I finally got some time off work to check out my clutch woes. The first step is to inspect the clutch plates to see if they are worn (see previous entry).
But the problem is – I can’t get the fuggin’ primary cover off!
It’s held on by Allen-head bolts, which ought to be a Good Idea. But three of them simply will not un-do. The Allen key is just twisting into macaroni.
I was stuck. So I phoned Phil. He says:
(1) Get an old bolt, place it on the head of the recalcitrant Allen screw, and give it a few good hard smacks with a hammer. It won’t hurt to do that, he says, provided you keep your fingers well clear;
(2) Go and buy a good-quality high-tensile Allen key;
(3) If necessary, apply heat from a blow-torch until the local area of primary case is hot enough that spit sizzles.
I hung up the phone and trudged back to the shed.
I can now report that Method (1) above was sufficient, without recourse to (2) or (3). And I still have all my fingers …
All Allen bolts are now out. All that remains before I can slide the primary cover off is to remove the friggin’ left-side foot-rest.
If this bike were a Yam 650 Twin, then all one would do is undo a handsomely chromed bell-topped retaining nut and slide said foot-rest off a shaft that is firmly affixed to the frame.
But is this a Yam 650? Like heck is like! It’s a Tri-fuckin’-umph, so instead you have to find a way to hold the cunningly-concealed nut beneath the swing-arm on the inboard end of the foot-rest bolt. If not held, it results in the foot-rest bolt turning impotently but not undoing itself.
Stuff it! I’m off to bed, and I’ll deal to that in the morning.
