clutch fixins

[Seaking]

Hey guys, I need to get my clutch redone, sorted out as it's slipping at highway speeds.. not so bad when taking off from a stop but up on the highway, dropping the hammer really screams up the revs and eventually I'll feel some accelleration.

 

Folks have been leading on to the PCW Racing clutch kit, which is not as expensive as thd Barnett clutch kit.

 

Comparing apples to oranges, is one better than the other or are we looking as one being as good as the other, only price being the difference?

 

I couldn't reach the PCW people today.. ergh

[spingley]

I had the same problem with mine and after doing some research decided to go with the PCW upgrade, I could not stand the stiff clutch lever however so I put the original spring back in and replaced all of the discs, and also exchanged the last clutch disc, which I think was called a half disc with a regular disc. After doing this I have not noticed any slip, even two up and loaded down with a luggage rack on back even.

[Seaking]

I had the same problem with mine and after doing some research decided to go with the PCW upgrade, I could not stand the stiff clutch lever however so I put the original spring back in and replaced all of the discs, and also exchanged the last clutch disc, which I think was called a half disc with a regular disc. After doing this I have not noticed any slip, even two up and loaded down with a luggage rack on back even.

 

Would you have noticed improved fuel mileage due to less slippage?

[RedRider]

Would you have noticed improved fuel mileage due to less slippage?

No, you won't see any appreciable mileage increase. It only slips when accelerating.

 

I also did the inner clutch plate upgrade about 15000 miles ago and it seems to be starting to slip again. The real problem is the weak spring. I am either going with the PWC or just adding my old stock clutch spring to the system. This would effectively be 2 weak stock clutch springs. Hopefully, there is room. I seem to recall this being able to be done.

 

RR

[Squidley]

On the 1300cc's I haven't heard of anyone doubling up stock springs. Some folks have doubled the 1200cc's springs as they are set up similar to the Barnett with 6 springs on the pressure plate. The PCW kit replaces the half friction disc in the back of the clutch basket with a full one and eliminates the retaining spring. The spring material the PCW is made with is a higher Rockwell and retains it's stiffness longer. On ALL of the clutch upgrades I have done on both 1st and 2nd gens I have never had to replace any of the friction discs. They have been the exact thickness as the new one that comes in the kit. Here is the link to PCW for those interested.

http://pcwracing.net/

[Seaking]

Here is the link to PCW for those interested.

 

http://pcwracing.net/

 

thanks.. I finally got through to them this evening and ordered the full kit.. Compared to what the barnett spring was, I thought it prudent to change it all out.. With the amount of miles I put on this bike.. wow.. I think it will be worth while..

 

Hopefully it will be here by week's end and I should be able to go road tripping again next week.. =)

[Yammer Dan]

I have a set of Barnett springs that I couldn't get in my 85. Couldn't compress them enough to get screws started. Had them at Vogel to show someone that might know and forgot about them. Are they really hard to put in there or are some of them made longer on different models? I cleaned mine, bled it out added a washer and it stopped slipping. ( Didn't it you two that know???) Can't figure out why I couldn't get those springs in there. Had to push so hard on them to compress them enough to get them started I was afraid of crossthreading them. A very large screwdriver might help??Or a very large boy behind the screwdriver??

[Seaking]

I have a set of Barnett springs that I couldn't get in my 85. Couldn't compress them enough to get screws started. Had them at Vogel to show someone that might know and forgot about them. Are they really hard to put in there or are some of them made longer on different models? I cleaned mine, bled it out added a washer and it stopped slipping. ( Didn't it you two that know???) Can't figure out why I couldn't get those springs in there. Had to push so hard on them to compress them enough to get them started I was afraid of crossthreading them. A very large screwdriver might help??Or a very large boy behind the screwdriver??

 

Going out on a limb with this one but were you trying to jam a 2nd gen kit into a 1st gen bike?

[Yammer Dan]

Going out on a limb with this one but were you trying to jam a 2nd gen kit into a 1st gen bike?

 

 

 

Thats what I was asking. Are the springs that much longer in a 2nd Gen?? Plate was good fit just couldn't get springs in there.

[midnightventure]

I ended up with spingleys PCW spring. I was going to replace my stock friction plates and bought his spring as an after thought. When I took things apart and measured the old plates and compared them to spec and the new plates I realized they weren't wore out so I put the PCW spring in. The clutch hasn't slipped in over a year. I used to ride a sportster so the clutch pull feels pretty light to me.

[Seaking]

I ended up with spingleys PCW spring. I was going to replace my stock friction plates and bought his spring as an after thought. When I took things apart and measured the old plates and compared them to spec and the new plates I realized they weren't wore out so I put the PCW spring in. The clutch hasn't slipped in over a year. I used to ride a sportster so the clutch pull feels pretty light to me.

 

I wanted the peace of mind of hopefully never having to worry about the clutch ever again which is another reason I opted for new friction plates on top of the spring.. Just have to cross scratch the steel plates and bob's your uncle.. or aunt depending if he's taken his meds or not..

