Engine Doesnt Engage Drivetrain

Target · Feb 16, 2015

Hello, just want to ask for some help.

I've had numerous chain issues and the wheel locking up when the motor is running as i'm still working out the "kinks".

It seems when i let the clutch go, the engine starts but doesn't move the bike anywhere when the clutch is let out at it's fullest, at much higher revs, the motor will sputter and jerk the bicycle forward for very short ticks and i can't seem to go any faster than 20kmp/h (12MPH), and at this speed, the bike is very sluggish and rough to ride. I'm almost certain it's a clutch issue but what would be the best approach for this?

Thank you very much in advance,

EDIT: I should mention the clutch works as it should when the motor is off; clutch in, and the bike rolls freely. I'm just out of ideas. i'll be keeping up with this thread until the bike is working

freebill · Feb 16, 2015

had a new gt5 motor did that just this month,,i took it apart found the clutch plate had came apart about a 1/16 on an inch berrings was showing,i replaced the clutch gear and it run great now.

GoreWound · Feb 16, 2015

it is a good idea to do a take-down and inspection of the clutch.
you may just have to tighten it slightly, this sub-forum has a giant list of sticky posts that should be super useful to you with that.

it is worth pointing out that if your clutch is not tight enough it will 'work' when the motor is off but the power from the motor will cause slipping.

also if it is cold where you are it may just be rough staring, my bike needs a little bit of engaged clutch AND pedaling to warm it up before she will move herself (takes about thirty seconds)
if you are using the choke to start it be sure to un-choke quickly as what your are describing could also be the bike trying to run while choked. (I do not use my choke because my bike wont start at all with it, probably just the cold though)

also make sure you have the bike cruising along before you try to start it, the first bump takes quite a bit of 'oomph' to get going.

and finally, welcome to the forum!

2door · Feb 16, 2015

Clutch cable is too tight. Just my first thought on this one based on the OP's description of the problem.

As for the engine not producing power after it starts....is the choke open?

Tom

Target · Feb 16, 2015

Thank you for the tips, i'll attempt to adjust a few things right now. I took off the clutch cover and clutch plate and there is a lot of black grease near the actual clutch pads, it's not entirely oil- it just had a very minor gritty feeling to it, not sure if that's meant to be there. Cheers guys! I'll see what i can do.

I'll keep you posted! .wee.

GoreWound · Feb 16, 2015

sounds like friction pad residue with possible oil/lube contamination.
pull the friction plate and feel its surface for greasiness.

2door · Feb 16, 2015

Some residue is normal. Lots of greasy stuff isn't. The gears need lubrication but over lubing them can cause the excess grease to get into the clutch. That will cause slippage.

You can usually clean this up with a few good blasts of brake cleaner, available in high pressure aerosol cans from auto parts stores. Watch for over spray however. Brake cleaner will damage painted surfaces. And protect your eyes!

Here is some information on clutch/cable adjustment> http://motorbicycling.com/showthread.php?t=22726

Tom

Target · Feb 17, 2015

I ended up taking some pictures of the clutch with the clutch plate taken off, I suspect that's way too much oil? Haha.

Thanks for the help, guys.

GoreWound · Feb 17, 2015

that looks like it might be a bad seal from the crankcase, clean it out really well then run it and open it up again, if there's more you have a problem.

Target · Feb 17, 2015

I did originally intend to use the clutch cover as a template to draw out a shape of cardboard and place it in there as a means of preventing any noise from the gears and such, would this be a good idea? I've heard others have done this with good success rates of dampening the noise, i've already packed the exhaust with steel wool and that's helped DRAMATICALLY . Once again, thank you GoreWound and the others for the excellent help. i wont be able to test it until the new chain roller arrives from China. But things are happening!

2door · Feb 17, 2015

Target, You're right. That's a little heavy on the grease

It will clean off with brake cleaner. When it's dry run some rough sandpaper over the pads just enough to rough them up a little.

Chain roller? Do you mean the tensioner wheel? If so you might want to explore using a modified skateboard wheel instead. Lots of us do.
Here's a link to some reading > http://www.google.com/cse?cx=partne...6#gsc.tab=0&gsc.q=skateboard wheel&gsc.page=1

Good luck.

Tom

GoreWound · Feb 17, 2015

Target said:
I did originally intend to use the clutch cover as a template to draw out a shape of cardboard and place it in there as a means of preventing any noise from the gears and such, would this be a good idea? I've heard others have done this with good success rates of dampening the noise, i've already packed the exhaust with steel wool and that's helped DRAMATICALLY . Once again, thank you GoreWound and the others for the excellent help. i wont be able to test it until the new chain roller arrives from China. But things are happening!

glad to help, FYI i was being a little over dramatic about the engine seal in my last post, more than likely not that, just a worse case scenario.

as far as the cardboard goes, I sort-of doubt you would get a noticeable decrease in gear noise with that, you would probably just get shredded paper in your gears. Now if you had a stack of gaskets to make space, maybe.

I was kinda wondering if a coat or two of truck-bed liner spray on the outside of the clutch cover would help?

Did someone on this forum try stacking two cover plates with a slice of truck tyre in the outer one? or did I see that somewhere else?

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