1st post/ 1st question

[CR man]

Hey guys, I have been looking around here for a couple of weeks and just now getting around to posting. I have a '00 CR125 that I just picked up about a month ago. I have noticed that the clutch is not releasing when the bike is cold and I put it into gear. I have to rev it up and put it in gear to get it to release and not kill the motor.

(Example... I start the bike, let it idle for about 1 minute. I pull in the clutch lever and tap the shifter down to first gear. The engine dies. I try to push the bike with the clutch lever still pulled in and the motor turns over. I then put it in nutral and start the bike back up. I rev the engine and tap the shifter into first and it goes in , but it jerks the bike forward as the clutch releases. All is good now)

After I get it to release it doesn't do it untill the next cold start. The clutch is adjusted perfectly. It does not slip or shutter at all during operation. Is this something that you guys have come across before? Is the oil causing this?

Thanks for any help,
Jason

[Aus_Rider_22]

Bikes will tend to lurch or be hard to push with the clutch pulled in when cold. Once the bike warms up it usually goes away.

Depending on how bad this is then it's probably just normal.

[Dirtbikindad393]

Welcome to ATM CR man

My guess is the oil is too thick.

[CR man]

I was wondering about the oil. I am going to change it tomorrow and see if that helps. I am also taking it to a local OHV park saturday to see how the clutch likes the new oil. I have only been on the bike about ten minutes total, so it's hard to tell how it is on the open track.

[psycho393]

You may try running ATF in there as it acts as a cleaning agent and might clean your clutch parts up nicely to great working order.

[KKXR400R]

hey welcome to ATM. I had the same problem and as stated before the oil may be a lil thicker then needed. Let the bike warm up for a few minutes more and I bet that will solve your problem. Good luck and let us know what you find.

-Kevin-

[wamxp1mp]

If it still does it after warm up and it wants to lurch while in like 1st gear while hot it's possible the clutch plates need to be replaced probably be my next guess.

Keep in mind though the bike is used it's like 5 yrs old now it could be possible the basket is starting to get grooved. That year CR isn't known for it's bottom end power more like lack of so it wouldn't suprize me if the previous owner used the clutch alot of get it onto the pipe. I know I did with my '01 which is nearly the same bike.

[kwmotocrosspunk]

my brother has the exact same bike, 00 cr125, try letting the bike warn up a little longer, but also you can replace the clutch, we are about to replace to clutch on my bro's

[Mikey D]

Originally Posted by wamxp1mp

If it still does it after warm up and it wants to lurch while in like 1st gear while hot it's possible the clutch plates need to be replaced probably be my next guess.
Keep in mind though the bike is used it's like 5 yrs old now it could be possible the basket is starting to get grooved...

I agree, it sounds like the clutch basket is grooved. Pull the clutch plates out and check between the fingers of the basket to see if there are small grooves where the steel plates have worn in.

These grooves can be (very carefully!) removed with a file and it'll get you going again, but beware that uneven filing will make it groove faster and too much material removal and you'll be snapping of parts of your clutch basket!

Good luck!

[CR man]

A couple of weeks late but i'm still here. I had a great day at the local OHV park. The bike performed great. I let it warm up for about 8-10 minutes and the clutch was great. I think the thing just doesn't have enough rotating mass to break the clutch loose from the cold oil before it is warmed up. After warm up the clutch performs flawlessly. I change the oil before I went, weather that helped or not I don't know.

I do need some more seat time on the bike. This is my first 125 so I have learned the hard way that you need to keep it on the pipe on the hill climbs. I learned to work the clutch a little and that helped a lot. A couple more times out and I will be good to go.

Thanks for the advise guys!

[crazyrydermx]

Originally Posted by CR man

A couple of weeks late but i'm still here. I had a great day at the local OHV park. The bike performed great. I let it warm up for about 8-10 minutes and the clutch was great. I think the thing just doesn't have enough rotating mass to break the clutch loose from the cold oil before it is warmed up. After warm up the clutch performs flawlessly. I change the oil before I went, weather that helped or not I don't know.
I do need some more seat time on the bike. This is my first 125 so I have learned the hard way that you need to keep it on the pipe on the hill climbs. I learned to work the clutch a little and that helped a lot. A couple more times out and I will be good to go.
Thanks for the advise guys!

Good Yeah, you really need to stay high in the rpms on these 125s. Watch out though, you work that clutch too much (a little is sometimes too much) and you will be back on here asking, "where's the best place to buy a new clutch?"...