04 KX250F clutch...wtf

kellen

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Kicked the bike over one day, was just messing around on the street. While doing a little power wheelie in first the back wheel locks and the bike stops running. The bike won't roll in gear with the clutch lever pulled in. Also I could no longer kick start it. Can't bump start it since it won't roll in gear.

Took the cover off and when the lever is pulled, the plates do move out together. I took them out and there isn't any damage to the plates.

Heres the basket and inner hub

400641_4938517423864_1107999233_n.jpg


could that grooving cause this issue?
 
A grooved basket can cause drag. If it's grooved badly it could stop the clutch form disengaging completely.
You can file down the grooves as a temporary fix, but it looks like you will need a new basket.
 
A grooved basket can cause drag. If it's grooved badly it could stop the clutch form disengaging completely.
You can file down the grooves as a temporary fix, but it looks like you will need a new basket.

The basket grooving is pretty slight, and it's $$$ so I am going to file it. But the inner hub is beyond repair so I will replace it and see how that works.
 
Was gonna say clutch basket. File down the outer to save some money if you need, but I would agree that inner needs to be replaced.
My 04 YZ250F looked almost as bad when it started to have clutch issues.
 
filed down the grooves on the clutch basket and replaced the inner hub with a new one and also installed new fiber plates, steel plates and springs.

looking at the clutch plates when I pull the lever is completely different, all the plates move at the same time, all evenly spaced. Like it should.

But...still cant roll the bike in gear. It drags maybe slightly less. I can only SLOWLY and pushing with everything I have move it in 5th gear. and I wouldn't exactly call it rolling. So no attempting to bump start it.

Can't kick it over either. As far as I can tell it has spark and fuel. Now all i'm left with is something internal I guess.
 
Maybe check if your piston is locked up,your bike should kick over in neutral.
 
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The engine turns over when I kick it in neutral, just wont run

when I kick it with it in gear and the clutch pulled in, the bike just lunches forward
 
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Can't get it to run even in neutral?

Clutch thing is almost stumping me. What did you torque your pressure plates bolt at? I'm assuming since you checked the action of it the cable is pretty close adjustment wise.

I had something similar to this after my MX bike sat for a few months while I was gone. It dragged like crazy, the clutch just wouldn't feel totally disengaged, couldn't start it in gear etc. All it took was some hard riding and it finally broke free, but it was all related to the clutch pack and the way it got put away.
 
Kind of think you may be right about that one... Sucks...

dug around on thumpertalk, someone else with the same bike and similar problem had a piston cracked sideways. lol
 
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cut my losses and sold the bike to somebody interested in fixing the motor. Now trying to decide if i want to get another four stroke or try a two stroke
 
Honestly you don't have to worry about they're not being enough power at any time, it's not like trying to ride a 125. It's more like riding a 1000 compared to a 600, a tap of the clutch and it'll be on one wheel. I bog mine in 3rd through a corner and it'll lift the front wheel out of the rut if I don't get the rpm up to spin the rear.
 
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I mostly only do trail riding. I don't.want to ever hit the clutch. ha

I recommend staying with the four stroke and moving up to the 450, you WONT be beating on it as you probably were on the 250F, specially in the trails. The 450 is a little heavier but has a plenty of torque, meaning you can ride in any terrain (ie. sand dunes where a two stroke struggles).

The only benefit to a two stroke is the cost of a rebuild but is done more often (every winter).

Edit: Insurance is only $350 / year on a 2008 CRF450R.
 
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I recommend staying with the four stroke and moving up to the 450, you WONT be beating on it as you probably were on the 250F, specially in the trails. The 450 is a little heavier but has a plenty of torque, meaning you can ride in any terrain (ie. sand dunes where a two stroke struggles).



Edit: Insurance is only $350 / year on a 2008 CRF450R.

Someone hasnt ridden a newer 2stroke lately.
 
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