Clutch issue - 2001 Monster 900

[brecchi]

A year or so ago, my bike was having problems shifting into first at a stop light - it seemed like the clutch wasn't pulling as much as it needed to to disengage and I could barely manage to get it into first, which would eventually do with a super loud "chunk."  The clutch also felt like it was slipping at times, and its a stainless steel replacement with just a few thousand miles on it.  After sitting for the winter, I replaced the clutch slave cylinder, but I noticed some leakage from the banjo bolt and I replaced the line with a stainless steel one and bled the system.  Fired up the bike and the clutch pull seems a bit soft (which I expected because of the aftermarket slave cylinder),  but it won't disengage the clutch at all.  It seems to fall short somehow even though the lever is touching the handlebar when pulled in.  Shifting into first immediately stalls out the bike, with the clutch lever not engaging anything at all. 

Is the problem with the clutch itself, or possibly some type of rod between the slave cylinder and the clutch itself?  Any suggestions appreciated!

[ducpainter]

Sounds like a hydraulic issue. Bleed it some more, and do a search on slave cylinders to find some of the tricks for getting air out of a brand new line and slave.

Also, at some point Ducati changed the length of the clutch push rod. You could have an incompatibility issue with the new slave and the push rod.

[brecchi]

Thanks.  I could try to bleed it some more.  Me and my buddy used a Mityvac and about half a small bottle of fluid and we are pretty sure its bled properly though.  The symptoms now seem to be a more extreme version of what was happening before I replaced the slave cylinder - except now I can't get the clutch to disengage at all.  The clutch push rod could be a possibility but I'm not sure about the compatibility theory, since the problem was occurring with the original and current slave cylinder.

[ducpainter]

A new line will form tiny air bubbles on the surface and those will eventually rise, form a larger bubble, and cause issues. Since you know better, don't bleed it again.

[Howie]

Bleed again keeping the master as close to horizontal as possible. If there is still a problem wire tie the lever to the grip and leave overnight.  I am pretty sure your '01 has the correct pushrod for your slave, anyway, if you tell us what brand we can check.

[brecchi]

A new line will form tiny air bubbles on the surface and those will eventually rise, form a larger bubble, and cause issues. Since you know better, don't bleed it again.

Not at all! - I was just providing as much detail as I could to make it easier for someone who does know better to offer some advice. 

Bleed again keeping the master as close to horizontal as possible. If there is still a problem wire tie the lever to the grip and leave overnight.  I am pretty sure your '01 has the correct pushrod for your slave, anyway, if you tell us what brand we can check.

Howie, I'll take your advice.  Slave cylinder was an eBay buy - I think it may have been a generic brand as I can't find any kind of company marking on it.  I bought it a long time ago so I'll have to dig a bit deeper to try and find out more info on the make. 

[scuro]

For what it's worth, Brecchi, my 2000 m900 ie has had the "clunk" into first gear for god knows how long. I happened to bleed the clutch again last week and even left the lever tied overnight, but no improvement. Did you have any luck in the end?