My Clutch Confession
Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2019 12:13 am
OK guys. This is a fully open kimono moment for me. I don't have to air my dirty laundry, but for the benefit of others, I think it's worth it.
It may have passed unnoticed that I complained about my clutch going away soon after getting my '79 on the road after a 10 year slumber. It's been running strong, but I soon noticed after getting it back on the road a slipping clutch throughout the rev range and, after about 600 miles, a clutch that would "let go" under heavy throttle at around 6k RPM.
I ordered a clutch kit from Tim's along with springs.
Installed them today. Bought new oil. I won't make an oil thread out of this, but it IS central to my point. I've used Delo (diesel) oil for a coupla decades in my motorcycles due to the lack of friction modifiers. I've always just grabbed a tub, hit the register and used it. Good stuff. But I guess, somewhere along the line, they also began adding modifiers to their blends.
As I was buttoning up my CBX-Z after replacing the friction disks and adding 3 heavy-duty springs, I happened to discover that the Delo oil I'd used had the dreaded citation in the lower hemisphere of the formulation circle indicating that they'd dinked with it and added some friction potion to the mix.
Sheesh. That would explain why, in spite of friction disks that I'd thought looked good while doing the Six Center Rubber Mod last April, the clutch still slipped after reassembly. With the addition of a top-grade synthetic/dyno blend (without the dreaded verbiage in the bottom hemisphere of the formulation circle), the bike now pulls like it should.
And I suspect it would have done the same if I'd noticed my mistake BEFORE doing the clutch.
Proof positive that you're never too old to find out you're vulnerable to rookie mistakes. I knew better and still fell victim...
It may have passed unnoticed that I complained about my clutch going away soon after getting my '79 on the road after a 10 year slumber. It's been running strong, but I soon noticed after getting it back on the road a slipping clutch throughout the rev range and, after about 600 miles, a clutch that would "let go" under heavy throttle at around 6k RPM.
I ordered a clutch kit from Tim's along with springs.
Installed them today. Bought new oil. I won't make an oil thread out of this, but it IS central to my point. I've used Delo (diesel) oil for a coupla decades in my motorcycles due to the lack of friction modifiers. I've always just grabbed a tub, hit the register and used it. Good stuff. But I guess, somewhere along the line, they also began adding modifiers to their blends.
As I was buttoning up my CBX-Z after replacing the friction disks and adding 3 heavy-duty springs, I happened to discover that the Delo oil I'd used had the dreaded citation in the lower hemisphere of the formulation circle indicating that they'd dinked with it and added some friction potion to the mix.
Sheesh. That would explain why, in spite of friction disks that I'd thought looked good while doing the Six Center Rubber Mod last April, the clutch still slipped after reassembly. With the addition of a top-grade synthetic/dyno blend (without the dreaded verbiage in the bottom hemisphere of the formulation circle), the bike now pulls like it should.
And I suspect it would have done the same if I'd noticed my mistake BEFORE doing the clutch.
Proof positive that you're never too old to find out you're vulnerable to rookie mistakes. I knew better and still fell victim...
I have a Barrnet racing in my Valk and it will hold on the Dyno in 5th gear but not when Nitrous is triggerd hits the rev limiter instantly, Went back to Honda oil brand it seems to hold better , Got to watch those Moly additives, i was using Moblile One Red cap for a while and was getting slippage on the street, my clutch is now 15 years old LOL , Its way over due 
