike is 99 naked sv650. Just after a bit of info before i start pulling bike apart. Symptoms i have are as follow.

Pull clutch in press starter button bike rolls forward with starter turn? This is not all the time, more of a now and then thing. Seems like clutch not allowing gear selection when this happens but it is random when it happens.

Maybe notched basket or just time for another sid squid wormdrive adjustment? last one less than 1000 miles ago. new clutch and steels done less than 3k.

If anyone had this happen and has answers before i start or just a bit of wisdom to send my way before i get the hammer out, i would be very appreciative.

[Craig380]

Is the bike in neutral, or in a gear when it does this? Do you get any problems when the engine's running, like clutch drag, or inability to engage first gear from neutral when stopped? Does it happen only on the first start of the day (i.e. when the engine's cold) or is it completely random?

I would look at the clutch lifter first just to make sure there's nowt funny going on there (a slightly bent or worn clutch pushrod, that sort of thing).

[Geodude]

Parked up in gear cant get neutral sometimes so pull clutch in hit starter and bike lurches forward with starter. No hastle when its running, no drag, no hot or cold difference and a now and then difficulty getting neutral but still mostly random.

I've been having a similar problem

[johnnyrod]

Sounds like serious clutch drag - did you say it was intermittent? How old is the worm lifter thing? After about 15k they're scrap. Also presume when you adjusted it you had plenty of slack in the cable? It won't be right otherwise. I screw the screw in and back it off 1/8 turn, no more. In the cold weather you'll get more drag anyway, though.

[Geodude]

Yeah very much now and then problem and yes adjustment is always done as per sid squids guide. I have no drag at all when bikes running hot or cold. When it happens its like the cluch wont disengage (but i do have full movement at the lever) so when starter is pressed it rolls the bike but as ive said its maybe one in fifty starts?

[Craig380]

Reading again what you wrote about parking up in gear sometimes because you can't get neutral, I think what you're getting is a normal side-effect of having new(ish) clutch plates etc. Because the new plates have nice thick friction surfaces, I've found they can be a bit sticky sometimes when starting / just after starting the bike.

On my old GT triple, I had a little drill for the first start from cold, after I put new plates & springs in. Before switching the ignition on, I'd put it in gear, pull in the clutch and roll it a couple of feet. This would unstick the plates and stop the clutch grabbing from cold. Then knock it into neutral and start as normal.

Or you should be able to get neutral once the engine's switched off. My 2p worth is: if the bike runs and rides fine apart from this niggle, and it's had a new clutch recently, I'd treat it as a little behavioural quirk and wouldn't go stripping off the clutch cover, etc.

[Geodude]

Thanks for the info so far lads, much appreciated. Craig when it does its clutch start roll thing (engine off) i cant even push the bike in gear with the clutch pulled in, maybe im not pushing hard enough but i cant move it. If its just down to sticky plates (been in a few years) and not a notched basket or something else i'll leave it alone and see how it goes.