Well, the trusty ol Lakota has presented a problem to me. I mainly noticed it yesterday. I switched to Spectro Goldere 4 (syn blend) and adjusted the clutch. I took it for a spin and take off seems ok, but once I start hitting the higher RPM seems like it's slipping pretty bad. I went back and adjusted it several more times and could not get it to correct. I'll take off ok , like I said then the motor keeps revving but the power feels to have just fallen off. The motor doesn't seem to sound quite right, either. Could just be because it's spinning so much more and no more power is getting to the wheels. I never really noticed this before and I suspect it has to do with me adjusting the clutch and switching oils. I thought it kind of different that when I adjusted it took many turns clockwise before I felt resistance.

I've used Bel-Ray, syn blend, in it for quite a long time. The dealer I used to get it from stopped carrying it so I went to Valvoline 4 stroke oil at Autozone. Now I have found a dealer that carries Spectro not far from my house. I've read good things about it so I thought I would go back to a syn blend. Well, I really don't think the oil is the cause of my problem. But, I do suspect is has caused my problem to be more apparent. I'm thinking my problem is in my clutch. Perhaps the frictions, steels and springs? I'm not sure. It is the factory clutch that's in it and I've had it almost 7 years now. I've never done any clutch work and somewhat "scared" of it being an auto clutch and all. What do you guys think? Any ideas what I'm dealing with?

If it is fibers/steels/springs I see you Lakota guys recommending KG fibers and springs along with Vesrah steels. I couldn't find any of this in Rocky Mountain or Dennis Kirk. What kind of a job am I looking at? Any special tools? Any tips? What else could be wrong in there or anything I made need to look for?

Thanks for any feedback!

 

Well, I've done some research regarding the clutch parts, if needed. I've found I can get the KG pro kev fibers and HD springs, however, they claim Vesrah does not offer just steels for the Lakota. He has no listing in his Parts Unlim book and nothing on ebay shows them, either. Any one know where I can get the steels? He suggested using the stockers. He also said they ahve seen problems with K&G clutch parts. I told him what I've found on forums and such, he "well, ok, but this is what I've seen in my shop, BUT not on your particular machine that I can recall."

 

If the oil was the last thing you really "changed" on the bike before the problem showed up (other than the clutch adj), then I would first suspect that the new oil is the culprit. Drain the new oil and try the oil that you used to use w/o this problem. By the way, is the new oil (that's in the bike now) for automobiles? As you may know, automobile engine oil has friction modifier (for less) and synthetic is even more slippery than the dino juice type.

 

No Spectro Golden 4 is for ATV and wet clutches. I couldn't see how it could cause this. This is what it's made for. I'm with ya, though, thinking the oil is the culprit, but I don't believe it could be. I don't want to drain almost $30 in oil only to find there is another problem.

 

Drain the oil into a clean container and reuse it if that's not it. It is OK. Even if throw it away, isn't this easier and cheaper than the $300 cultch job?

 

Good point. I could put it in a clean container. Just have to go buy another one of those and more oil. Another $20... [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

Clutch will cost me $55 for the parts.

 

spectro is the junkist synthetic oil that i have ever used and i have tried plenty of oils....it is the oil that is making your clutch slip i had the same problem with my lakota and i found that spectro dirtyed pritty quick and didnt offer alot of protection...i would switch to royal purple or amsoil synthetic......although the spectro is what is making your clutch slip most likely that still means that your clutch is on its way out......i got my vesrah steels out of the marshalls catalog from greg at cwr.........

 

Thanks for the info., Holez. Hmm..well doesn't that figure?! Well, I have K&G fibers and HD springs on the way from a local dealer. I have Vesrah steels coming in from Ronnies. Hopefully this is all that's wrong with the clutch.

Guess I'll switch to another oil. Sadly I don't have an Amsoil dealer anywhere around me. I'm not sure about Royal Purple, I know I've never seen it.

How was the clutch to do? Pretty easy or pretty tough? Do I need any special tools?

Thanks, again!

 

you will need a impact gun and 22 and 24mm impact scockets for the primary and secondary clutches and be sure not to impact the clutch springs on because the trees will snap, just tighten them with a ratchet and they will bottom when tighet...and the springs take a 10mm socket........it was a pritty easy install for me and only took about a half hour to take it appart and re assemble......just make sure you put the primary clutch one way beriing in the right way or else it will stall when idleing in gear and of course when everything is together re ajust your clutch............if you cant get your hands on royal purple or amsoil get the pro honda synthetic in the gold bottle....just abut every dealer has it...it is real good stuff too.....