Bike Doesn't move in first gear

mikiepizza

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Hey guys! I just picked up an 1983 yamaha xs400 maxim yesterday and drove the eleven miles to my home in chicagoland. Everything was fine beside it being freezing outside so parked it at home and went inside to get warm. about an hour later I go back out to take another ride and the bike starts up fine, but won't move. Bike is in first, release clutch lever and....nothing? bike won't stall with the clutch released all the way and I can even rev the engine. I can feel a slight move forward when I release the clutch but nothing like how it's supposed to be. The thing is that the place I bought it from just replaced the clutch line for me. and in fact is was working fine for them and for me. not sure what to do from here.
 
Does clutch lever(on handlebar) return back when you release the clutch? Perhaps some dirt got stack there preventing lever from returning back. You can also screw-in cable adjusting thing on the lever to the point that clutch lever does not returns back all the way(leave little gap), see if it helps. (I assume chain and sprockets are where they supposed to be).
 
yes it does move in neutral, and xs400nj, what do you mean by return back? sorry this is my first bike and I'm very new to everything. I tried screwing in the thing on the lever, I tried it all the way in, fairly far out, and somewhere in the middle, none of this seemed to have any effect on the situation.
 
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Welcome to the Forum - good choice :thumbsup:
It sounds like whoever did the maintenance on your clutch messed up - enough to allow something to come loose or drop out.
Unless, of course, something unrelated to that work coincidentally picked this time to fail.

I would assume the former to start though, and maybe disconnect the cable they installed and then, following the steps in the manual precisely, re-install it as if it were a new one.
When I took off the cover through which the clutch cable passes, I re-installed it wrong the first time and nothing would work. I forget precisely how, but the cable wanted to flip around the wrong way somehow.
Also, make sure the little ball bearing hasn't been lost. It serves as some sort of spacer and without it nothing engages properly.
Wish I knew more and could be a better help ...
 
what do you mean by return back?

You squeeze the lever with your left hand to disengage the clutch (that move pulls the cable), and then you let it go to engage the clutch back(the cable is released). When you let it go the lever should return back to original position(and release the cable).

It is possible that after you release the lever cable is not released all the way (still pulling just enough to keep clutch slipping). By screwing "in" the adjustment screw(the one that cable goes though) you release the cable little more. If this did not help - chances are it is not the cable that is causing your problem.

My next move would be to take off the sprocket cover(where other end of cable goes) and to check the insides of it. But I have a different bike(1980 special). Hopefully Maxim owners will suggest something.
 
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