Grant J MCGRATH
Just got it firing!
Summary: Clutch replaced, multiple clutch cable adjustments top and bottom made, two clutch cables replaced and clutch cable routing moved away from the engine fins and heat guarded. Why am I still having issues with the freeplay at clutch lever and difficulty finding neutral and shifting up to 2nd? Please help
I am hoping to gain some insight to troubleshoot a long standing (after several visits to the shop and approximately $2000 spent) issue I am having with my 2014 V7 Special. Purchased used with 2600km now has 6000km. Please note I am located in Toronto Canada and have only two MG dealers, one is over 1.5 hrs away. I have been unable to find a local shop that has a great amount of knowledge with MG and many just recommend I go to the dealer.
I have seen other threads on this forum that speak to similar issues with finding neutral, and at times, feeling like you need a hammer to get up to 2nd. These threads suggested the routing of the clutch cable due to proximity of the cable resting on the engine fins and a second potential issue with engines delievered from the factory with a missing thrust bearing (2016?).
Will give you a break down of the trouble I have experienced, sorry in advance, might be a long story. I started to have difficulties finding neutral and getting into 2nd gear. I also noted a lot of freeplay at the clutch lever. The bike also wants to advance when in 1st at a stop light. I was able to temporarily fix the issue with an adjustment at the top clutch adjuster. This only corrected the issue for the short term as you can guess I eventually ran out of available thread to apply further adjustment.
Contacted my local MG Dealer and was advised that I would need a new clutch. I proceeded with having the clutch replaced and the bike was returned. Mechanic commented that he had never changed a clutch on a V7 at such low km's. Very soon after it being returned I again started to experience the same issue (shifting, neutral/2nd). I returned the bike and was told it needed a new clutch cable so I had that replaced, disappointed that this wouldn't have been done when the clutch was replaced.
Guess what, again soon after being returned I experienced the same issue. This continued and I returned several times where they made cable adjustments top and bottom. I flagged to the mechanic the possible issue of cable routing and potential heating up the cable, he dismissed this and said that isn't the issue. Eventually after many stop-ins for cable adjustments the mechanic commented that the cable 'grew a tail' at the bottom end and he replaced the cable once more. Surprise, surprise soon after the problem came up again. I noted that the cable was resting against the fan blades and ziptied it back and off the engine.
So I took it to a local shop (non MG dealer/specialists) and asked for their assistance to trouble shoot. I showed them the threads on this forum as to possible issues. We elected to heat gaurd the clutch cable and secure the routing away from the engine fins and they adjusted the cable (process of elimination). They advised that the bottom cable end (forget what the part is called) was stripped so they removed and retapped, recommending replacement. Unfortunately I am starting to experinece the same issue again.
So looking for thoughts and suggestions. I believe it is going to be pretty extensive and costly work to check the thrust bearing. Was this an issue with 2014 models? Is this or another component known to fail that maybe causing the issue? Are there other options I should explore? Note that the problem seems to be when the bike heats up. I get freeplay increase at the clutch lever. Thanking you in advance for any assistance you can provide.
I am hoping to gain some insight to troubleshoot a long standing (after several visits to the shop and approximately $2000 spent) issue I am having with my 2014 V7 Special. Purchased used with 2600km now has 6000km. Please note I am located in Toronto Canada and have only two MG dealers, one is over 1.5 hrs away. I have been unable to find a local shop that has a great amount of knowledge with MG and many just recommend I go to the dealer.
I have seen other threads on this forum that speak to similar issues with finding neutral, and at times, feeling like you need a hammer to get up to 2nd. These threads suggested the routing of the clutch cable due to proximity of the cable resting on the engine fins and a second potential issue with engines delievered from the factory with a missing thrust bearing (2016?).
Will give you a break down of the trouble I have experienced, sorry in advance, might be a long story. I started to have difficulties finding neutral and getting into 2nd gear. I also noted a lot of freeplay at the clutch lever. The bike also wants to advance when in 1st at a stop light. I was able to temporarily fix the issue with an adjustment at the top clutch adjuster. This only corrected the issue for the short term as you can guess I eventually ran out of available thread to apply further adjustment.
Contacted my local MG Dealer and was advised that I would need a new clutch. I proceeded with having the clutch replaced and the bike was returned. Mechanic commented that he had never changed a clutch on a V7 at such low km's. Very soon after it being returned I again started to experience the same issue (shifting, neutral/2nd). I returned the bike and was told it needed a new clutch cable so I had that replaced, disappointed that this wouldn't have been done when the clutch was replaced.
Guess what, again soon after being returned I experienced the same issue. This continued and I returned several times where they made cable adjustments top and bottom. I flagged to the mechanic the possible issue of cable routing and potential heating up the cable, he dismissed this and said that isn't the issue. Eventually after many stop-ins for cable adjustments the mechanic commented that the cable 'grew a tail' at the bottom end and he replaced the cable once more. Surprise, surprise soon after the problem came up again. I noted that the cable was resting against the fan blades and ziptied it back and off the engine.
So I took it to a local shop (non MG dealer/specialists) and asked for their assistance to trouble shoot. I showed them the threads on this forum as to possible issues. We elected to heat gaurd the clutch cable and secure the routing away from the engine fins and they adjusted the cable (process of elimination). They advised that the bottom cable end (forget what the part is called) was stripped so they removed and retapped, recommending replacement. Unfortunately I am starting to experinece the same issue again.
So looking for thoughts and suggestions. I believe it is going to be pretty extensive and costly work to check the thrust bearing. Was this an issue with 2014 models? Is this or another component known to fail that maybe causing the issue? Are there other options I should explore? Note that the problem seems to be when the bike heats up. I get freeplay increase at the clutch lever. Thanking you in advance for any assistance you can provide.
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