[doug collins]

:roll: I was comeing home the other night from a little ride over to next town. It was about a fifty mile round trip. I had been rideing with son and he was on the 400. I placed the 650 in power mode & felt a vibration on the floor board. I 'm not sure what a failing clutch feels like. I didn't hear anything going on. But it was diffently a tinging vibration on the floor board. This only happen when i swicht to power mode while going down the road. :roll:
:roll: I was down on the scoot tours site and were talking like a lot these 650's have clutch failuiers. I been on this site for quiet a while, & haven't read that much about clutch problems. I know we have had some problems. But i didn't think it was that big of a deal. I have around 6700 miles on my Burgman since april. No problems to speak of.
I did recently have had a new tire put on. Suzkui would not put it on since i didn't but it thur them. So i had a local cycle shop put it on for me. Could this have something to with it? I don't know.
:? I'm confused, & not a mechanic. And little problems like this one really bug me. Any input would be appreciated.

 

[pauljo]

Doug,

There have been 2 clutch failures that I know of. That is not "a lot" considering the number of Burgmans on the road. One of the clutch failures was on a Scoot-Tours member's 650. They are mostly a Pro-Honda group. Most of them started with Helixes, and ride Silverwings now. I've seen comments in articles in thier magazine that are somewhat anti-Suzuki. They tend to blow any issue with a Burgman out of proportion. You have to take what they say with a grain of salt.

If it was your clutch, I'd think it would vibrate in all modes, not just Power mode. One thing to check is your wheel bearings. There is definitely an issue with premature wheel bearing failure on the 650s, particularly on the rear wheel. Put your scoot on the centerstand and try to wiggle your wheels side to side. If there is any sideways movement, it is your wheel bearings, and they would need to be replaced asap.

Also, check your machine over carefully for anything that is loose. Check the centerstand carefully to see if any of the bolts are missing or loose. A few folks had problems with that. If something is loose, the higher rpms in Power mode might be making vibration from the loose item more noticable.

If you are still under warranty, take it to a dealer and have them try to reproduce the problem by riding the machine in Power mode. Get them to write it up (document it), even if they don't figure out what the problem is. That way, if something fails just after you go out of warranty, you have a better chance of getting Suzuki to pay for the repair.

 

[doug collins]

Thanks Paul,
I can allways count on your input.I talked with one of the persons at scootercade about their clutch failure. However she had a side car attached to her 650. I can't see where that would be any good for your clutch. It looks to me it would have to work harder.
I'll do that cheak list you mention before i go to work this morining. The scoot is still under warranty till April. When the extended warranty kicks in. They say that clutch failures are not covered by the extended warranty.
By the way i started hearing a new sound comeing now. You know that sound that a lot of Burgmans make. When you switch from drive to power mode. That churping sound. Only it don't stop. It just keeps right on churping. It dosen't do it till i go into power mode. I think i may have a drive pulley going out. Or maybe a drive belt. It's not as loud as a power stereing belt on an old car. But it sounds very much like that. Only not nearly as loud. But it is noticeable.
I've got 700 more miles to put on the scoot, before i take it in for it 7500 mile service. You think maybe i sould go ahead and take it in now?

 

[pauljo]

Doug,

If the problem is constant in Power mode - something is probably wrong. I would take it in soon. Lynn Slater of Scoot-Tours had a clutch failure just after her warranty expired. Suzuki did pay for the repair. But she had been complaining to the dealer about her clutch acting strange before the warranty expired. That is why it is important to get your dealer to write up the problems on a work order. Hopefully though, they will identify the problem and fix it before your warranty expires. Don't buy any dealer BS about "they all do it" or anything like that. Make them get on the phone with Suzuki support and discuss the symptoms of the problem with them.

 

[Dennis Gross]

Clutch ?

When you take it to the dealer you may not want to tell them you are having a problem with the clutch since the bike does not have one. The transmisson is where you are hearing the noise and getting the vibration in power mode. Weather, temperture, can cause the belt to make different noise and as the belt wares aginst the pulleys they become coverd with residue. This can cause the belt to hang on the pulley for a second which happens when you use power mode or the manual settings. Not much different than the air conditioning belt on a car when it engages and you here the chirp. If you look at the pulleys you will see what comes off of belts as they ware down. The new ford freestar has the same type of transmisson this year. It will be interesting to see how their metal drive belt holds up. Good luck with your bike.

 

[pauljo]

The AN650 definitely does have a clutch. See pages 3-38 through 3-42 in the Service Manual for full detail, including pictures.

 

[doug collins]

Thanks guys,
I feel better knowing i got great people on this site to help me out. You all are triffic. I done my cheaks this morining Paul. I couldn't find anything lose. The wheel is tight as a drum. All the nuts and bolts seem tight. I'm going to get this into the dealer as soon as posible. By the way the new tire on the rear is working great. Good ride and great handleing. Margaret's really haveing a tuff time keeping up in the curves now. HA!HA!HA! The front tire was placed on backorder. I'll cheak back with them in a few weeks. I had a nail in the old tire that was on there. So i had to change out a little quiker than i wanted to.

 

[Dennis Gross]

clutch or cvt

You can have the wet clutches taken down or the clutch in the starter if you wish but the noise is in the cvt which is not a clutch. I guess I should have been more humble to the guru, sorry if I ruffled your feather. apples and oranges.

 

[pauljo]

Dennis,

I'm no "guru" for sure. The statement that the scooter has no clutch was inaccurate so I reacted to it, but you are certainly right that the squealing noise is probably in the CVT. There have been rare problems with both clutch failure and CVTs - so I'd say it is up to the dealer and Suzuki USA to figure out where Doug's problem lies.

No feathers ruffled... sometimes we don't type exactly what we mean. I'd agree that Doug shouldn't tell the dealer it is a clutch problem or a CVT problem. He should describe the symptoms, express his concerns, and let them sort it out.

 

[dero]

Removed

 

[magyver]

Clutch

I will throw in my 2 cents about the chirp sound. When you go from the drive mode to either power or manual modes you are changing the position of the cvt pullies to a lower ratio causing the belt to chirp a little.
You have also sort of changed to a 6 speed try it and see. Run through gears 1--5 the switch to drive and watch the rpm drop again.

 

[pauljo]

Re: Clutch

I will throw in my 2 cents about the chirp sound. When you go from the drive mode to either power or manual modes you are changing the position of the cvt pullies to a lower ratio causing the belt to chirp a little.
You have also sort of changed to a 6 speed try it and see. Run through gears 1--5 the switch to drive and watch the rpm drop again.

Yes, there is a quick chirp when you do that, but it doesn't keep chirping if you stay in that gear or mode. From what I understand of Doug's problem, it keeps on chirping as long as he is in Power mode, and it is also accompanied by vibration. If I understand what he is saying, that isn't normal. It sounds to me like something in there is either worn, or out of adjustment.

I heard other 650s do the chirp at Scootercade. But mine didn't do it at all until I had about 5000 miles on it. That makes me think that there is a small amount of stretch in the belt that occurs - or possibly a slight amount of contamination that builds up on the belt. But I think a couple of other folks said that theirs always did that since new. I actually find the chirp more annoying than the diesel sound at idle, because at least I understand what causes that. But as long as mine chirps once or twice and then stops chirping, I'm not going to worry about it. If it kept on chirping though, I'd worry.