hawk 250 clutch

yoonit1 · 03-22-2018, 08:43 PM

Ok when my hawk gets gets hot from being pinned on the highway for 15-20 min my clutch starts to make a buzzing/grinding noise when I take off and it will also be hard to shift. Any help on this? Do I just need a new clutch is it something bigger?

roundhouse · 03-22-2018, 10:30 PM

maybe clutch is overheating from running the motor so hard?? pinning it for 15-20 minutes is not good for it. Also what oil do you have in it? I would go with a good maybe 20w50. And the 17/45 sprocket swap would probably help your top end RPM. I have never had my hawk on the highway and I am a noob so I do not know.

timcosby · 03-23-2018, 12:19 AM

adjust the clutch lever till almost no play and see how it does.

JeremyC · 03-23-2018, 12:31 AM

If it's like mine, you have to adjust the cable after it warms up, or it has too much free play. IDK if it's the cable stretching and contracting with temp changes or if it's internal, but once it warms up, mine will have too much free play.

Megadan · 03-23-2018, 06:17 AM

This is a common complain of many of us with the Hawk clutch. It's not the cable, just the clutch itself.

If you get the clutch adjusted just right, then you can actually get by without having to adjust it. I have mine set with just the teeny tiniest bit of free play when cold. Once hot it still operates just fine.

I have found that following the TT250 clutch adjustment has worked the best for me.

The short version...
1. Set the adjuster on the lever in the middle of it's adjustment range.
2. Using the engine side adjuster, adjust the clutch until you have 3mm of free
play at the lever. Then tighten down the engine side of the adjuster.

My only variation to this is that I turn the lever adjuster less than halfway out, between 1/2 and 1/3 of the way out, but it works well in either case.

yoonit1 · 03-23-2018, 11:16 AM

I have it adjusted with almost no freeplay, it helps with the shifting part but it still makes the grinding noise when I take off in first, and when I'm cruising it sometimes starts making a a buzzing noise but when I pull in then let off the clutch it stops. I'm thinking I should just replace the clutch and get an oil cooler to keep the temp down

**JerryHawk250** · 03-23-2018, 11:27 AM

An oil cooler will help. I don't have the issues with finding neutral after it warms up like I did before I installed the cooler. Also make sure the oil you are using is designed for wet clutch's.

Megadan · 03-23-2018, 11:34 AM

Oil cooler is always a good thing.

As far as replacing the clutch... before you do that, try taking the pressure plate and springs out, then re-assembling it. There was one member here who was having similar complaints as you that did so while investigating and it solved everything. You may be dealing with uneven spring pressure due to poor assembly, or maybe plate or two isn't seated properly or hung up. The most you have to lose is some time.

jimwildman · 04-03-2018, 07:09 PM

I no longer have any complaints about the hawks clutch, and I had many. The bike has 1900 miles now, mostly in the dirt. The clutch works great now. It used to make noise and exhibit "grabby / shuttering" behavior.

I wonder if the machining is just crap, and after a bunch of use the plates and steels wear in nice and flat. I was looking for replacements last spring.

I don't recal having to adjust it lately either.

03-22-2018, 08:43 PM	#1
yoonit1 Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 28	hawk 250 clutch Ok when my hawk gets gets hot from being pinned on the highway for 15-20 min my clutch starts to make a buzzing/grinding noise when I take off and it will also be hard to shift. Any help on this? Do I just need a new clutch is it something bigger?
	0

03-23-2018, 12:19 AM	#3
timcosby Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: robertsdale alabama usa Posts: 1,007	adjust the clutch lever till almost no play and see how it does. __________________ 1991 harley heritage softail classic 2016 hawk kaw h1 400 tripple 13' long chopper in progress 2009 johnny pag bar hog 2004 hd electra glide ultra classic shriner edition 1997 harley davidson 1200 sportster 1972 harley davidson amf sx250
	2

