CLUTCH ADJUSTMENT

twinegar · Post by **twinegar** » Fri Nov 06, 2009 11:07 pm

My old clutch wouldn't adjust and barely disengaged so I overhauled my clutch and replaced the plates and springs with Barnett and the friction discs with EBC. After adjusting I rode all day, no problem. The next morning started the bike put it into gear and it took off across the garage. I adjusted it again and rode all day, no problem. The next morning the same thing, lurching across the garage, re-adjusting and good all day.
What is up with that?.

Terry · Post by **Terry** » Fri Nov 06, 2009 11:21 pm

The only time I've had that experience was with a motor that had sat with dirty oil in it (not one of mine) and the clutch plates were soaked and stuck together. Upon cold startups it creeped forward or jumped a bit. In both my CBXs I have Barnett steels and EBC frictions but no Barnett springs. The 82 has stock springs and the 79 has EBC 3/4 heavy duty springs. Both setups have never had any problems and both have over 20,000 miles on them. Could those springs be the culprit? Is the clutch pull very hard?

twinegar · Post by **twinegar** » Fri Nov 06, 2009 11:25 pm

I was told to nix the Barnett springs because they would make my hand tired but they feel about like the old ones. Each time I re-adjusted the screw and nut it screwed in a little farther. Today I ran it all the way in and backed it out one turn and it was fine. When the book says turn in until resistance is felt do they mean until it stops? It feels like the push rod is getting shorter.

Terry · Post by **Terry** » Fri Nov 06, 2009 11:33 pm

I suppose Barnett makes different rate springs but they got their name with drag clutch packs that included 'monster pull' springs. Even my 3/4 rated springs from EBC make pulling in the lever harder than stock springs. I notice it mostly on cold days when I'm in the twisties shifting frequently. Maybe your old springs were also heavy duty rated if you think the lever pull now is similar to what you had before? The pull with stock springs is quite easy. Since installation years and thousands of miles ago, I've never had to adjust either one so I'm not sure what the book is referring to exactly by 'tension' but it shouldn't mean all the way stopped or it should say so.

twinegar · Post by **twinegar** » Fri Nov 06, 2009 11:40 pm

Well.......it's a pain in the butt taking the cover off but if it acts up again I better take a look see. The difference between an amateur mechanic and a professional mechanic is the number of times you have to do the same thing.

Terry · Post by **Terry** » Sat Nov 07, 2009 12:42 am

I just thought of something. Since you said it worked fine throughout the ride and only lurched forward upon first startup, as doubtful as it may seem, I gotta ask, did you soak the clutch plates in oil before installation making sure each plate was thoroughly bathed in clean engine oil and then stacked in sequence with the steels?

twinegar · Post by **twinegar** » Sat Nov 07, 2009 12:49 am

No I didn't and I just checked the book and it says that. Wouldn't they be soaked in oil by now?

Terry · Post by **Terry** » Sat Nov 07, 2009 1:46 am

They get wet (mostly) after startup with hot oil which explains why they're working ok during a run but since they weren't soaked completely before stacking them together as a unit, they are grabbing hard since, individually they're still pretty dry. Remember, they're sandwiched together pretty hard and close. All the plates have to work together as a unit. Some mechanics swear that they should be soaked for hours, even overnight but I doubt that's necessary, especially since mine are soaked just before installation and have over 20,000 trouble free miles on them. Think of them like a cake that isn't 'done' all the way in the middle. I would remove them, carefully separate them and keeping them in the same sequence, reinstall with stock springs after a good soak.

alimey4u2 · Post by **alimey4u2** » Sat Nov 07, 2009 4:25 am

When storing over a few days, I always park mine up with a plastic cable tie on the clutch lever. Just pulled in enough to just separate the plates. No more huge clunks when I take her out....

twinegar · Post by **twinegar** » Sat Nov 07, 2009 1:25 pm

Sounds like you solved it for me. I probably wouldn't have thought of wetting the discs unless I re-read the shop manual and saw the small boxed message.
Thanks.

cbxtacy · Post by **cbxtacy** » Sat Nov 07, 2009 1:39 pm

Twinegar I have your spare starter clutch sitting at home in the garage. Next time I'm home I'll try to get it out. Right now I'm on I70 in Ohio, if I head west from here on I70 how far will I be from you?

twinegar · Post by **twinegar** » Sat Nov 07, 2009 1:51 pm

Thanks on the starter clutch. I sent you a PM to answer the other question.