So I bought this bike a month ago pretty cheap. It ran but the clutch push rod was broken (that's what the seller told me). Started disassembly and out came the adapter and thrust bearings and only a portion of the push rod so now more disassembly in the works, which is probably a good thing because of age of bike. My question - is broken push rod a common problem or any idea what may cause it to crack?
Tim, yours would be the first one I have heard of. Bear in mind, I am not a professional mechanic so I don't see all kinds of things. It seems odd to me that the seller knew about it but was unwilling to fix the issue.
former Airmarshal, IL.
Very rare. Never even heard of it.
I suspect if the owner failed to maintain "clutch lever clearance", then both ends could weld to their seats due to friction and twist the rod in half. That's all I can even imagine.
Owning an old Airhead is easy.
Keeping an old Airhead running great is the true test.
How did the seller even know the push rode was broken? I imagine he had to have disassembled it to the point where he saw it. It sounds like you already are going down this path but I'd want to take the transmission out to see if there's something going on with the clutch assembly as well.
How did the seller even know the push rode was broken?
I think his mechanic told him. I’ve since pulled gear box, clutch and fly wheel. Basically complete inspection.
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