'86 Shadow 1100 - Clutch Problem

1986 Shadow VT1100C

Bike sat around outside covered for the last year or so and the last time I rode it it seemed fine.

Started it up and tried to accelerate and bike didn't move. Checked the master cylinder and the fluid looked like sludge. So, I drained the system at the slave and removed the master and pulled it apart. It didn't seem to have any pressure so I rebuilt it. Pulled slve off and cleaned and reassembled added new fluid and bled out the air.

It seemed to work okay at first, but I got a block away from home while shifting it seemed to lose drive and acted like the clutch was stuck engaged.
So pushed it home and tried bleeding it again and nothing. I bought a brake bleeder pump and worked on bleeding it again and it seemed to work again and finally made the trip a couple miles away to the Honda dealer for the carb cleaning.

They had it two weeks to my dispare and when it was done I walked over ther and picked it up ($300.00). Soon as I pulled away the clutch felt like it was slipping, but I figured I could make it home and could look at it there and since they had just soaked me for 3 Ben's I didn't want them to get anymore. Well, I made it about a 1/4 mile down the road and it lost all drive.

It was a long push home in 80+ heat and I'll never do that again. Anyway, here it sits pretty much in the same condition.

I've since did a badly needed oil/filter change, pulled the slave off without draining the fluid and made sure it was working, and then got brave and pulled off the right clutch cover to see if there was anything obvious I could see and how it looked when the hydraulics were actuated on the clutch. It looked like the hydraulics were working fine moving the clutch in and out.

The only thing left I know I can do is to find a pressure gauge and adapter and check the clutch hydraulic pressure at the cover. Any suggestions are welcome. I don't know what else to do, but take it back to the dealer and pay a ridiculous amount of money to have it repaired.

85VT1100C,
that is quite a push. I'm glad you decided not to do it again. That is actually why I bought a new bike, because I made too many pushes home with the old ones and decided I would never do that again after the 10th or 12th time.

How is it coming on this project? The only suggestion I can give you is some bikes have springs in the clutch that stretch out or wear down and need replacing. Let us know how it goes. I'm really new to hydraulic clutches, so hopefully someone can come along and help you out with this.

85VT1100C,
that is quite a push. I'm glad you decided not to do it again. That is actually why I bought a new bike, because I made too many pushes home with the old ones and decided I would never do that again after the 10th or 12th time.

How is it coming on this project? The only suggestion I can give you is some bikes have springs in the clutch that stretch out or wear down and need replacing. Let us know how it goes. I'm really new to hydraulic clutches, so hopefully someone can come along and help you out with this.

Thanks for the reply.

Well, right now I'm working on checking the oil pressure on the hydraulic clutch assist circuit. Couldn't find the adapter, which Honda doesn't offer any longer, so I'm preparing to drill and tap out the clutch cover to accept a standard adapter found locally. After I check the pressure it will help me narrow down the problem. If the pressure is normal then I'll be tearing done the clutch and checking the discs.

I'll post any findings later. Peace.