Kreidler clutch slipping or not disengaging: the causes
Published on 7 October 2026 · 2 min read
A clutch produces two complaints that are exact opposites: it slips (will not grip) or it drags (will not let go). The cause differs by symptom.
Symptom: the clutch slips
You open the throttle, the revs climb, but the machine does not accelerate with them. Usually clearest uphill or when pulling away.
Too little cable free play. Check this first, because it is the easiest. If the cable is too tight, the pressure plate is permanently lifted slightly and the clutch can never fully engage. There should be a few millimetres of free play at the lever.
Worn clutch plates. The friction material is below its service thickness. The plates often smell burnt.
Tired clutch springs. After decades they no longer deliver the specified pressure. Springs are available separately and are relatively cheap.
Wrong or too much oil. An overfilled gearbox, or oil with the wrong properties, can let the plates slip.
Symptom: the clutch drags
You pull the lever in, but the machine creeps forward or the gear only goes in with a crunch.
Too much cable free play. Again the first thing to check. The lever has to move the release mechanism far enough.
Plates stuck together. On a machine that stood for years the plates stick. Sometimes they free off by kicking it over with the clutch pulled in; otherwise they have to come out.
Warped plates. Lay them on a flat surface and look against the light. A warped plate always drags somewhere.
Worn pushrod or release pin. The part that carries the cable's movement to the plates can be worn.
Adjustment: always start here
Nine out of ten clutch complaints are an adjustment problem. The right order:
- Wind the adjuster at the lever almost all the way in.
- Set the free play at the engine end until there are a few millimetres at the lever.
- Fine-tune with the adjuster at the lever.
- Ride a short distance and check again — a new cable stretches in the first kilometres.
When the cover has to come off
When the adjustment is correct and the problem remains. Budget for a new clutch cover gasket, and inspect the plates, springs and pushrod while you are in there. Plates and springs are best replaced as a set.
What you need
A clutch plate set for your engine type, clutch springs, a cover gasket and possibly a new clutch cable. Which set suits your engine depends on the number of gears — look it up in the parts book.
Parts for this article
- KREIDLER Drukstift korte koppeling 15.07.12 MOTOR paraplustift - €12.00
- KREIDLER Bronzen lagerbus koppelingshuis 4/5 15.67.03 KOPPELING - €28.00
- KREIDLER Tussenplaat koppeling met gaten RVS 15.67.10 - €8.00
- KREIDLER Drukplaat koppeling RVS 15.07.08 - €5.00
- Trekveer koppeling (made in EU) per stuk kreidler - €2.00
- Blokkeersleutel eldi koppeling kokusan kreidler, puch, sachs, zundapp - €11.00