Run the motor with no clutch?

This is going to sound like a silly question, but:

Is it safe to run the motor with no clutch installed? I just shelled my pressure plate, dropping lots of metal into the pan. My motor was making a bit of a rattle/clatter at low rpms, but it sounded like it was from the crank area. I want to clean out all the metal and make sure that noise has gone away before throwing anymore money at this motor.

If I leave the basket, but remove the disks and pressure plate, will anything be damaged by running it that way?


Thanks!

 

I wouldnt. The transmission would suffer damage when shifting gears.

 

The idea was to leave it in neutral, i'm not planning on riding it or anything haha.

 

No different than running it with the clutch lever pulled.

 

That's kinda what I was hoping, I was just concerned about balance or something *shrug*

 

For starts, the transmission won't care, as it will be COMPLETELY disconnected.

No it won't hurt anything. HOWEVER: Either put the cover back on or be sure you have the whole area protected with rags and a cardboard shield or whatever you can rig because oil WILL GO FLYING EVERYWHERE.

I learned this the hard way, and I was just spinning the motor over with the starter, not running it.

 

That's what I hoped to hear, thanks fitz. And don't worry, I was going to put the cover back on

Now to figure out how to get all those metal bits out without pulling the motor

 

Pull the exhaust and drop the sump; I believe you can do that with the motor still in the bike.

 

If I were you, after cleaning the sump, I'd also put new oil and filter in it

 

Haha yeah new filter and oil are on the list

Ehhh dropping the exhaust sounds like broken-off-bolt city... i'm not sure I have the cojones to mess with that right now. I'll see if I can flush it out with some cheap motor oil... then go from there depending how it looks. Though dropping the sump would be nice to check out the bottom end and timing guides/chain.

 

RE: flushing-- if you're going to do that, remember it's nearly a straight shot from the clutch area into the sump; I'd put it on the sidestand and DUMP oil in, then stand it up over a large pan with the drain plug already out.

 

Gotcha, thanks for the advice! I'll give it a shot this week/end and report back. Hopefully i'll be shopping for a clutch and not a whole motor :roll: