Ducati Monster Forum

Raise kickstand, start bike in neutral, pull clutch lever, hold brake lever, shift to first....quick lunge/stall... [bang]


IIRC it is from clutch plates sticking together after sitting for a day or two.  Is this correct?  Is there a known remedy? (I live right near the ocean, if that matters)

I am wondering if this is a request for an oil change, however it hasn't been too long and the oil looks good.

04 620 ie. (wet clutch(obvious I know, just wanted to be clear(however if I had been able to do a wet-dry clutch conversion, I probably wouldn't be asking this question in the first place))) [laugh]

It is from the plates sticking, or incomplete disengagement...or a combination of the two.

You might be able to eliminate it by rocking the bike in gear with the lever pulled to free the plates, or you might try bleeding the clutch.

Any lurching after the first time in the morning?

Nope, it seems that the lurching is only at first startup.  I am going to stick with the clutch plate argument.  Is there any way that you know of to prevent the sticking in the first place?

I'd go with doing an oil change and following DP's advice of bumping them free in the meantime, although I've never heard of wet clutch plates sticking because of gunky oil.  How long has it been (miles and time) since your last change and what kind of oil are you running?  Your clutch plates wouldn't be sticking from living by the ocean unless you run an open clutch cover, which I'm assuming you haven't done the dry clutch conversion.  My plates have stuck after washing my bike, and it behaves just like that.  If you have adjustable levers, adjust your lever out a click or two (that will help you get into neutral more easily, too). 

My trackbike does it a bit, but doesn't stall, so it's a non issue.

Are you running 10/40 or 20/50?

The 10/40 may make a difference...if you're due for a change it would be worth a try.

What's happening is the discs are 'stuck' by the oil viscosity...not dirty oil.

I'll be bringing the bike in for its 6k sometime soon so i'll just have the oil changed at the same time.  The issue doesnt happen constantly, but it is enough to get annoying.  I'll live with it for a few hundred miles more unless major damage is being done. 

Thanks for the input.   [thumbsup]

Hmmm... come to think of it, every bike I've ridden with a wet clutch has a big lurch when shifting into first, but not so much that it stalls.  I'm just so used to my dry clutch that it didn't occur to me until now.  My SV for the track, formerly Stillie's GSX-R 1000, buddy's 620, and a few others. 

While I can't be of any assistance with preventing the plates from sticking, I have an idea for you to keep it from stalling.

With the bike running in neutral with the clutch lever pulled, try giving it a little gas (with the front brake applied) while shifting into first.

That should keep the bike from lurching on you while giving it enough power to keep from stalling and break the plates apart.

mine's does that on occasion... but only when it's the cold start.

another dude's S2R800 does that cold, too.

also happens with mine ...just changd the oil form 10/40  to 20/50 ...thats when it started


so its not dirty oil but as someone else stated its the viscosity

The stock steel plates can rust together (light rusting like car brake rotors) causing them too stick. Only happened to me once after I washed the bike, clutch open and let it sit for 2 days.

Could switch to aluminum assembly. It won't rust.

Also make sure the clutch has new fluid and bled fully. If the fluid is burned up, it will react in odd ways

Wet clutch

Well than this won't help will it.  [cheeky]


Thats what I get for reading thru it to fast