clutch life

[pegscraper]

What kind of mileage does our clutch generally have in it, and what kind of symptoms happen when it's worn out? Does it just quit hooking up and slips all the time? My bike has close to 45,000 miles on it now, and I'm doubting that the clutch has ever been touched, seeing as how I got it with less than 15,000. I've heard of some that were worn out by the mid 30s. I'm not having any problems with it yet. I just don't know what to expect or what happens. I've never worn a clutch out in any vehicle.

[Rich99]

Got 36k on my first clutch, (99RSV), got 40k on the second clutch. Was kind of surprised that it went that fast as I normally got 80k plus with a car clutch, got 52k on my 1st clutch with my 83 Venture. But it all depends on how you drive it, so good luck. When you power the bike on in 4th or 5th, and you start to hear the engine reving up, then its time to replace the clutch.

[SilvrT]

When you power the bike on in 4th or 5th, and you start to hear the engine reving up, then its time to replace the clutch.

 

What rich99 said...

 

I can't comment on the life of a clutch coz I never paid any attention to that but I do know that when my clutch on my '85 started going, I'd notice it most when cruising down the highway at around 100km/h and I'd crank the throttle... the engine would race then eventually the clutch would take hold and the bike would speed up. Ya don't notice it as much or at all in the lower gears.

[GeorgeS]

On 1st gens, usually the Springs get weak, long before any wear on the plates.

 

As a rule of thumb, the Plates do not wear out though.

 

Most folks, just replace the springs, or use new V-Max springs.

 

Or, there are better complete aftermarket units available.

 

Mine went at about 30K, I put in a complete Barnett unit. However

the Old plates were not worn.

 

Complete Barnett Units, are about same price as complete OEM Replacment clutch.

 

Also, around 50K its a good idea to rebuild the hydralic actuation system, or At Least, rebleed the system, replaceing All of the Fluid with a Synthetic brake fluid. ( Valvoline Synthetic brake fluid is a good choice )

[flb_78]

I pulled my clutch out at 72,000 because of slipping, but I knew it was the spring.

 

The fiber discs still had the wear bars in them.

 

When the clutch is slipping in these bikes, it's not the discs, it's the spring.

 

 

I put it back together with the old plates and discs and installed a used spring out of my Roadstar that had 24,000 on it. I also did the half disc mod. The clutch hooks up good again and I can actually loft the front tire in first now.

[SilvrT]

When the clutch is slipping in these bikes, it's not the discs, it's the spring.

 

When I did mine, all I replaced were the discs and it was fine after that... could that possibly be due to the extra thickness of the new discs giving more tension on the springs? That was on my '85 about 4 years ago but I seem to recall that the old discs didn't look all that worn out.

 

My current ride has a Barnett clutch/springs, etc... pretty good response with it...has a tendency to "drag" at idle with clutch lever pulled in. Can pop wheelies no problem but also think I have a Vmax rear end.

[yamahamer]

What kind of mileage does our clutch generally have in it, and what kind of symptoms happen when it's worn out? Does it just quit hooking up and slips all the time? My bike has close to 45,000 miles on it now, and I'm doubting that the clutch has ever been touched, seeing as how I got it with less than 15,000. I've heard of some that were worn out by the mid 30s. I'm not having any problems with it yet. I just don't know what to expect or what happens. I've never worn a clutch out in any vehicle.

IF YOUV'E GOT 45000 AND IT'S STILL STRONG YOUR DOING ALL THE RIGHT THINGS LIKE NUTRAL AT RED LIGHTS AND STUFF. ALOT DEPENDS ON THE RIDER AND HIS STYLE OF RIDEING

[mother]

when i bought my bike it had about 50000 miles on it and it would only slip at hard acceleration in 4th or 5th gear. i replaced the plates and installed the barnett clutch spring kit and now if i take off quick the front tire is off the ground. the clutch life depends on the driver. any standard shift vehicle i have had, when i took it to the dump it still had the original clutch in it with over 300,000 miles on it.

[Gearhead]

Bike clutches are weird. Both my Virago and Venture were bought with mileage in the mid 40k's, and both got slipping clutches in the 50's. In both cases, all discs mic'd EXACTLY on spec - not the wear limit, but the actual spec thickness. In both cases the spring measured fine, right on spec. In both cases I replaced the friction discs only and the problem was solved. The Venture was recently, with factory discs. The Virago now has 130,000 miles, so close to 80k on that clutch (aftermarket, EBC maybe?) I put in, and working fine.

 

The only thing I can figure is in both cases the PO put in some oil additive or "energy conserving" oil that contaminated the friction plates. Although I read about alot of bikes on this forum where the clutch goes in the 40-50k range.

 

Jeremy

[pegscraper]

Okay, what is the half disc mod? I've never heard of that one.

 

If weak springs is the first reason why the clutch starts slipping, here's another idea - the double D clutch mod. This is written for the V Max, but ours is the same thing. There is a lot of stuff we can use on the vmaxoutlaw site.

 

http://vmaxoutlaw.com/tech/double-d.htm

 

Actually, I virtually never shift into neutral at a stoplight, only if there is already someone behind me and it is apparent that we're going to be sitting there a while. I've probably only done it two or three times. I don't tend to ride real hard, at least not while slipping the clutch.

[Squeeze]

Okay, what is the half disc mod? I've never heard of that one.

 

If weak springs is the first reason why the clutch starts slipping, here's another idea - the double D clutch mod. This is written for the V Max, but ours is the same thing. There is a lot of stuff we can use on the vmaxoutlaw site.

 

http://vmaxoutlaw.com/tech/double-d.htm

 

Actually, I virtually never shift into neutral at a stoplight, only if there is already someone behind me and it is apparent that we're going to be sitting there a while. I've probably only done it two or three times. I don't tend to ride real hard, at least not while slipping the clutch.

 

Half Disc is simply to describe. The innerst Friction disc has a bigger inner Diameter than the others. There is a some weak Point, because the Friction Material is a Lot less than on the standard Discs. The Space which is not there on that Disc is filled with a Steel Ring. When doing this Mod, the half Disc and the Ring is taken out and replaced with a standard Disc. The Wire which holds both in Place comes out and not back in Place.

 

DoubleD is two Springs instead of one. Works fine, but, i seriously would suggest some Spinach before firing up the Bike ...