[RossKean]

Get it done ASAP. At this stage, you may be just dealing with a weak spring but the more slipping that goes on will further damage the friction plates and eventually the steel plates, probably crud up the oil with wear material as well. (From what I've heard, you have to really burn it out to wear the steels below spec) I guess I think the same as you - if there's any appreciable wear to the friction plates, I would probably change them out while I have it apart; just for the peace of mind. I also put a fair number of kilometers on my Venture and I'm just waiting for the first signs of a slipping clutch. Current preventative maintenance (in the next week or two) is to replace brake and clutch hydraulic lines with braided stainless - I think the lines are original in my 2002 RSMV. (Hopefully, I can stave off problems for at least a little while.) It had 33,000 km on it when I bought it less than a year ago and I'm pretty close to 65,000 km now (almost 20,000 miles in a short rainy Maritime riding season). Give me a ring if you find yourself in the Fredericton area; my cellphone # is in my profile.

 

(Is Seaking meaning you are looking for something or is it a reference to a Canadian Navy military helicopter?)

 

Ross

[Seaking]

Get it done ASAP. At this stage, you may be just dealing with a weak spring but the more slipping that goes on will further damage the friction plates and eventually the steel plates, probably crud up the oil with wear material as well. (From what I've heard, you have to really burn it out to wear the steels below spec) I guess I think the same as you - if there's any appreciable wear to the friction plates, I would probably change them out while I have it apart; just for the peace of mind. I also put a fair number of kilometers on my Venture and I'm just waiting for the first signs of a slipping clutch. Current preventative maintenance (in the next week or two) is to replace brake and clutch hydraulic lines with braided stainless - I think the lines are original in my 2002 RSMV. (Hopefully, I can stave off problems for at least a little while.) It had 33,000 km on it when I bought it less than a year ago and I'm pretty close to 65,000 km now (almost 20,000 miles in a short rainy Maritime riding season). Give me a ring if you find yourself in the Fredericton area; my cellphone # is in my profile.

 

(Is Seaking meaning you are looking for something or is it a reference to a Canadian Navy military helicopter?)

 

Ross

 

Seaking as in the chopper, I just retired after 30 yrs service

 

Tomorrow, I'll be changing the oil as someone reminded me of the need to clear out the junk from the bad clutch..

 

ya never know, after I do up my clutch, I'll pop over for a coffee

 

Cheers

[Rick Butler]

Seaking,

 

I have been using the PWC pressure plate with the full fiber plate instead of the half plate behind the wire keeper for over 50k on my 02 Midnight. And it's still holding just fine.

 

However you asked about stacking 2 diaphram pressure plates together. Well if you have a good grip with your left hand, it will work just fine and you will never have to worry about your clutch slipping until the fiber plates are completely worn out. This is a trick that our V-Max friends came up with to keep their clutches from slipping. Remember the 1300 diaphram clutch design came from the 85 V-Max. Not to say it was better than the standard spring pressure plate design of the 1200s, just less apt to uneven spring tension.

 

The Barnett kit basically replaces the 1300 diaphram pressure plate with the more conventional type that was used on the 1200s, but is much prettier and better designed.

 

In short for the money, go with the PWC solution. But if money is not an issue and you like a trick pressure plate, go with the Barnett.

 

Hope this helps,

 

Rick

[Seaking]

Seaking,

 

I have been using the PWC pressure plate with the full fiber plate instead of the half plate behind the wire keeper for over 50k on my 02 Midnight. And it's still holding just fine.

 

However you asked about stacking 2 diaphram pressure plates together. Well if you have a good grip with your left hand, it will work just fine and you will never have to worry about your clutch slipping until the fiber plates are completely worn out. This is a trick that our V-Max friends came up with to keep their clutches from slipping. Remember the 1300 diaphram clutch design came from the 85 V-Max. Not to say it was better than the standard spring pressure plate design of the 1200s, just less apt to uneven spring tension.

 

The Barnett kit basically replaces the 1300 diaphram pressure plate with the more conventional type that was used on the 1200s, but is much prettier and better designed.

 

In short for the money, go with the PWC solution. But if money is not an issue and you like a trick pressure plate, go with the Barnett.

 

Hope this helps,

 

Rick

 

Hi Rick, Long time no chat.. I have your seat on my bike which made for some awesome long haul riding the other week, thanks!

 

I believe it was someone else who asked about the double plates.. I just ordered my PWC kit earlier this evening, plates seals and spring plate etc. I wasn't too sure which route to go, but for the amount of slippage I'm feeling I thought it best to go for the PWC.. I've never felt a bike slip as hard as this one is right now.. manageable until I can get the stuff changed over.

 

Thanks for the info M8

 

SkyDoc showed me a bunch of stuff about the 2nd Gens even though he's got a nicely set up 1st Gen.. he also explained about the VMax rear Considering the style of riding I do, this would be an adequate option for my needs..

 

I'm going to do an oil change tomorrow to get rid of some of that gunk and do another ones as I'm changing the clutch parts, that should hopefully get some of the gunk out.

 

Now the ONLY thing left for me to ponder is if to go onto AMSOIL 20W50 or not.. JamaLube is getting expensive.. almost the same price as AMSOIL synthetic..

 

Any comments or recommendation on going synthetic? Amsoil or yamalube, not much choices in town here..