T.J. Posted September 23, 2009 #1 Posted September 23, 2009 Yep, mine started slipping about two months ago. Very slight at first and now very noticeable. I ordered the clutch up grade this past Monday 09-21-09 from PCW Racing and received it today 09-23-09 by UPS. Pretty good I would say. I just might start on it tonight after work and see how it goes. I may understand the instructions more once I get in there and see what it is like. Thanks to this sight as to know where to order parts and do the work.
Squidley Posted September 23, 2009 #3 Posted September 23, 2009 Real easy TJ, put it on the sidestand and you wont loose but a few drops of oil. I can have one done and back together in about 30 minutes. If you run into any problems give me a call.
Skid Posted September 23, 2009 #4 Posted September 23, 2009 I'm just wondering how many miles do you have on your '04. I have a '02 with 26K miles and thought I felt the clutch once, but I haven't noticed it since....
Squidley Posted September 23, 2009 #5 Posted September 23, 2009 I'm just wondering how many miles do you have on your '04. I have a '02 with 26K miles and thought I felt the clutch once, but I haven't noticed it since.... Jeff, It all depends upon how the bike was ridden before you got it. If it was 2 up and hauling a trailer, that puts a lot of stress on the clutches of any Venture. Best way to tell is in 4th gear at a decent RPM get into hard, if you feel it slip a bit as your going into 5th more than likely it is getting weak. Less than $100 and about 1hour time and there will be no more worries.
Skid Posted September 23, 2009 #6 Posted September 23, 2009 OK. Best I can tell mine was ridding 1-up with a smaller light weight feller. I don't think his wife ever rode with him that I heard of. I was always told this machine has been babied all of its life. Probably always will be too.....
Seaking Posted September 23, 2009 #7 Posted September 23, 2009 I'm just wondering how many miles do you have on your '04. I have a '02 with 26K miles and thought I felt the clutch once, but I haven't noticed it since.... My 06 with 48,000 miles on it started to slip and it went from bad to worse in a very short time. I got the same clutch upgrade as being discussed, the directions were clear (though I was cloud headed as to what I was reading.. oops) but it all went on as smooth as silk and man, this clutch grabs nicely! Yes, a little stronger on the hand but you get used to it quick enough, depending on the riding you do.. I found the best way to find a slipping clutch is to be in 5th, around 70 mph and engage an incline.. and then drop the hammer.. if you hear the RPMs climb rather quickly without any acceleration, it's an indication of a slipping clutch.. In my case I went to pass a car on a flat surface and my RPMs screeched up but I didn't really advance at all until it caught a few secs later..
Condor Posted September 23, 2009 #8 Posted September 23, 2009 Jeff, It all depends upon how the bike was ridden before you got it. If it was 2 up and hauling a trailer, that puts a lot of stress on the clutches of any Venture. Best way to tell is in 4th gear at a decent RPM get into hard, if you feel it slip a bit as your going into 5th more than likely it is getting weak. Less than $100 and about 1hour time and there will be no more worries. Ya know I wonder how many dollars have been spent on a clutch rebuilds when all that's needed is to bleed the lines to clean out the moisture, and air in the system. Absorbed moisture and air will expand when they get hot causing the clutch to slip. The unsuspecting owner immediately think the clutch needs to be replaced when all it needs is to be bled. After doing the rebuild and being prudent they'll generally bleed the system which is all they needed to do in the first place. A bike with only 26-30K on it hasn't been worn enough to warant a new clutch. I've never seen a used clutch disc that didn't mic out to factory specs. Oil bath clutches just about never wear out.
Naked Rider Posted September 23, 2009 #9 Posted September 23, 2009 is there any tech help with draining the old fluid out and replacing it? never done this and i dont want to mess it up any help would be great. thanks
slick97spirit Posted September 23, 2009 #10 Posted September 23, 2009 is there any tech help with draining the old fluid out and replacing it? never done this and i dont want to mess it up any help would be great. thanks Bobby, sounds like something we could tackle some day at the shop. Might have to find us a speed bleeder and do em both. Is yours slipping or you just looking at preventative maintenance?
