I went to go ride my 2003 500 auto yesterday and had a hard time getting it to move. It felt like the brake was on. It wasn't! I put it in neutral and it rolls freely. When I put it in gear (either L, H or R) it takes a lot of gas to get it to move. I rode for a short ways and the clutch cover got extremely hot to the touch.

Earlier this spring I took the clutch apart and cleaned it. I only put on a few miles on it since then, so I know it's not belt dust clogging things up.

Any one have any ideas?
I have not had time to start taking it apart yet. I'm kind of worried it might be something in the wet clutch system.

 

Just guessing here but it sounds like you have a bad bearing inside the clutch cover.

 

Or the springs in your clutch may be bad or maybe your installed something wrong if you even torn it down that far. What did you use to clean it?

 

yeah that bearing will give you problems.i just worked on my 500 the other day cleaned the clutch and lubed the bearing everything is fine now.id look at that bearing.mine was pretty dry.