I think there's a problem with my clutch

Riley W · 03-28-2016, 03:45 PM

I recently bought a new Lifan 200cc engine with hopes of swapping it for my old engine on a homemade go kart. So far, I've been very successful and I'm almost ready to drive it. The only problem left is the shifting/clutch. I built a shifter kart-style shifter on the kart and I bought a normal clutch cable, that works fine. The problem comes when I start the engine and put it in any other gear beside neutral, the driveshaft starts to spin at idle and when revving (obviously) My first thought was that the clutch was engaged, but when I looked at the clutch lever, and played with it, nothing happened. The clutch lever is loose and it doesn't feel like it's doing anything. I did buy pennsoil 10-30 4 stroke oil, which I think could be the problem. I just ordered some of this oil, which should be for a wet clutch http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00DJ4..._rd_i=15719391

I can send a video of the kart and how the engine is acting if needed.

Adjuster · 03-28-2016, 03:50 PM

Your talking about with the kart in the air and the tires off the ground correct? I don't think that's so unusual for the tires to spin a little. But there should be no resistance if you grab a hold of the tire and stop it from spinning or apply a little brake pressure.

/

Riley W · 03-28-2016, 04:14 PM

Yea that was the first thing I tried, but there's a lot of resistance, I applied enough brake pressure that the engine died.

Riley W · 03-28-2016, 04:15 PM

Adjuster · 03-28-2016, 07:13 PM

Yeh that has to be in gear. Are you able to shift the gears? Are you able to put it in neutral?

/

Riley W · 03-29-2016, 02:04 AM

Yes I am able to shift through all the gears.

SpudRider · 03-29-2016, 02:31 AM

Oils which are labeled "energy conserving" are bad for any vehicle with a wet clutch, meaning most motorcycles. Essentially all 0w-20, 5w-30, and 10w-30 oils are energy conserving, and should not be used in your bike.

http://www.calsci.com/motorcycleinfo/Oils1.html

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Riley W · 03-29-2016, 03:39 AM

Thanks, I just wanted to make sure that was the only problem, I ordered valvoline 10w-40 motorcycle oil, which should be perfect right?

SpudRider · 03-29-2016, 06:50 AM

The 10W/40 motor oil will work with the wet clutch in your engine. However, it might take a little while for the 'energy conserving oil' to be displaced by the new oil.

Riley W · 03-31-2016, 12:22 AM

Today, the oil came in the mail and I exchanged it for the old oil, the first thing I did was let it run for a while, about 20 minutes at idle. Is there anything else I could do to help get the clutch free?

SpudRider · 03-31-2016, 03:59 AM

If you can operate the cart for a few miles, the new oil will gradually replace the old oil. If the clutch won't work, you can remove the clutch plates and soak them overnight in the new engine oil before replacing them.

humanbeing · 03-31-2016, 05:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpudRider

...If the clutch won't work, you can remove the clutch plates and soak them overnight in the new engine oil before replacing them.

Riley W · 04-01-2016, 06:36 PM

I've been running the kart for about 1hour each day for the past 2 days. I haven't seen any results, no matter what gear I'm in (besides neutral) the driveshaft is spinning, when I try to brake the engine either dies, or nothing happens when I brake. Same problems even though I switched out the oil. do I have to open up the engine and do any work with the clutch? Or will the engine need more time running with the new oil? Opening up the engine is a problem for me as of right now. So I would prefer not dismantling the clutch to replace it or soak it. Thanks.

Riley W · 04-02-2016, 03:43 PM

Bump

Bruce's · 04-02-2016, 05:01 PM

I just looked at your. video ,it shows you easily moving the clutch lever on top of the transmision with your fingers ,you should not be able to do that .I would take the right side engine cover off and see what's going on inside .I have the same engine in a dirt bike ,I just went out and tried moving it with my fingers and there is no way you should be flipping it around like that ,it takes a lot of effort just to get it to move the tiniest little bit .

03-28-2016, 03:45 PM	#1
Riley W Join Date: Mar 2016 Posts: 60	I think there's a problem with my clutch I recently bought a new Lifan 200cc engine with hopes of swapping it for my old engine on a homemade go kart. So far, I've been very successful and I'm almost ready to drive it. The only problem left is the shifting/clutch. I built a shifter kart-style shifter on the kart and I bought a normal clutch cable, that works fine. The problem comes when I start the engine and put it in any other gear beside neutral, the driveshaft starts to spin at idle and when revving (obviously) My first thought was that the clutch was engaged, but when I looked at the clutch lever, and played with it, nothing happened. The clutch lever is loose and it doesn't feel like it's doing anything. I did buy pennsoil 10-30 4 stroke oil, which I think could be the problem. I just ordered some of this oil, which should be for a wet clutch http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00DJ4..._rd_i=15719391 I can send a video of the kart and how the engine is acting if needed.
	0

