OK - some of you may know I recently destroyed my clutch on the lanes in Wales. Clutch plates shattered, blistered and distorted. I have seen this happen before on RiderBobs 990 in italy. At that time everyone blamed Bobs heavy handed clutch technique
So - my clutch went exactly the same way after less than 3000 miles. I have 3 theories.
1.
My heavy handed clutch action simply wore it out.
B.
I assembled the clutch wrong when renewing it and this accelerated the wear
3.
Cheap crappy clutch kits from KTM
C.
Oil starvation and so over heating caused by a blocked clutch oil jet
Here's my answers:
1.
yes - at time i give the clutch a hard time but I would expect it to simply wear away - not shatter and crumble into pieces. I wouldn't mind so much if I just wore it out but most of the plates had plenty of material left on them - they were just in lots of pieces.
B.
I'm seriously considering this. I noticed when I rebuilt the clutch this time that the outer pressure plate can sit slightly proud because the inner teeth don't engage properly. I managed to bolt it up like this then noticed there seemed to be a gap that didn't look right. I unbolted it, twiddle the pressure plate and it 'snicked' into place a good 2 or 3 mm further.
This would maybe explain why the outer plate was worn away completely and would also suggest a big build up of heat to knacker the rest.
3.
Cheap clutches from KTM? Well they aint cheap in money terms and I would expect the kit to be the same as used in new bikes - some of which go on for tens of thousands of miles
C.
Clutch oil jet ................... YEP - I go for this one.
Have you seen the size of the hole in that jet? It's a .30 jet (whatever that means) and is stupidly tiny. Although I have cleaned mine in the past it wouldn't take much to block it .... theory is there shouldn't be anything big enough in the oil but .. .. ..
So - I have purchased a jet size .60 from Ebay. £2.99. Fairly easily fitted (I have a secret tool for jet removing - only works sometimes though and on this occasion bluetack was better )
The larger jet is twice the size and should flow far more oil. I had read this would casue all sorts of problems from not getting neutral to difficult gear selection and clutch judder.
Having spent a good half day out on some local lanes with MartynHo I can confirm no problems or symptoms at all. I covered around 150 miles with a mix of fast roads and rock strewn Yorkshire lanes.
Selects all gears fine - neutral is easy enough and the clutch action great.
I have no idea if this will do any good at all. But at £2.99 for a jet off Ebay it's gotta be worth a try.
I think I can relax a little now and not worry about the clutch. I've got decent Kevlar plates in there, decent oil and hopefully plenty of it.
Pete
So - my clutch went exactly the same way after less than 3000 miles. I have 3 theories.
1.
My heavy handed clutch action simply wore it out.
B.
I assembled the clutch wrong when renewing it and this accelerated the wear
3.
Cheap crappy clutch kits from KTM
C.
Oil starvation and so over heating caused by a blocked clutch oil jet
Here's my answers:
1.
yes - at time i give the clutch a hard time but I would expect it to simply wear away - not shatter and crumble into pieces. I wouldn't mind so much if I just wore it out but most of the plates had plenty of material left on them - they were just in lots of pieces.
B.
I'm seriously considering this. I noticed when I rebuilt the clutch this time that the outer pressure plate can sit slightly proud because the inner teeth don't engage properly. I managed to bolt it up like this then noticed there seemed to be a gap that didn't look right. I unbolted it, twiddle the pressure plate and it 'snicked' into place a good 2 or 3 mm further.
This would maybe explain why the outer plate was worn away completely and would also suggest a big build up of heat to knacker the rest.
3.
Cheap clutches from KTM? Well they aint cheap in money terms and I would expect the kit to be the same as used in new bikes - some of which go on for tens of thousands of miles
C.
Clutch oil jet ................... YEP - I go for this one.
Have you seen the size of the hole in that jet? It's a .30 jet (whatever that means) and is stupidly tiny. Although I have cleaned mine in the past it wouldn't take much to block it .... theory is there shouldn't be anything big enough in the oil but .. .. ..
So - I have purchased a jet size .60 from Ebay. £2.99. Fairly easily fitted (I have a secret tool for jet removing - only works sometimes though and on this occasion bluetack was better )
The larger jet is twice the size and should flow far more oil. I had read this would casue all sorts of problems from not getting neutral to difficult gear selection and clutch judder.
Having spent a good half day out on some local lanes with MartynHo I can confirm no problems or symptoms at all. I covered around 150 miles with a mix of fast roads and rock strewn Yorkshire lanes.
Selects all gears fine - neutral is easy enough and the clutch action great.
I have no idea if this will do any good at all. But at £2.99 for a jet off Ebay it's gotta be worth a try.
I think I can relax a little now and not worry about the clutch. I've got decent Kevlar plates in there, decent oil and hopefully plenty of it.
Pete