Squidley Posted September 23, 2009 #12 Posted September 23, 2009 Ya know I wonder how many dollars have been spent on a clutch rebuilds when all that's needed is to bleed the lines to clean out the moisture, and air in the system. Absorbed moisture and air will expand when they get hot causing the clutch to slip. The unsuspecting owner immediately think the clutch needs to be replaced when all it needs is to be bled. After doing the rebuild and being prudent they'll generally bleed the system which is all they needed to do in the first place. A bike with only 26-30K on it hasn't been worn enough to warant a new clutch. I've never seen a used clutch disc that didn't mic out to factory specs. Oil bath clutches just about never wear out. I dont disagree with you Jack, and I couldn't agree more with you on the friction discs. Everyone I have mic'ed have been at the stock thickness. I will disagree though as when Lonna and I came to Susanville, I had just swapped my brake fluid in Vogel. Did a complete swapout as I lost my clutch in Knoxville TN with Freebird and knew it needed swapping. I then proceeded to head out to California and by the time I got there the clutch was slipping. When we headed back and stopped at the 1st PIP it was really getting bad. I replaced it when we got back home and never had an issue since. Good thought to check the fluid 1st, but as many as I have seen on the G2's it's been the spring plate failing
Condor Posted September 23, 2009 #13 Posted September 23, 2009 I dont disagree with you Jack, and I couldn't agree more with you on the friction discs. Everyone I have mic'ed have been at the stock thickness. I will disagree though as when Lonna and I came to Susanville, I had just swapped my brake fluid in Vogel. Did a complete swapout as I lost my clutch in Knoxville TN with Freebird and knew it needed swapping. I then proceeded to head out to California and by the time I got there the clutch was slipping. When we headed back and stopped at the 1st PIP it was really getting bad. I replaced it when we got back home and never had an issue since. Good thought to check the fluid 1st, but as many as I have seen on the G2's it's been the spring plate failing Perhaps the clutch spring is a weak point on the 2ndGens, but that doesn't warrant doing a complete clutch replacement. Also the clutch lines are very difficult to bleed when the lines are empty to begin with, and getting all the air out is almost next to impossible. Speed bleeders are a great help along with a bunch of DOT 3.... It's much easier to purge the lines when they're still full of fluid even if the fluid is double ugly. The point I tried to make in the first post is that not all slipping clutches are in need of a rebuild, but more in need of maintenence. Lack of maintenence is the enemy...
T.J. Posted September 24, 2009 Author #14 Posted September 24, 2009 I'm just wondering how many miles do you have on your '04. I have a '02 with 26K miles and thought I felt the clutch once, but I haven't noticed it since.... 48,298 miles
T.J. Posted September 24, 2009 Author #15 Posted September 24, 2009 Real easy TJ, put it on the sidestand and you wont loose but a few drops of oil. I can have one done and back together in about 30 minutes. If you run into any problems give me a call. Thanks Squid. I did not get a chance tonight so maybe tomorrow night.
Squidley Posted September 24, 2009 #16 Posted September 24, 2009 Thanks Squid. I did not get a chance tonight so maybe tomorrow night. The phone is on TJ should you need to use it It's all good Jack, I'm right with you on the maintenance. I change out every fluid when I get a new to me bike. The '99 was the 1st one I ran out of time on before we left...I only had it 10 days before we left on that 10000 mile trip
T.J. Posted September 25, 2009 Author #17 Posted September 25, 2009 Yep, I got 'er done tonight. A lot of interruptions like helping the wife get the groceries in the house and eating supper. Grand kids coming over and the likes. Anyway the job was not to bad. You just had to pay close attention when your working. Per instructions from our web sight page 5. QUOTE "There is a flat steel washer in there that you have to work at getting out". UNQUOTE. Yep he was right on that one. What I finally did was take a Air Hose and blow in there to get it out. The forced air released it from the back wall so you could grab it with your fingers. It worked great. New trick for some that have a hard time getting that thing out. Next on page 6 of instructions. QUOTE "If you are doing the upgrade like I did, you will now install the first friction plate," UNQUOTE That should read "friction disc" as it is called on page 5. So as not to confuse It did me. Next, FYI the new clutch spring is .009 thicker than the old one and no, the old one could not wear down. Took it for a ride and all works great. By the way, 70 inch lbs is really nothing at all. My goodness your little finger can do that. Thanks for the offer of help Squid. I appreciate that. Have a great evening you all.
Squidley Posted September 25, 2009 #18 Posted September 25, 2009 Glad to hear you got it done TJ, now you'll be able to them in no time flat
T.J. Posted September 25, 2009 Author #19 Posted September 25, 2009 I forgot to add that there was a small amount of grit on the old Friction Disc's as I was taking them out of the bike. It was like it was part of the disc's them selfs. The housing seemed clean and everything else. It was strange. Has anyone else had this when replacing the clutch?
Seaking Posted September 25, 2009 #20 Posted September 25, 2009 I forgot to add that there was a small amount of grit on the old Friction Disc's as I was taking them out of the bike. It was like it was part of the disc's them selfs. The housing seemed clean and everything else. It was strange. Has anyone else had this when replacing the clutch? I also felt a little 'grit' from the friction plates as well.. not much but enough to cause concern.. i did an oil change after installing the new friction plates I had ordered, just for the peace of mind..
T.J. Posted September 25, 2009 Author #21 Posted September 25, 2009 It was like the disc's were breaking down themselfs. Maybe that is why they start to slip is because of the grit?
Seaking Posted September 25, 2009 #22 Posted September 25, 2009 It was like the disc's were breaking down themselfs. Maybe that is why they start to slip is because of the grit? That's what I had though might have started to cause my slippage.. it was very bad.. couldn't drop the hammer without the revs screaming and no acceleration. I still have the OLD friction discs and will be looking at them closer this winter after my new shop is built.. better lighting..
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