Clutch issues?

[peperino]

This just happened to a guy here in Argentina. This used to happen in the Megelli's engine but we thought it was fixed in the RX3 engine. Seems its not.

[SpudRider]

That is the starter/sprag clutch. I have ridden my RX3 over 13,000 miles, and I haven't had any problems whatsoever with the starter motor.

You can learn the design, and operation of this sprag clutch, by reading the following thread.

http://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=15622

[SpudRider]

Obviously, that sprag clutch is a defective part. The starter/sprag clutch isn't subjected to forces that would cause that much damage. Also, large Ducati motorcycles use a sprag clutch which appears to be identical to the RX3 sprag clutch.

[peperino]

Well it is a common failure in the Megellis that we have seen here. It is great that the ones sold there haven't experienced this issue

[Danimal]

Originally Posted by peperino

Well it is a common failure in the Megellis that we have seen here. It is great that the ones sold there haven't experienced this issue

please quantify that statement. Way too easy to use a word like "common".

How many Sprag failures out of how many bikes sold?

[peperino]

Originally Posted by Danimal

please quantify that statement. Way too easy to use a word like "common".

How many Sprag failures out of how many bikes sold?

Well honestly it wasn't a very popular bike to start with so it's not a huge number.

But browsing the Megelli facebook group you can find plenty of cases. Not sure how many though, I don't have that info

[Danimal]

Originally Posted by peperino

Well honestly it wasn't a very popular bike to start with so it's not a huge number.

But browsing the Megelli facebook group you can find plenty of cases. Not sure how many though, I don't have that info

So using the word "common" to describe the sprag failure rate is inaccurate at best.
And you do know that the owners who's sprags do not fail never tender their opinion right?

[peperino]

Originally Posted by Danimal

So using the word "common" to describe the sprag failure rate is inaccurate at best.
And you do know that the owners who's sprags do not fail never tender their opinion right?

I'm sorry, let's change the word common that seems to be inaccurate. Sorry I speak spanish.
What I'm trying to say, is that if I enter a facebook group and see a bunch a people having an issue, it is enough for me to at least have eyes opened and be aware. That's all

[Danimal]

Originally Posted by peperino

I'm sorry, let's change the word common that seems to be inaccurate. Sorry I speak spanish.
What I'm trying to say, is that if I enter a facebook group and see a bunch a people having an issue, it is enough for me to at least have eyes opened and be aware. That's all

Ok. Now we're getting somewhere towards quantifying the possible quality issue
How many is a bunch, vs how many sold?

And again, remember that you aren't hearing complaints from those without an issue

[DaytonaMike]

Peperino were there any warning signs (noises, hard starts, etc.) before failure? Just wondering what to watch out for or listen for. Thanks for the post. I think all issues should be documented just so we can all help each other out in the long run.

[Jay In Milpitas]

Originally Posted by peperino

I'm sorry, let's change the word common that seems to be inaccurate. Sorry I speak spanish.
What I'm trying to say, is that if I enter a facebook group and see a bunch a people having an issue, it is enough for me to at least have eyes opened and be aware. That's all

I thank you for your open eyes.

[SpudRider]

Originally Posted by peperino

I'm sorry, let's change the word common that seems to be inaccurate. Sorry I speak spanish.
What I'm trying to say, is that if I enter a facebook group and see a bunch a people having an issue, it is enough for me to at least have eyes opened and be aware. That's all

Yes, thank you for alerting us of a potential problem.

[Juanro]

As for the quantification, lets say this:
- Number of a similar bike (say: Honda XR250 Tornado) sold: thousands. Starter clutch failures: "very few", if any.
- Number of RX3 (and the other bike sold in Argentina with the same engine, Megelli 250r) sold: a few hundreds (reports says the initial run of RX3 was 400 bikes). Starter clutch failures: enough for the mechanics to be posting videos on YouTube about how to fix it and that in a closed Facebook group "many" people are reporting it to had happened.
Of course this is not data to make a statistic, I guess is more a word of mouth issue, like, you know, "The Honda NX4 Falcon consumes oil and it will seize if you don't have a close eye on it" or "The early Honda V4's are notorious for its tendency to eat cam due to poor oil flow in the head", I can't vouch for any of this being "true" in the scientific way, In fact a friend had a NX4 with no problems and I've put over ten thousand miles in an early Sabre V4 with no cams wearing on me.

[SpudRider]

Please post a link or two for videos concerning the starter clutch failures. The videos can be in Spanish, or any other language.

[Juanro]

Hi,

Here: