Clutch slip in first gear and a gas smell

Hey all,

I have a 2001 SV650S and recently my clutch started to slip. Not very often, i'd say in the last 400KM of city driving its done it 4 times. Its always from a dead stop, accelerating in first gear. I pull in the lever, start to move and then that horrible noise which causes everyone to stare at you like your a noob, then I release the lever and everything is fine. I don't believe it has happened in any other gears.

Any suggestions? Should I bring it to a shop?

Also, the other day after a ride back from work I parked in the garage. When I went out awhile later I got a strong smell of gas from the bike. Stuck my head in by handlebars and could smell it there. I rode into work today, (30min commute) smelled all around but couldn't detect anything. I'll try again when I get home, this time in the garage so there's no wind. Any thoughts?

Tnx!

Do you mean gas smell as in a smell like household gas that you get in the cooker?

If you do, thats a similar (not by much but I can understand the assumption of it been gas) to the smell of a burning clutch. Its a distinctive smell, we used to get it all the time at the Go-Kart track I worked at when ppl double peddled, drives you nuts as a marshall.

I dont understnad how it would sqeel when disengaged though that bit seems odd. Had a clutch go on a Clio, best trick is to put it in a high gear and rev it hard while letting the clutch out, if it trys to pull away your clutch is fine and it was a fluke. If it screems at you then your clutch is on it way out/already gone.

ps that wont do your clutch any favours either way.

Hey, to clarify the gas smell.. Smells just like I took a wiff from the gas tank.. I've ridden the bike twice since the time i've smelled it and haven't noticed it again. I'll check again when I get home tonight.

The clutch problem is a weird one. I would think it would be happening more frequently than it is if the clutch is going....

ah - septic


petrol.

[Biker Biggles]

That noise from the clutch is like a screeching sound as you let the clutch out?But does it slip when you are riding along normally?Sounds like wear in the clutch actuating mechanism rather than shagged plates,and may not be a big problem for many miles yet.BB juniors 95000 mile curvy does it and has done for about 10000 miles with no obvious worsening.

Hey Biker, thats exactly it. It only happens from a dead stop, I don't think i've experienced it while riding. It started last summer, maybe happened twice. I'v been riding a few weeks now, at least 600KMs and its happened 3 or 4 times.

[yorkie_chris]

Regarding the smell of petrol, if you put a big metal tank of fuel above a hot engine and leave it there, vapour will be released. I doubt you have anything to worry about.

I think such a squeal generally is caused by the release bearing.

I just got back from my ride home, no slippages and no fuel smell.. I'll probably cancel the appointment I have booked at the garage...

Looks like i'll be keeping that appointment.. Got home after stopping for gas, couldn't smell a thing. Go out in the garage an hour later and you can smell gas... Put my nose by the ignition and sniff and its strongest from that area. Weird how it doesn't smell right after a ride.