81 GS650G Clutch Question

[marcolli]

Today while I was replacing the clutch plates in my 650g I noticed that the first steel plate was retained on the hub by a wire. In my infinate wisdom I removed the wire and relaced the steel with a new one. In my attempt to reinstall the wire, it broke. Just my luck. My questions are....

What purpose does it serve? Why does the first plate need to be retained? What harm will it cause if I don't use it?

It would seem to me that having that plate installed without the retaining wire wouldn't make much of a difference. I continued to reassemble the clutch and tested it when I was done. Everything functioned properly. What am I missing? Thank you.

[physics-teacher]

wire?

I didn't find any wire when I rebuilt the clutch on my 650G 1981. Could it be from a PO? Check on the parts diagrams from alpha sports or flatout and see if it shows.

[marcolli]

Yes. It's #7, Stopper Ring. It's basicly a piece of piano wire that lays in a groove on the hub that keeps the first steel plate, #13, from moving out.

http://alpha-sports.com/suzuki_parts.htm

It's also mentioned in the service manual found on BassCliff's site......page 81 in Adobe, 3-48 in the manual. Top of the page.

http://www.mtsac.edu/%7Ecliff/storage/gs/GS650GManual.pdf

[chef1366]

If #6 and #8 are in place you don't even need the wire.

[Nessism]

Not sure about the 650 but the 850 has a wave spring device to broaden the clutch engagement point. Maybe this is similar? At any rate, I'd get a new spring but then that's me. I doubt it's needed per say as Chef says, as long as the other parts stay in place during assembly.

[marcolli]

Thanks guys. All the parts are there and everything works well. I think I'll let it alone for now but I'll buy the part just to have for the next time I tear it down.

If anyone else has a good reason that I should replace it please speak up.