Clutch problem

[echo42kp]

I was out on a ride today and had a problem with the clutch...had to have tow come pick me up.

I was riding for the first part of the day with no problem, but right before stopping for lunch, I noticed the gears were not downshifting properly (clunky..I guess) and up shifted ok. I stopped for lunch with some friends and parked the bike. After lunch I could not get the bike to start in gear (with clutch held in) and could only get it to start in Neutral. As soon as I shifted or tried to shift from neutral into gear it would just die after lurching forward (even with clutch still held in). This made me believe the clutch was not engaging. When squeezing the clutch it also made a noise I have never heard before several times...but not constant. The noise was somewhat like a

Have I burned out the clutch?
Is there air in the clutch line?
I am pretty new at working on bikes so I am taking this very slowly and just trying to learn.

Thought I would hit up the pros here on the site.

[echo42kp]

Sorry...the noise was like the brake sound (hydro) but a lower pitch , i guess.

Is this the lever not working or something more ominous.

[echo42kp]

OK, further info. The clutch lever goes all the way down. But after pumping it 5-10 times it seems to work fine...

[Ol' Jeffers]

Sounds like a hydraulic fluid leak causing the operation problem.
You need to try and check for fluid leaks.

[duegi]

Jeffers is correct, find that leak quickly. Actually I'd stop riding the moto till you find the leak. If leaking back at the clutch slave cylinder it could drip into/onto the clutch plate. Then you'll have compounded clutch problems with an oiled clutch plate and have to redo your clutch as well...

[Ol' Jeffers]

Jeffers is correct, find that leak quickly. Actually I'd stop riding the moto till you find the leak. If leaking back at the clutch slave cylinder it could drip into/onto the clutch plate. Then you'll have compounded clutch problems with an oiled clutch plate and have to redo your clutch as well...

Duegi...I think that's where it has to be as, at the master cylinder, it would be very obvious.

[echo42kp]

I didn't find any leaks in the lines-It turned out to be the slave output cylinder. I ended up taking it in as I didn't want to take a chance that the fluid had leaked into the clutch plates...and basically the job was still over my head at this point in my career as a owner. You guys were spot on. Appreciate it. Although I am a little lighter in the pockets right now, I am happy the whole clutch didn't get contaminated.