03-29-2016, 02:31 AM	#7
SpudRider Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Idaho Posts: 25,054	Oils which are labeled "energy conserving" are bad for any vehicle with a wet clutch, meaning most motorcycles. Essentially all 0w-20, 5w-30, and 10w-30 oils are energy conserving, and should not be used in your bike. http://www.calsci.com/motorcycleinfo/Oils1.html [ __________________ Spud "Never argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level, and beat you with experience." Mark Twain 2015 Zongshen ZS250GY-3 (RX3) 2006 Zongshen ZS200GY-2 (Sierra 200) 2005 Honda XR650L 2004 Honda CRF250X 1998 Kawasaki KDX220 Mods made to my Zongshen ZS200GY-2: http://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=6894
	0

03-29-2016, 06:50 AM	#9
SpudRider Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Idaho Posts: 25,054	The 10W/40 motor oil will work with the wet clutch in your engine. However, it might take a little while for the 'energy conserving oil' to be displaced by the new oil. __________________ Spud "Never argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level, and beat you with experience." Mark Twain 2015 Zongshen ZS250GY-3 (RX3) 2006 Zongshen ZS200GY-2 (Sierra 200) 2005 Honda XR650L 2004 Honda CRF250X 1998 Kawasaki KDX220 Mods made to my Zongshen ZS200GY-2: http://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=6894
	0

03-31-2016, 03:59 AM	#11
SpudRider Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Idaho Posts: 25,054	If you can operate the cart for a few miles, the new oil will gradually replace the old oil. If the clutch won't work, you can remove the clutch plates and soak them overnight in the new engine oil before replacing them. __________________ Spud "Never argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level, and beat you with experience." Mark Twain 2015 Zongshen ZS250GY-3 (RX3) 2006 Zongshen ZS200GY-2 (Sierra 200) 2005 Honda XR650L 2004 Honda CRF250X 1998 Kawasaki KDX220 Mods made to my Zongshen ZS200GY-2: http://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=6894
	0

03-28-2016, 03:50 PM	#2
Adjuster Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Deerfield Beach FL Posts: 1,410	Your talking about with the kart in the air and the tires off the ground correct? I don't think that's so unusual for the tires to spin a little. But there should be no resistance if you grab a hold of the tire and stop it from spinning or apply a little brake pressure. /
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03-28-2016, 04:14 PM	#3
Riley W Join Date: Mar 2016 Posts: 60	Yea that was the first thing I tried, but there's a lot of resistance, I applied enough brake pressure that the engine died.
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03-28-2016, 04:15 PM	#4
Riley W Join Date: Mar 2016 Posts: 60
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03-28-2016, 07:13 PM	#5
Adjuster Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Deerfield Beach FL Posts: 1,410	Yeh that has to be in gear. Are you able to shift the gears? Are you able to put it in neutral? /
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03-29-2016, 02:04 AM	#6
Riley W Join Date: Mar 2016 Posts: 60	Yes I am able to shift through all the gears.
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03-29-2016, 03:39 AM	#8
Riley W Join Date: Mar 2016 Posts: 60	Thanks, I just wanted to make sure that was the only problem, I ordered valvoline 10w-40 motorcycle oil, which should be perfect right?
	0

03-31-2016, 12:22 AM	#10
Riley W Join Date: Mar 2016 Posts: 60	Today, the oil came in the mail and I exchanged it for the old oil, the first thing I did was let it run for a while, about 20 minutes at idle. Is there anything else I could do to help get the clutch free?
	0

04-01-2016, 06:36 PM	#13
Riley W Join Date: Mar 2016 Posts: 60	I've been running the kart for about 1hour each day for the past 2 days. I haven't seen any results, no matter what gear I'm in (besides neutral) the driveshaft is spinning, when I try to brake the engine either dies, or nothing happens when I brake. Same problems even though I switched out the oil. do I have to open up the engine and do any work with the clutch? Or will the engine need more time running with the new oil? Opening up the engine is a problem for me as of right now. So I would prefer not dismantling the clutch to replace it or soak it. Thanks.
	0

04-02-2016, 03:43 PM	#14
Riley W Join Date: Mar 2016 Posts: 60	Bump
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04-02-2016, 05:01 PM	#15
Bruce's Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Sudbury ,Ontario Posts: 855	I just looked at your. video ,it shows you easily moving the clutch lever on top of the transmision with your fingers ,you should not be able to do that .I would take the right side engine cover off and see what's going on inside .I have the same engine in a dirt bike ,I just went out and tried moving it with my fingers and there is no way you should be flipping it around like that ,it takes a lot of effort just to get it to move the tiniest little bit .
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