Quixote
Well-known member
I just replaced the clutch on an 06 AE. I just got the bike this year and was having some issues with a jerky starts, especially when cold. There also seemed to be some slippag when I would hit second gear hard so I searched the site and read everything that I could. I did a clutch soak initially and that seemed to help but not with the slippage so I searched out replacement clutch kits. Barnett does list a clutch replacement kit on it's site but I couldn't seem to find one at any of it's sellers so I went with and EBC clutch relpacement from JCmotors, 101.35 with shipping and the replacement spring. I could have probably got away without the spring, $17 but I thought I might as well since it was apart. I thought they might be the Barnett style individual springs but it turned out to be the OEM type ring. When I took the assmbly apart it seemed there was uneven wear on the first and last fiction plate but the metal plates seemed to be in good shape. The replacement kit is a little differnt from the origianal in that all the plates seem to be the same style as the last outer ring on the OEM plate. There are no markings that line up the tab to the basket so I just installed it randomly. I used the posts on here and thanks to everyone that posted thier pictures. I've got a few pics on my camera of the old plates and new ones and will post them when I find my camera cord.
I can honestly say it's solved all the jerky starts when the bike is cold, it is a smooth start now even when the bike cold. I haven't taken it out for a hard ride yet but it seems to be really smooth on the starts and I have no doupt I won't be getting the slippage. I did have some issue's with it not shifing and the "shift" light coming on when I inistially installed it but I went back and did it all again taking special care to make sure the first smaller ring was positioned right with the steal ring in the back of the clutch basket. It does seem to be a little tight, they new plates come right to the edge of the basket, possibly they are a little thicker, at least right now being new. I also made sure I torqued the spring bolts down evenly and using a cross pattern. The first time I turned it on I got the shift light again, but after turning it on and off. (the clutch engages and disingages when the bike it turned on and off) a couple of times that solved itself, I suspect they plates just seat a litttle and there isn't a problem. I also made sure I soaked the cluch 36 hours in oil.
I'm not sure this will help anyone but I thought for $100 a new clutch kit is a easy fix for a an annoying issue that seems to be out there with some AE models.
I can honestly say it's solved all the jerky starts when the bike is cold, it is a smooth start now even when the bike cold. I haven't taken it out for a hard ride yet but it seems to be really smooth on the starts and I have no doupt I won't be getting the slippage. I did have some issue's with it not shifing and the "shift" light coming on when I inistially installed it but I went back and did it all again taking special care to make sure the first smaller ring was positioned right with the steal ring in the back of the clutch basket. It does seem to be a little tight, they new plates come right to the edge of the basket, possibly they are a little thicker, at least right now being new. I also made sure I torqued the spring bolts down evenly and using a cross pattern. The first time I turned it on I got the shift light again, but after turning it on and off. (the clutch engages and disingages when the bike it turned on and off) a couple of times that solved itself, I suspect they plates just seat a litttle and there isn't a problem. I also made sure I soaked the cluch 36 hours in oil.
I'm not sure this will help anyone but I thought for $100 a new clutch kit is a easy fix for a an annoying issue that seems to be out there with some AE models.