03-23-2018, 06:17 AM	#5
Megadan Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 7,976	This is a common complain of many of us with the Hawk clutch. It's not the cable, just the clutch itself. If you get the clutch adjusted just right, then you can actually get by without having to adjust it. I have mine set with just the teeny tiniest bit of free play when cold. Once hot it still operates just fine. I have found that following the TT250 clutch adjustment has worked the best for me. The short version... 1. Set the adjuster on the lever in the middle of it's adjustment range. 2. Using the engine side adjuster, adjust the clutch until you have 3mm of free play at the lever. Then tighten down the engine side of the adjuster. My only variation to this is that I turn the lever adjuster less than halfway out, between 1/2 and 1/3 of the way out, but it works well in either case. __________________ Hawk Information and Resource guide: http://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=20331 2018 Hawk 250 - Full Mod list here. http://www.chinariders.net/showpost....62&postcount=1 2024 Royal Enfield Shotgun 650 https://chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=34124
	2

03-23-2018, 11:27 AM	#7
JerryHawk250 Moderator Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Houma, La. Posts: 11,552	An oil cooler will help. I don't have the issues with finding neutral after it warms up like I did before I installed the cooler. Also make sure the oil you are using is designed for wet clutch's. __________________ 2023 Lifan Lycan 250 Chopper 2023 Venom Evader 2022 Lifan KPX250 2020 Kawasaki Vulcan S 2004 Honda ST 1300 2016 Black Hawk 250 (sold) Keihin PE30 carb,125 main,38 slow.Pod filter,ported & decked head 10:1 CR,Direct Ignition Coil,15/40Sprockets,NGK DPR8EIX-9,De-Cat,Dual Oil Cooler,Digital Cluster 2016 Cazador180 XL 2014 Coolster150 JerryHawk250.com My YouTube Channel
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03-23-2018, 11:34 AM	#8
Megadan Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 7,976	Oil cooler is always a good thing. As far as replacing the clutch... before you do that, try taking the pressure plate and springs out, then re-assembling it. There was one member here who was having similar complaints as you that did so while investigating and it solved everything. You may be dealing with uneven spring pressure due to poor assembly, or maybe plate or two isn't seated properly or hung up. The most you have to lose is some time. __________________ Hawk Information and Resource guide: http://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=20331 2018 Hawk 250 - Full Mod list here. http://www.chinariders.net/showpost....62&postcount=1 2024 Royal Enfield Shotgun 650 https://chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=34124
	0

03-22-2018, 10:30 PM	#2
roundhouse Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: N Texas Posts: 706	maybe clutch is overheating from running the motor so hard?? pinning it for 15-20 minutes is not good for it. Also what oil do you have in it? I would go with a good maybe 20w50. And the 17/45 sprocket swap would probably help your top end RPM. I have never had my hawk on the highway and I am a noob so I do not know.
	0

03-23-2018, 12:31 AM	#4
JeremyC Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Southern IL Posts: 132	If it's like mine, you have to adjust the cable after it warms up, or it has too much free play. IDK if it's the cable stretching and contracting with temp changes or if it's internal, but once it warms up, mine will have too much free play.
	0

03-23-2018, 11:16 AM	#6
yoonit1 Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 28	I have it adjusted with almost no freeplay, it helps with the shifting part but it still makes the grinding noise when I take off in first, and when I'm cruising it sometimes starts making a a buzzing noise but when I pull in then let off the clutch it stops. I'm thinking I should just replace the clutch and get an oil cooler to keep the temp down
	0

04-03-2018, 07:09 PM	#9
jimwildman Join Date: May 2016 Posts: 237	I no longer have any complaints about the hawks clutch, and I had many. The bike has 1900 miles now, mostly in the dirt. The clutch works great now. It used to make noise and exhibit "grabby / shuttering" behavior. I wonder if the machining is just crap, and after a bunch of use the plates and steels wear in nice and flat. I was looking for replacements last spring. I don't recal having to adjust it lately either.
	1