Tried to put a running video up but couldn’t make it work. Still waiting on the IT175 decals for the side panels. Seems to run and start great but clutch is stuck and won’t release, imagine it sat too long dry. So I’ll have to pull the cover off and separate the plates. Tried to put a running video up but couldn’t make it work. Still waiting on the IT175 decals for the side panels. Seems to run and start great but clutch is stuck and won’t release, imagine it sat too long dry. So I’ll have to pull the cover off and separate the plates.

Try tying the clutch lever to the handlebar for at least overnight... or longer.  I've been very lucky that probably 8 times out of 10 I can click it in gear and rock back and forth the next day and the clutch free up. 

Can't hurt...  and might save you a little time and cost of gasket.

Pete has also postedhe has had luck going in through the oil fill with a thin screwdriver and gently separating the plates with lever pulled on the very similar street legal models. 

I’ll sure try those things first. Thanks 

Beautiful work.  Looks showroom fresh! 

To post the video you need to upload to YouTube or Vimeo or someplace and link here. 

Just go ride it over rough ground on & off throttle with lever held back. She'll break free. Be pity to have to go in. Roll it along of course to pop into gear but after you're rolling just hook it up to say 3rd gear & go give it heaps of & on, maybe 4th being a 6 speed box. Whatever feels right for where ya riding. But be prepared as might startle you if it suddenly releases when you're not thinking about it. Like landing from a jump then--no drive--as cracks free on landing.

I rode it a little in first gear only. I dint want to hit it to hard being a fresh engine.

Good job! It looks good!

Hmm, if its a fresh engine just wondering why clutch would be stuck. Just a fresh top end i guess?. Don't be too soft on it, they're a workhorse & need to work to feel good. Then a good feed afterwards & put to bed lol.

Your bike looks awesome! When I first got my CT-1 running after about 30 years, I couldn't disengage the clutch. I didn't read anything online about what to do about it, so I just held the brakes and revved the engine a bit as I held the clutch handle in,  punched it into first gear, and it broke free. I'm not recommending that's what you do, but it worked for me. After that the clutch worked, but did show some slippage at high revs. Because I also had issues with the crankshaft seals that needed to be replaced, I pulled the side covers and checked the friction plates and springs, and they were all under spec, so I replaced them. 

On a regular basis my '86 IT200 and '72 CT2175 clutches are stuck and I have to start them in neutral, roll them downhill and pop them in first with the revs up. They are free in ~200' and I can ride like normal. Happens even if they are parked only a week. Somewhat fresh plates on the CT2 too, no idea on how old the IT plates are.