Help with Gixer playing me up this morning please!

The bike has been sat 3 weeks and started with no problems but when I kicked it into 1st it shot foreward and stalled, this happened repeatedly and I had to give up in the end and get to work >:( I have ruled out the switch on the side stand as this normaly just cuts the engine without a leap foreward. It always has clunked into gear a bit heavyly the first time of the day but settles down after that. Thinking that the clutch cable needs adjusting but stuck other than that. Any ideas before I go home and start hitting it with a hammer would be greatly apreciated? :(

P.S, The neglected 18 year old CBR600 started with no complaints and got me to work on time. :)

I presume that you did have the clutch lever pulled in when you put it into gear? Not being funny, but it has been done, I've seen it... ::) Is there the usual resistance when you pull in the lever?
Sounds like the clutch isn't disengaging, it happens sometimes if a bike is left standing. Adjusting the cable will take only a couple of seconds, do that and then warm it up nicely (the thinner oil will help - incidentally, what oil are you running in it? If it isn't the right one it won't help you.) Once it's warm, switch off the engine and ideally get someone to give you a push as if you're bump-starting it. Once rolling, pull in the clutch and knock it into second, but don't drop the clutch - that should be enough to free it off, if it isn't you may need to be a bit more forceful. Fire it up and put the front wheel against a wall, pull hard on the front brake, pull the clutch in and try knocking it into second - if you can't get second use first. This should work.
As a last resort whip the fairing panel off and lean ithe bike over to the left as far as you can - further than the sidestand so you don't need to drain the oil out of it, onto a pile of cushions or an old duvet is ideal, then whip off the clutch cover, remove the five or six small bolts in the centre of the pressure plate and remove all the clutch plates, separate them, cover each one thoroughly in fresh engine oil and replace, doing everything up in the correct order and to the correct torque...

If I leave my motorcycle for a few weeks and do not fire him up, I get a little bit of drag when I engage first gear for the first time. This clears up as the bike warms up. It sounds like you have a bit more going on here; is the clutch and cable suspect at all? You can try and adjust up any play in the cable.Allow the engine time to warm up and operate the clutch lever and hold it in for a while repeatedly; the plates could be sticking too? Other than advising the obvious like strip the clutch and inspect or get the gixxer to a qualified mechanic; I am sure there will be more snippits of advice to follow :)

Put the bike in gear, pull the clutch and try to roll the bike. If it dosen't move then the clutch is stuck.

Sounds like a stuck clutch.

Cheers, hopefully I won't need to strip the clutch. I'll try and free it off tonight. Yes had clutch in and lever resistance felt ok.

Used to be normal for me on my CB900F - hold the front brake, give it some welly, clutch in and drop into 1st gear. Sometimes safer to put the front wheel against a brick wall. Always, well, usually worked ;D

No joy freeing it off last night (the clutch is stuck) looks like I will have to strip it down at the weekend. The old man also sugested leaving the clutch lever with a cable tie on to hold it in so I am giving that a go.

Will I need any specialist tools oter than a tourque wrench? Scotty makes it sound simple enough.

You could always seek advice from the Kawazaki(Idiot)chap; he might have something to say about clutch control problems ;D ;D ;D

Aside from a torque wrench, all you may need is a plastic hammer to help separate the clutch cover from the engine if it hasn't been off before. If you don't have a plastic hammer, a steel one and a bit of wood will suffice, but under no circumstances use the steel hammer on the engine cases and covers. Once it's loosened, with a bit of care you may get it off without wrecking the gasket. If it gets damaged or torn you'll need a new one but that shouldn't cost much.

It may seem a bit daunting if you're not used to going inside engines, so take lots of photos as you go along so you can see how it came apart and you'll be able to see how it should go back together. If you have the opportunity (and a manual to give you the measurements) you could check the plates for thickness and flatness whilst you have them out. Once back together you'll realise how straightforward it was and see that there isn't really anything to it :)

Go careful loosening the clutch springs. Do it evenly around the clutch and slowly loosen the last bit so as not to launch the bolt across the garage!!!

Tying the clutch lever in for a few days sorted it without the need to strip it down. Just need some sun now :)

[smiley=thumbsup.gif] great news