Clutch not disengaging?

sethumich · Post by **sethumich** » Tue Sep 18, 2007 2:23 pm

Hi everyone, I'm brand new to scooters and this forum, and i would greatly appreciate some help. I just got an 88 elite sb50p runnning this past week. I know that the sb50's are the laughing stock of the elites, but I got it for $100 on ebay. When I start it while it is on the stand, the rear wheel spins, even at a low idle. When I apply the rear brake, the engine slows to a sputter and then stalls. I've compensated by incrasing the idle, so that it stays running with the rear brake on, or when it is stationary off the stand. Is this normal, or is my clutch not letting go? Am I burning up the clutch by using it this way? I've also got very little low end power that I am blaming on this problem, because I thought that the clutch shouldn't catch until you've reach a decent power range. Any help or commetns are welcome!

Dac · Post by **Dac** » Tue Sep 18, 2007 3:11 pm

this could be a carb problem, play with the settings, my elite has done that before
theres 2 strews you can play with, if its idling to high that will happen, that could affect take off too i think....

sethumich · Post by **sethumich** » Tue Sep 18, 2007 4:44 pm

I've adjusted the carb's idle and air/fuel mix screw and its idling smoothly, even at very low RPM's. The clutch just doesn't like to let go.

myhonda · Post by **myhonda** » Tue Sep 18, 2007 5:31 pm

there may be a screw or somthing jammed in the clutch from the last owner. i had bought a scoot once and they did that to keep the clutch engaged cause the pads were shot. probly not the case thogh.

sethumich · Post by **sethumich** » Tue Sep 18, 2007 9:18 pm

That's a good theory, but if that were the case, the cluch would always stay permanately engaged. I can make it slip with with the idle turned up high enough. I probably should take the thing apart, but I need to come up with a way to hold the bell housing while I remove the bolt. I saw the picture in the technical section about making the tool. I may give that a try.

hondaman · Post by **hondaman** » Tue Sep 18, 2007 10:01 pm

You may just need a new clutch spring.

sethumich · Post by **sethumich** » Wed Sep 19, 2007 5:32 pm

I found my problem! I used an a/c clutch holding tool that I borrowed from autozone to get the clutch off. The tool works great and is free to borrow with a $20 deposit. It turns out that one of the clutch springs had come disconected completely and was rolling around in the bell housing. The clutch plates are in really bad shape, so I'm going to order new ones along with new springs. Can't wait to get her going again.