Just to clarify - When I refer to "engaged" I am talking about when the clutch plates are pressed together and the engine is actually driving the bike.
When I refer to "disengaged" I am talking about when the lever is pulled.

Shortly after washing my bike (not right after but about 5 to 10 km after) my clutch has problems engaging.
Once I actually had to push it home because I couldn't get it to go at all.

When releasing the lever through the friction zone - it feels as if there is less "spring" returning the lever to the out position. It is as if there is something sticking. Then once the lever is all the way out - the clutch is still disengaged and the bike doesn't move.

The only way I can get the clutch to engage when this occurs is to put the bike in neutral, pump the lever frantically while cursing, then put the bike in gear and basically pop the clutch.

This has happened twice and both times were shortly after washing. The first time lasted for a short time, but this second time lasted for about 50 miles. of highway/city riding.

Any ideas?
TIA

just to add - i checked the fluid level and it is a-ok.

QuoteThis has happened twice and both times were shortly after washing.

I wonder if there's a connection?  Seriously though, don't pump soapy water into your clutch housing. 

I'm assuming it has something to do with the washing. First time it happened I didn't make the connection.
I didn't put tons of direct water pressure into the clutch housing though. Just a garden hose. Either way the next time I wash my bike I'm going to use nothing more than a fine mist in that area.

Have you considered using masking tape on your clutch cover while you're using water on the rest of the bike?  Soapy water really isn't a good additive to the clutch components.  You might even want to take the plates out and clean them all with brake cleaner, since they're a bit contaminated.  Personally, I hand clean my bike with Plexus and other cleaners, rather than using a hose, to avoid these problems.

My bad. When you mentioned clutch housing I was thinking the lever / resevoir.

I have a wet clutch - no real chance of getting water in there. (or at least i would hope so)

Quote from: SKOM on July 21, 2008, 12:43:19 PM
My bad. When you mentioned clutch housing I was thinking the lever / resevoir.

I have a wet clutch - no real chance of getting water in there. (or at least i would hope so)

Duh, my bad.     I just assumed it was a hosed up dry clutch problem. 

So, that leaves stickiness at the lever; either the lever itself, or the piston in the master cylinder bore, I guess.  Is the little seal/bellows torn or missing that goes from the lever to the bore?

The seal is still there and looked okay. I'll inspect it again today after work.

had a simular problem myself, but without the washing. seems the fluid in reservoir likes to be on the min. level. i pumped excess fluid through slave cylinder bleeder.  clutch works great since .as the clutch plates wear,you will gain fluid,it's in the design.  also might check freeplay at lever. hope this helps !!

check your clutch pressure plate rod... might need some waterproof grease on it.  it's behind the slave cylinder.

i put a combination of waterproof grease and moly grease.

Speaking of the lever, you haven't touched the plunger screw, have you?

Quote from: KRJ on July 21, 2008, 04:37:09 PM
had a simular problem myself, but without the washing. seems the fluid in reservoir likes to be on the min. level. i pumped excess fluid through slave cylinder bleeder.  clutch works great since .as the clutch plates wear,you will gain fluid,it's in the design.  also might check freeplay at lever. hope this helps !!

I noticed that the resevoir was right full to the top. The caps even "weep" from time to time. I just had the 12000km service done and I thought they would have checked that (although I suspect all they did was an oil change but that's for a different topic).

Quote from: Ash on July 21, 2008, 04:43:10 PM
check your clutch pressure plate rod... might need some waterproof grease on it.  it's behind the slave cylinder.

i put a combination of waterproof grease and moly grease.

Excuse my ignorance. But is that the rod I see when I remove the slave cylinder?

Quote from: Hedgehog on July 21, 2008, 04:48:48 PM
Speaking of the lever, you haven't touched the plunger screw, have you?

Nope. It still has the silicone locking it in place.

QuoteI noticed that the resevoir was right full to the top. The caps even "weep" from time to time. I just had the 12000km service done and I thought they would have checked that (although I suspect all they did was an oil change but that's for a different topic).

I thought you said you checked the level and it's a-ok?

If that brake fluid gets on your paint you will cry.  Pull the cap and see if it's really full to overlowing.  If it is, drain some out until it's a bit below the "max" level.  In fact, you really ought to completely replace the clutch fluid.  The only thing I can think of that matches your symptoms is that there's a lot of water in your clutch line, and when the engine warms up the water expands.  Since the reservoir is completely full, the only place for the expansion to go is to push the slave piston and make the clutch slip.  It's a stretch, but that's all I got.

There is no max level on my reservoir (coffin style if that matters). Just a min level.
I'll bleed off some fluid till it gets to the min line.

Thanks everyone for all the tips.

Quote from: SKOM on July 21, 2008, 06:15:03 PM

Excuse my ignorance. But is that the rod I see when I remove the slave cylinder?

correct

If the fluid level is over the window you are overfull.