Clutch Soak, outer plate issue

[MartinH]

I just started the clutch soak. The clutch was slipping at high RPM's in 5th gear.

I followed BillFJR's instructions.

However, I ran into a couple of issues.

1) Only the last 2 disks (inner most) had the pink mark on them.

2) Never found the white mark

3) The outside of the first plate has some odd marks. Are these normal? Should I reploce this plate?

Thanks

 

[allrider]

How many miles on it?

I can't tell from the pics, but if there is damage to any of the plates i would go ahead and replace them.

You don't replace just one or two plates, and a clutch pack is not that expensive.

I think this is the first AE clutch I have heard of needing replacement. Anybody know of others?

 

[RossKean]

Normally, clutch soak is indicated for sticky clutch, not slipping. For slipping, I would look at the condition of the fiber plates and whether the steels are glazed. (If they are, they can usually be restored using a carbide paper scrub. ) A weak diaphragm spring has been an issue on some yamaha clutches - don't know specifically about the FJR.

 

[Fred W]

Ditto what Ross said. A soak will not help a slipping clutch. Only a grabby one (the opposite scenario).

But those fuzzy pictures look like you have found the culprit. those marks are most definitely not "normal". Replace all of the clutch friction plates and make sure to get them pre-oiled (soaked) before assembly. Also scrutinize the steel plates for warping or discoloration. If there has been a lot of slipping they may have overheated.

If the original plates were all stuck together and you were only getting a few of the plates to actually ever slip, that might explain why the fiber plates were damaged, resulting in the slipping in 5th.

 

[SkooterG]

I can't tell from your blurry photos, but it looks like the outer clutch plate is trashed. As posted above, your clutch shouldn't be slipping and a clutch soak is not going to help that.

I burned up the clutch on my first FJR at 140,000 miles when I was abusing it during slow speed exercises. I did a write up with photos that you might find helpful: Clicky HERE.

 

[MartinH]

I'll have to get a better picture. I had the wife take it. She focused real well on the ground.

The bike only has 17K+ miles. I'm the 3rd owner, but I've put most of the miles on it. I was in some crap traffic a couple of weeks ago and I think that is what started it. The clutch became grabby in 1st then slipped the first time when I wacked it in 3rd to get around a cage in traffic.

I looked at the plantes and they all looked fine. Just the outside of the first plate. Has those marks on it. However, the only wet plates were the first and last.

 

[Fred W]

Those marks look as if some of the friction material has flaked off? If the only plates that were wet were the first and last one they may have been doing all of the clutching. You might be able to get away with just replacing those two and just soaking the rest. I would measure the thickness on all of them and if the rest of them measure good, try just replacing those two. Might save you a few sheckels.

 

[wmadoty]

You know you have two bad friction plates and the steels are in question as well as the diaphragm tension. I would replace the entire clutch pack and the diaphragm.

Looks to me like there was something not rite about this clutch pack from jump street, and that something is likely the diaphragm, but could also be out of spec steels or friction plates. Not worth the BS, just replace it all.

Good luck and hope you get your scoot running great soon.

 

[wmadoty]

One more thing I have not seen covered. This is exactly the initial damage one could expect to see if using an oil with a friction modifier (don't as how I know). I have to ask, you are not using a car oil are you?

 

[MartinH]

One more thing I have not seen covered. This is exactly the initial damage one could expect to see if using an oil with a friction modifier (don't as how I know). I have to ask, you are not using a car oil are you?

I think I've been using Mobil 1 full synthetic. I'd have to check. I have also used one of the motorcycle specific synthetics in the past.

 

[MartinH]

Those marks look as if some of the friction material has flaked off? If the only plates that were wet were the first and last one they may have been doing all of the clutching. You might be able to get away with just replacing those two and just soaking the rest. I would measure the thickness on all of them and if the rest of them measure good, try just replacing those two. Might save you a few sheckels.

Just to be clear, the two pictures are of the same plate, same side. This is the first (most ouside) plate and it is the outside surface. Everything else looks ok (to me). I'll have to measure to see what the actual material left is and see what the first metal ring looks like.

 

[MartinH]

OK, final disposition.

I replaced the outer most clutch plate and did the clutch soak since it was apart.

I'm back up and running, smooth clutch action, no slipping.

I you don't count tools (I didn't have a torque wrench), it cost me $11 to fix it.

BillFJRs instructions were perfect to do this for a novice wrench.

Thanks

 

[Fred W]

OK, final disposition.

I replaced the outer most clutch plate and did the clutch soak since it was apart.

I'm back up and running, smooth clutch action, no slipping.

:yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo:

Gotta love a good outcome. Congrats.

 

[wfooshee]

Going back to the oil, when he said friction modifiers, he's talking about oils with the starburst "Energy Saving" rating on them. Those are the ones you don't want in a motorcycle. Usually those are the lower weights, like 5W-20, etc.

 

[wmadoty]

Glad you got it fixed quickly and inexpensively. Good Deal!