"You need a new clutch, sir."

[charismaticmegafauna]

Back on-topic:

You're joking, right? (BTW, who's feathering the clutch at 6K? Time to re-read the posts....)

I don't know if I abuse baby. I do ride, or feather, the clutch constantly while in traffic (like when toodling up to the front of the line between cars ), and I rarely use top gear when in tight freeway traffic, which is 90 percent of my riding. Usually keep it at 6K RPMs so I can get outta Dodge if necessary.

So you're only feathering/riding the clutch 10% of the time?

To (attempt to...) clarify: "feathering" the clutch, per se, isn't overly harmful to any of the components that make-up the clutch assy. -- as long as the respective rotational speeds are similar. It's hugely disparate relative speeds between engine crankshaft/drive gears (clutch 'outer') and trans. mainshaft (clutch 'inner') that cause heat/wear when the clutch discs are asked to "do something" with the power.

[H.S.Physics]"Law of Conservation of Matter and Energy"[/H.S.Physics]

When the engine speed is 'in harmony' with the road-speed for the gear selected, dis-engaging the clutch is benign and causes the plates no distress.

Is the clutch, actually, 'slipping' ( no increase in road-speed for increase in engine speed)?

If not, there's little reason for replacement.

That's not to say clutches can't have other problems -- 'dragging', for one (when it doesn't 'release' fully/properly). If the m/c tends to want to move when in gear, at rest, with the clutch dis-engaged (lever pulled 'in') -- that signifies 'dragging'. Dragging can be caused by warped plates, ridged/worn, inner or outer basket teeth/splines.

If either condition exists: the clutch can be dis-assembled for inspection and measurement. Slipping: measure plate thickness, spring length and pressure (specs usually in FSM). Dragging: visible inspection.

 

[user 213]

Back on-topic:

I don't know if I abuse baby. I do ride, or feather, the clutch constantly while in traffic (like when toodling up to the front of the line between cars ), and I rarely use top gear when in tight freeway traffic, which is 90 percent of my riding. Usually keep it at 6K RPMs so I can get outta Dodge if necessary.

To (attempt to...) clarify: "feathering" the clutch, per se, isn't overly harmful to any of the components that make-up the clutch assy. -- as long as the respective rotational speeds are similar. It's hugely disparate relative speeds between engine crankshaft/drive gears (clutch 'outer') and trans. mainshaft (clutch 'inner') that cause heat/wear when the clutch discs are asked to "do something" with the power.

Emphasis added. I agree CMF, however feathering is still creating more wear than simply engaging the clutch and moving forward. Constant feathing, like maintaining position at a stop instead of just braking to a stop, then waiting until you have enough space to move forward a significant amount is going to shorten the life of clutch parts.

JB - You can write off my comments earlier as excessive PMS, but the points are valid, even if the tone sucked. I'm just calling it like I see it. That you disagree is no surprise. 6k in traffic on a 600cc sport bike and I wouldn't blink an eye. 6k on a 1300 cc bike with a big, stocky midrange has me raising my eyebrows.

What I'd like to know is did you perform the suggested test? And what were the results. It's easy enough to do, and pretty obvious if it's a pass or fail. And you never did tell us why the mechanic thinks you need a new clutch. What did he tell you?

As far as the non-wrenching comments go, lets just say that those of us that do wrench see a lot of what we politely call, a lack of mechanical empathy, from those that don't wrench.

 

[Khunajawdge]

New clutch plates on ebay -

https://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Yamaha-Clut...#ht_1003wt_1167

 

[charismaticmegafauna]

We don't know, yet, if sir needs new clutch plates.

If sir's clutch is (actually) slipping?, disassembly and meaurement would seem appropriate (before ordering replacement parts... ).

 

[James Burleigh]

On the three-B's ride, Hycle, who knows a thing or two, including about motorcycles, jumped on my bike to check out the clutch. He rode 25 yards, then we all heard a "Whiiiiiiiiig" as he pinned it and the RPMs went to the moon while the bike kinda stood still. "You need a new clutch, JB," he said cheerfully, handing me the keys. Case settled.

So tomorrow (I'm off today ha ha) I will find out just how easy it is to replace a clutch as per you inglorious bastages, because I'm having my mechanic do it! :yahoo: I priced out the parts on line, and the dealer was $4 cheaper. And given that I get no pleasure out of doing mechanical projects, and risk fooking it up, while the dealer guarantees the work, and I don't lose half a day when I can be doing something productive, it's well worth the price. Plus I save Silent the trouble of the hour ride from San Jose to save my sorry culo.

Now the only question is whether I'm going to ride in tomorrow to drop said bike off, as we are getting hammered by a series of mofokin' storms, and although riding home in the nasty blowing wetness is okay as per earlier thread,



JB

P.S. Thanks again for offer of help, dCarver, and thank you to Silent for the offer of your help from dCarver. :blink: (Though Silent did offer to save my *** if needed.)

 

[dcarver]

P.S. Thanks again for offer of help, dCarver, and thank you to Silent for the offer of your help from dCarver. :blink: (Though Silent did offer to save my *** if needed.)

Dang JB, I feel bad this didn't happen. I was seriously hoping to practice on your bike before I have to do mine?

 

[James Burleigh]

Dang JB, I feel bad this didn't happen. I was seriously hoping to practice on your bike before I have to do mine?

I knew it!

Bastage. :glare:

 

[dcarver]

Just put on your helmet and speedo and go for it JB, you do live up there with all the werid ones anyway, no one will notice...

 

[charismaticmegafauna]

..."You need a new clutch, JB," he said cheerfully, handing me the keys. Case settled.

Barring a failed component, you may want to look-into a more 'heavy-duty' clutch (like Barnett)?

Some consider a clutch to be a 'normal wear' item -- yet, some never use-up/destroy/wear-out a clutch, ...ever. So (barring a failed part...), unless you plan to change your riding habits -- you may need a 'stronger' clutch than Yamaha provides (OEM)?

Which certainly is possible -- but, stronger clutches often come with different operating characteristics (often not quite so benign/pleasant in operation as the stock unit).

Thanks for the up-date.