Clutch woes

I have been having some issues surrounding my clutch, particularly when I've been slipping the clutch while filtering in traffic. It becomes harder to engage gears and neutral can be impossible to engage at times.

My dad is going to investigate the problem; I don;t suspect the clutch plates themselves are at fault - there is no slipping (but we will inspect and measure for wear etc etc) so I think the problem is more likely to lay with the clutch basket becoming notched.

Does anyone have the part number for this item, and the likely cost? My SV is a 1999 one. Is there anything else I should be looking for?

Before people suggest, I have the chain tension adjusted regularly, and I have adjusted the worm drive within the last fortnight; this has not improved the situation

Thanks all,

Matt

Hid similar issue recently which prompted a good old lube session which has led to other issues that I won't go into on this thread.

Anyway, as you've adjusted at the worm drive, and I assume you have the correct free-play at the clutch, what about lubing the cable and greasing the clutch lever pivot point? Made a huge difference for me, as gear changes were becoming clunky, when they've always been silky smooth, they now back to that.

If you've already done all that, then over to someone else with a bit more knowledge.

[punyXpress]

218.45 of Uncle Sam's mighty dollars + carriage + duty + VAT
from Alpha-Sports.
Enough to make anyone woeful

[Taipan]

I've know people to file out notches on clutch baskets with no ill effects. My bike has always had really smooth and cluck free gear slection. Of late i've noticed its not as good and its about due for a oil change. Coincidence? When did yours last have fresh oil?

Originally Posted by Taipan

I've know people to file out notches on clutch baskets with no ill effects. My bike has always had really smooth and cluck free gear slection. Of late i've noticed its not as good and its about due for a oil change. Coincidence? When did yours last have fresh oil?

Fresh oil about 3000 miles ago, maybe 3250 miles. I've always changed the oil frequently, and this is a relativly recent problem (I started getting the problem before the previous oil change; then it went away for about 2000 miles before slowly coming back. That suggests its more than just oil, and the fresher oil with higher lubricity is just masking a problem)

If my dad thinks its acceptable to remove the notches by hand then he will, but if he thinks its better to have new parts, then I don't mind paying out. Its cheaper than a new bike!





oh, that VFR750 I could have bought for two grand with 20,000 miles...

i had similar problems, with bad drag as well. when stationary with the clutch in the bike would creep forward and wouldnt go into neutral. basket and centre were grooved and filing the grooves out sorted it.

Originally Posted by mjc

i had similar problems, with bad drag as well. when stationary with the clutch in the bike would creep forward and wouldnt go into neutral. basket and centre were grooved and filing the grooves out sorted it.

how do you mean the center?

I think, people of the .org, I need a little education on how an SV clutch assembles together....

right, well the basket is the big round bit that looks like a basket, and engages with the crankshaft. the centre looks like a slightly smaller basket that sits inside it and drives the output shaft. the plates plain plates sit in channels in the centre and are free to rotate relative to the basket, and vice versa for the friction plates. power is transmitted through friction between the 2 sets of plates under pressure from the clutch springs, disengaging the clutch removes this pressure and lets the plates slip removing the link between crankshaft and gearbox.
grooves in the basket and centre are caused by the tabs on the plates wearing against the channels they sit in.
umm yeh something like that

ok, cool, think I got it. I'll draw meself a diagram from what you've said

I'm gonna be leaving my bike with my dad and travelling back to london, I'm not going to get to see first-hand how all this works and how he'll be fixing it, which is a shame I always feel bad when I can't help out, even if its just undoing a few bolts or holding something steady while he hits something else with a hammer or whatever

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/iipcache/65137.jpg

no need to draw, google is your friend. clutch removal really isnt that hard, just a bit worrying at first to see a massive great oil dripping hole in the side of your bike..