Wheel starts to turn even when in Neutral

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Peter Y · #1 Unread post by **Peter Y** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 4:59 am

Ive had my Suzuki GSX 600F 2003 (Katana) for just two weeks. I noticed that if I start the bike while its on the middle stand the rear wheels starts to turn rather slowly. Its not hard or fast or anything like that.

Is that normal? Does that say anything about my clutch?

Sat Mar 17, 2007 5:35 am

It's normal. Something or another about constant mesh something or another. Someone a bit more mechanically savvy than I can explain it better.

Johnj · #3 Unread post by **Johnj** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 5:36 am

That's normal. If you try to stop the tire with your foot you'll find it stops easily enough.

BuzZz · #4 Unread post by **BuzZz** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 7:34 am

It is clutch drag and it is a normal by-product of wet clutches, especially when below full operating temp. The oil in the tranny is thick enough to cause drag between the plates, and the tolerances between the clutch parts is slightly less when they parts are cold.

You will notice that it is much less pronounced when the engine is hot. The oil has thinned out and the tolerances have grown slightly, meaning less parasitic drag.

All this is assuming the clutch is properly adjusted.

Peter Y · #5 Unread post by **Peter Y** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 11:37 am

BuzZz wrote:It is clutch drag and it is a normal by-product of wet clutches, especially when below full operating temp. The oil in the tranny is thick enough to cause drag between the plates, and the tolerances between the clutch parts is slightly less when they parts are cold.

You will notice that it is much less pronounced when the engine is hot. The oil has thinned out and the tolerances have grown slightly, meaning less parasitic drag.

All this is assuming the clutch is properly adjusted.

U know I think you are spot on. When I saw the movement in the rear wheel it was when the bike had not been ridden for at least two weeks and the motor was cold (so was the weather).

Thanks!!!!!!!

BuzZz · #6 Unread post by **BuzZz** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 3:48 pm

It's also why the first downshift in the morning into first gear is often clunky and noisy. The idling time to get the oil warm enough to avoid this is substantial. By the time you come to the first stop and take off again, things have warmed and loosened up enough that the issue is dead.

logitech104 · Sat Mar 17, 2007 8:44 pm

also if you hold the clutch in (disengage) for about 10 seconds before you shift into first, it's not nearly as clunky, at least on my bike. But you should try it.

#8 Unread post by **Skier** » Sun Mar 18, 2007 6:10 pm

BuzZz wrote:It is clutch drag and it is a normal by-product of wet clutches, especially when below full operating temp. The oil in the tranny is thick enough to cause drag between the plates, and the tolerances between the clutch parts is slightly less when they parts are cold.

You will notice that it is much less pronounced when the engine is hot. The oil has thinned out and the tolerances have grown slightly, meaning less parasitic drag.

All this is assuming the clutch is properly adjusted.

Err, wouldn't that manifest itself if he dropped it into first and had the clutch lever pulled in? If the transmission is in neutral, what you're describing shouldn't be an issue.

If he's in first gear, clutch pulled in and the tire is spinning, what you're describing is exactly what's happening.

#9 Unread post by **Sev** » Sun Mar 18, 2007 6:23 pm

There's still some friction between the free spinning gears on the primary or secondary shafts in the transmission and the fixed ones due to oil. Basically if the bike is in neutral the gears still turn, but there is no gear that is directly attached to the output shaft.

However if there is no load on the rear wheel (in the air) the viscosity of the oil will provide enough friction for the rear wheel to turn slowly. I found this out last week, when I thought I'd "messed" up my transmission in an engine rebuild.

crazy5dave · Wed Mar 28, 2007 2:59 am

The wheel turning on the center stand is no problem. what is a problem with clutch drag is when the bikes on the ground, in neutral, and you are just stradling it- not sitting on it, clutch lever out and it creeps forward. that needs adjustment.