help bought my first bike

So heres my deal I bought an 86 vf500 for 850 . in great shape. I had the guy drive it for me before I bought it so it worked fine. I got it home and i thought I knew how to ride a bike so I get on and cant get the thing to go keeps dieing and the back tire locks up. So I was trying to get it to go and after a few trys now it the clutch wont disengage. I can shift out of gears while the bike is off, but if I try to shift while the bike is on and the letting the clutch out it jerks really hard and dies . So I have know idea what I did. I am new to bikes so please go easy on me!

 

Location

Where are you located?

 

could be the clutch master cylinder of the slave cylinder or the clutch itself sound's like the clutch to me.......post some pictures

 

Have you ridden before or is this your first experience with bikes in general?

 

If the guy you bought it from rode it around right in front of you and didn't seem to have any issues with it shifting or making noises and "looking" like it was hesitant in taking off, I would lean more towards your experience... We all start somewhere, just play it real safe, stay off the roads until you are at least comfortable with getting it to take off without jerking around... Better yet, maybe you can find a high school parking lot that is out of the way and practice there...provided you have a way of trailering it there... also don't be afraid to check into a motorcycle riders course, I'm sure they would help tremendously, better safe than a blot on the road! Good luck and you'll soon be enjoying one of the greatest feelings in the world, the air rushing thru your hair! OK, Maybe I should have said thru your helmut! :biggrin:

 

ok I dont think I made that post to clear here is what happens I grab the clutch and while it is in neutral I put it in first and before I even let the clutch out the bike jerks like I poped the clutch and then dies instantly?
I live in Illinois!

 

If that's what's happening, ya got me stumped, unless maybe the clutch slave cylinder isn't holding....

 

its funny I can shift gears while its off. I just cant get the clutch disengage . I wonder if it is a spring. cause it is trying to move even though I have the clutch grabbed

 

I'll bet the motor is cold or there abouts when this happens? If so it's nothing but clutch drag and you most likley have choke off? Which will cause low to no idle. Drop the clutch and the cold oil makes it drag and the very low idle will stall the bike. Very common. Plus the tuff shifting in 1st-N-2nd gears when cold whether moving or not is also a common Honda trait.

"letting the clutch out it jerks really hard and dies" Have you ever driven a manual shift car or truck before? Sounds like you need to work on your technique.

If you'd like to stay a live to really ride that bike. You should look for either a mentor or a MSF coarse to take. Read some basic books on how to ride.

 

sounds like youdont have any pressure in your master cyl. open the top and check the fluid. if its low then fill it up and bleed the line.

 

Thermostate, I'm a person of few words.

Sign up immediately for a MSF class and don't ride the bike until you graduate.

Sounds like you're an accident waiting to happen. Good luck ~

 

I'd bleed the clutch first, If that does not work, maybe time for a new clutch. were not here to beat you up, just everyone wants to make sure you say ALIVE. good luck

 

I am not asking for someone to tell me if I need to learn how to ride people. I want to know if my clutch could be blown or if it might possiblely be a trans problem. I know I need to take a course but I wont be able to ride my bike if it is broken. All I am asking for is if any one here has had any knowledge of these bikes mechanically. NOt how do I drive one. Plus I do know how to drive a Manuel trans. I am on a bite of a rant here just frustrated at the whole thing!Also I did bleed the clutch twice now. I get pressure. I took the slave of and watched it move up and down. I dont know what I am doing wrong.I am taking it to the shop this week. Thanks for the help guys.

 

Clutch is probably worn out. An experienced rider could have made it look normal for short periods of time. Looks like you bought a bike from a class A jerk.

 

sounds like it's time for a new clutch.

 

Ok So I took my slave cylinder off and checked the pressure and the piston moves up and down . I did what the book said that you need to take the push rod out and press the slave back in all the way and then I put the push rod back in and now I cant get the bike to shift out of firsts or neutral. before I could while the bike is off I could shift through all the gears.

 

The good news is that if it's just a new clutch that you need and you're confident enough to do the work you already did, the clutch is a breeze. Outside of the scraping of the gasket it is easier than brakes.
Last time I did my PC clutch it was cool for awhile (and the clutch had been used in my old engine, so it wasn't guaranteed to work), then I had the symptom you are describing (not inexperience at all, folks, it's that the clutch is always engaged). I checked the oil and it was low (these clutches are wet, they need engine oil to operate), I topped it off and it's been trouble and mostly worry free since then (I forget how long, over half a year I think).

Sorry about all the soap boxes/pulpits, that's something you will find on any moto forum in my experience, even though if there's one thing a man loves it's getting advice he hasn't asked for

 

Ok so the clutch is easy? I have never done anything like that before. What should I do. I have worked on car engines alot ,however I stay away from the clutch and trans. I am fully capable of doing it. I just dont like to cause there is always a chance of messing it up. should i take it to the shop or try to do it myself !