Needs high rpm to engage clutch; adjust?

Hi all,

Bike sat for several months, and after carb clean and fresh fuel, doesn't want to engage in gear, bogs down, tachometer stays at zero... (26k, 1984 vf500)

Going into 1st, it'll die if I don't give it high rpms, and then it revs high but stays at a pretty low speed. Seems like the clutch isn't fully grabbing...or maybe it's a fuel issue? There's so much info here, searching led me down some rabbit holes and I ended up just deciding to scrap the bike, but that's rash, so I figured I'd reach out first.

Tachometer aside, could it be a clutch and/or fuel issue? Never adjusted or messed with a clutch on these at all. I love this bike (my first!), and would like to get a little more life out of it. Thinking about even buying a lower mileage, like-vintage ride.

Thanks for your time!

 

When you say the clutch isn't grabbing, does it try to creep when you put it in gear? If so, have you put fresh oil in it?

My Bandit sat for over a year, and it would creep when I put it in gear. I adjusted the clutch back and forth, but it wasn't helping much.
After the oil change, that got better. No more creeping.

Where are you located?? Put it in your post, or your sig, or your profile. It helps.

 

Low power ?? Be sure she's firing on all 4 cylinders :eagerness:

 

Great ideas!

Probably needs fresh oil. I'll change it out and update.

Just put in 4 new plugs, though I just assumed (making an a** out of you and me) they're all firing like when it was running last. Will double check...by holding plug wire to something metal? That's how I've done it with old trucks and subarus.

So, I'll start with those and hold off on any clutch concerns for now.

Thanks!

 

Did the plugs you removed all look similar in color ??

You can check that cylinders are firing by lightly touching each header pipe (rears require a bit of effort) about 30 seconds after starting, feeling for heat or spray water on the header after it's idled enough.

 

It's not your clutch. Clutches are hydraulic and self adjusting. For a clutch issue, however you'd just have slipping, and increased rpm's. It would never grab too tight, that's not possible, as if you're in a stall. That's a stall, not a malfunction.

It's possible you have a brake lock issue or the chain is overly tight (not likely). That would be it for obvious stuff with the drive train.

Fuel line might be clogged, besides having cleaned the carbs.

 

And this is a typical advice about motors.. if it's not fuel, its compression. Usually it's not compression, so your engine problem is usually always a fuel problem, most of the time. Otherwise it's a spark issue, however. With that, most bikes, except the old ones are electronic ignition, and won't need service.

With your old bike, the ignition is a service issue. Find a non contact field induction operated timing light, 12volts to the black and red, and then clip the inductive pickup to the number one spark plug wire. Pull the trigger and shine it into the timing marks. Basically.

You might be sparking late when the piston is on the downstroke. If the bike did not run it's something else in the ignition. If it's running without power, then likely it's late timing. If it's not fuel or compression, then you have an ignition problem.

Anyway, someone else might read this thread and give you actual timing and ignition advice. For now, just consider that may be where your problem is at.

-David