Is my clutch slipping?
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Honda-Tech Member
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From: London, UK, UK
Is my clutch slipping?
Im quite new to bikes and am not sure if my clutch is slipping. Its a Honda CG 125 and 1st & 2nd gear changes are fine. When I get some speed up and want to change into 3rd then 4th it seems to have delayed gear change i.e. I release the clutch then a couple of seconds later it creeps into gear making a clunk noise. Im hoping its something simple, can anyone tell me how to test a clutch on a bike?
Thanks in advance
Thanks in advance
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Joined: Oct 2003
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From: Honolulu, HI
Re: Is my clutch slipping?
Originally Posted by http://hondacg125.awardspace.com/index.htm
Gearbox
The gearbox was improved with the Front Disc brake model, so the following may not be true for Front Drum models.
When you are in 5th gear and want to change down to 3rd or below, you must let the clutch out in 4th gear.
If you do not, the gearbox will refuse to change down to 3rd or below, until you let the clutch out (in 4th gear) and then pull it in again.
If you are stuck with this problem at a standstill,
briefly let the clutch out and back in again before the bike stalls, or rock the bike forwards and backwards while blipping the throttle.
When the fault is fixed you will hear a mechanical click from the gearbox.
This is probably a design safety feature to stop you travelling at high speed in 5th gear,
and changing down to a low gear and letting the clutch out while still at high speed,
which would lead to excessive uncontrollable engine braking on the back wheel.
The gearbox / clutch will overheat if for instance, you race from one set of stopped traffic lights to another a short distance away on a hot day.
You will not have any problems if you let the clutch out in every gear when changing down, but the gearbox will refuse to change down if you do not.
When it refuses to change down and your stuck at a standstill,
the only ways to fix it are to let the clutch out briefly (pull it back in before the engine stalls) or wait for things to cool down, you will hear a click when it's fixed.
The gearbox was improved with the Front Disc brake model, so the following may not be true for Front Drum models.
When you are in 5th gear and want to change down to 3rd or below, you must let the clutch out in 4th gear.
If you do not, the gearbox will refuse to change down to 3rd or below, until you let the clutch out (in 4th gear) and then pull it in again.
If you are stuck with this problem at a standstill,
briefly let the clutch out and back in again before the bike stalls, or rock the bike forwards and backwards while blipping the throttle.
When the fault is fixed you will hear a mechanical click from the gearbox.
This is probably a design safety feature to stop you travelling at high speed in 5th gear,
and changing down to a low gear and letting the clutch out while still at high speed,
which would lead to excessive uncontrollable engine braking on the back wheel.
The gearbox / clutch will overheat if for instance, you race from one set of stopped traffic lights to another a short distance away on a hot day.
You will not have any problems if you let the clutch out in every gear when changing down, but the gearbox will refuse to change down if you do not.
When it refuses to change down and your stuck at a standstill,
the only ways to fix it are to let the clutch out briefly (pull it back in before the engine stalls) or wait for things to cool down, you will hear a click when it's fixed.
Another way to see if your clutch is slipping is to shift into 3rd or 4th gear (once the engine is warm) and give it full throttle. If you have a tachometer, look to see if the RPM's climb at an uneven rate from your MPH.
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From: Land of the Leprechauns
Re: Is my clutch slipping?
from your description it sounds like the gears are slow to engage for some reason.
theres a couple of steps you could take like a process of elimination.
are you shifting the lever enough when you shift, does the lever or the clutch cable need adjusting, everything look ok where the shift pedal spindle enters the engine? is there enough/any oil in the engine?
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Joined: Mar 2003
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From: London, UK, UK
Re: Is my clutch slipping?
Thanks for the reply and just to think I was on that site the other day using it to change the oil and clean the air filter. Searching owns me 
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From: Land of the Leprechauns
Re: Is my clutch slipping?
She's ok for oil so!
did the shift problem only start happening after the oil change?
even so, it could be somethin lurking in the gearbox causing your problem, 4 options...
1. hope that its not something too serious and get a haynes manual and some tools ready
2. bring it to a bike shop and tell em you want it sorted
3. sell it fast
4. i cant think of a 4th
did the shift problem only start happening after the oil change?
even so, it could be somethin lurking in the gearbox causing your problem, 4 options...
1. hope that its not something too serious and get a haynes manual and some tools ready
2. bring it to a bike shop and tell em you want it sorted
3. sell it fast
4. i cant think of a 4th
Thread Starter
Honda-Tech Member
Joined: Mar 2003
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From: London, UK, UK
Re: Is my clutch slipping?
It seems to be fine if I back off the revs before changing gear but if I really want to wind the bike up then going from 2nd-3rd then 3rd-4th it seems to clunk into gear about a second or so after ive released the clutch fully.
The problem was there before and after the oil change. I did use semi synthetic 10w 40 car oil and although I have heard that some synthetic oils can cause the clutch to slip or drag but I found other CG owners who used the same grade and didnt have a problem. I have a feeling the oil might be overfilled by 50ml or so, could this cause any issues? I know its definitely on the high side more so than the low side.
The problem was there before and after the oil change. I did use semi synthetic 10w 40 car oil and although I have heard that some synthetic oils can cause the clutch to slip or drag but I found other CG owners who used the same grade and didnt have a problem. I have a feeling the oil might be overfilled by 50ml or so, could this cause any issues? I know its definitely on the high side more so than the low side.
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