Clutch problems

[toptowa]

I have just bought myself a 2001 firestorm which I love however there is a slight problem with the clutch. I do have this clutch rattle which seem's a common problem on these but the other problem I have is that every now and again when I'm slipping the clutch or setting off the clutch will fly out and bite violently, bit scarey on these big powerful bike's. Any ideas to what is causing this or do I need a new clutch????

[benny hedges]

mine does it now & then, totally randomly if i give it welly.
there are numerous theories as to what causes it.
tony thinks its the big bearing behind the clutch - im not so sure, simply because my clutch was ok apart from slipping, then i changed the plates (from a clutch that used to grab?) and now it grabs.

personally i think you will sort it with a new set of plates - just remember to soak them in new oil for at least a day ;)
you will need the clutch gasket as well, and new oil & coolant.

get a copy of the free workshop manual from the link in the workshop forum and get to know how it goes together before you strip it - i think the grab issue is down to wear / misalignment of the anti-judder spring which sits behind the first metal plate.

[CJ_the_barstard]

Replying to an old thread I found.
Some of the guys here in Oz beleive the Clutch Grab issue is caused by the Anti-judder spring that is in the last plate of the clutch.
Some get put back in backwards and they wear a groove in the clutch steel plate and then the thing grabs like a bandit.
I switched mine around and swapped out a steel plate and cured the issue for a while but it is back again about 15,000k's later.

[benny hedges]

not concerned about judder, next time the casing is off on mine i intend to remove the anti judder spring and its seat and replace it with another friction plate.
i see no reason why it wouldnt have positive results....

said this before about the offending spring... it isnt there on most other clutches ive had apart so i dont see the need for it at all.

[Miztaziggy]

not concerned about judder, next time the casing is off on mine i intend to remove the anti judder spring and its seat and replace it with another friction plate.
i see no reason why it wouldnt have positive results....

said this before about the offending spring... it isnt there on most other clutches ive had apart so i dont see the need for it at all.

I know I don't know as much as you about mechanics of these bikes, but I wouldn't do that mate...I did exactly that with my r1 and it was horrible. Used to judder so bad when I set off, it used to really rattle the chain and made it feel terrible. Ended up taking it into a shop to have it all refitted properly.

[benny hedges]

thing is at the moment if i give it welly from the lights it will just grab and either stall or chuck me off... have to take off slow then give it welly.
anything would be an improvement lol

[Jonesey]

About 3 years ago I changed the OE springs for Barnett heavy duty ones and this eliminated this problem.
Got them from http://www.straightlineracing.co.uk
Chris.

[Miztaziggy]

Yea fair enough, but I would think the biting is much more likely to be warped disk isn't it? Either that or a worn basket?

[benny hedges]

mine never used to grab, just started slipping after 'someone' rode it up the drag strip fiercely...
then i swapped out the plates for a used set - from a grabby bike iirc... then mine started to grab too.
clutch will be getting swapped out when i overhaul the engine

[CJ_the_barstard]

My bike only had about 3,000 k on it when the grabbing was there.
I changed the spring around at about 17,00k and it now has 32,000 on it and grabbing reappeared.
Let us know how you go with out the Anti Judder srping.
Might be worth a try.

[tony.mon]

mine never used to grab, just started slipping after 'someone' rode it up the drag strip fiercely...
then i swapped out the plates for a used set - from a grabby bike iirc... then mine started to grab too.
clutch will be getting swapped out when i overhaul the engine

If it's any consolation mine is slipping, too, but just ordered a Kevlar plate and uprated springs set for less than £75.
That should do it.

[benny hedges]

today i stripped off the clutch cover and in an attempt to cure the grabbing clutch which has been plaguing me for a year.
i fitted a new set of ebc friction plates which had been soaking in new oil since thursday and selected the best set of metal plates out of 3 sets, some blued, some not.
also studied the pdf manual, haynes and ron ayres fiche re the positioning of the anti-judder spring and seat.
conclusion?
the anti judder spring was installed wrong. by me!

didnt take any pics but see if this makes sense
} is a friction plate
i is a metal plate
] is the basket
)is the anti judder spring
| is the spring seat

so it goes .... i } i } i } ) | ]

the way it was, the anti judder spring was like this ( | ]

ive absolutely nailed the butt off it tonight and tried my best to make it grab, but not a single NERRR
so seeing as this is now the 3rd set of metal and friction plates with no difference, the problem (imo) is in the assembly order and positioning of the spring and its seat.

if you have this problem i suggest you take a look and see if the spring and seat are positioned correctly, and that there is no blueing on the metal plates.

[CJ_the_barstard]

Glad you got a good result.

[AMCQ46]

today i stripped off the clutch cover and in an attempt to cure the grabbing clutch which has been plaguing me for a year.
i fitted a new set of ebc friction plates which had been soaking in new oil since thursday and selected the best set of metal plates out of 3 sets, some blued, some not.
also studied the pdf manual, haynes and ron ayres fiche re the positioning of the anti-judder spring and seat.
conclusion?
the anti judder spring was installed wrong. by me!

didnt take any pics but see if this makes sense
} is a friction plate
i is a metal plate
] is the basket
)is the anti judder spring
| is the spring seat

so it goes .... i } i } i } ) | ]

the way it was, the anti judder spring was like this ( | ]

ive absolutely nailed the butt off it tonight and tried my best to make it grab, but not a single NERRR
so seeing as this is now the 3rd set of metal and friction plates with no difference, the problem (imo) is in the assembly order and positioning of the spring and its seat.

if you have this problem i suggest you take a look and see if the spring and seat are positioned correctly, and that there is no blueing on the metal plates.

nice visual description, make s sense to me

as mine has never been apart, either Honda did mine wrong, or it is not the reason for my problem....one day I will strip it down, but will be after I swap the full engine to help fix the vibration.

The fact I have bad high freq vibration and grabbing clutch on mine makes me think Tony's bearing hypothyis is likley

[tony.mon]

Good bit of research.
I know that mine is assembled the correct way round, as I fitted a Kevlar friction plate set last week, and it still grabs....

And this is on an engine that has a new large bearing behind the clutch fitted when I built it ove Christmas, so I'm stumped ATM.

The anti-judder spring sits with the raised outer edge facing outwards from the clutch basket, I believe.
is that the way round yours was fitted, Benny?