Clutch rattle

[Guest]

I have a 1983 1100E. I recently purchased bike and po had replaced clutch recently (barnett) and bike seems to have excessive clutch rattle at idle. Is this normal? Any suggestions? Clutch does not slip and bike shifts well.

Thanks

[bonanzadave]

Im only one guy but you may here an echo in here.....

Ditch the Barnett........Ditch the Barnett.......Ditch the Barnett

I think the problem I had with mine was I used the stock (weak) springs and regular 10w40 Valvoline oil. The thin Barnett steels and fiber plates chattered and notched my clutch basket. Then it started slipping and spun a couple fiber plates down to bare metal. Didnt last but 12k miles.

Pull it out and take a look. Its easy to get out and look at. Heres the story on Cliffs web site. http://members.dslextreme.com/users/...ds-n-ends.html

Your rattle could simply be a loose hub nut

[salty_monk]

Likely nothing to do with the new clutch, more likely weak springs on the back of the clutch basket. Most prominent at a slow idle. A lot of them do it, the fix is to send the clutch basket away to have new springs fitted.

Oh & I agree... with above post (beat me to it) I haven't heard good things about the Barnett with the extra plate.

Dan

[Nessism]

You could try this... http://www.theflyingbanana.com/clutchhub.htm

[rapidray]

Check to see if the center nut holding the hub is loose. After that, REMOVE the Barnett clutch & replace it with STOCK Suzuki plates! Ray.

[tas850g]

how would you know if the steels and fibers are barnett?

[49er]

how would you know if the steels and fibers are barnett?

I can't comment on the Barnett steel discs, but I know that the Barnett fibres have a greater area between the grooves cut into them, ie there are less grooves than the stock fibres.
On my 850, I only run the Barnett fibres on the Suzuki steels, along with the 3 of the HD springs. I found that 6 Barnett springs were too heavy, and that a mix of 3 stock and 3 HD was a good balance.

I also suspect that the 6 springs on the rear of the basket are weak and that they are causing the rattle. When the hub nut is loose, it usually compromises the smoothness of the clutch bite.

[80GS1000]

Likely nothing to do with the new clutch, more likely weak springs on the back of the clutch basket. Most prominent at a slow idle. A lot of them do it, the fix is to send the clutch basket away to have new springs fitted.

Dan

Yep, Stan at Gardner Racing Concepts can help you out if the springs are loose. He'll install a heavy duty clutch kit with better springs and a thicker backing plate that's welded in place vs. riveted. http://www.schnitzracingstore.com/ca...showprevnext=1

and http://www.grccranks.com/

Looks like this once you get it back:

[figman]

Thanks for the info guys. Clutch work for sure in the near future.

[jadesystem]

I got the same damn problem................for years. I removed the clutch,
checked everything out and even retightened the hub nut, but it still ratlles at low RPMs. Drives me crazy !!

Next is to completely go over the clutch again and to spotweld those springs onto the plate, (and weld the backplate as mentioned) as mine were loose in their cavity.

[posplayr]

Ken

Next is to completely go over the clutch again and to spotweld those springs onto the plate, (and weld the backplate as mentioned) as mine were loose in their cavity.

Ken,
U dont just weld teh rivits. The backing plate is replaced with a heavy one. See Ed's post. U can also pic up one of teh clutches on e-bay for about $125-$150 used.

http://www.theflyingbanana.com/clutchhub.htm

Still selling the ESD?

Jim

[Nessism]

Ken,
U dont just weld teh rivits. The backing plate is replaced with a heavy one. See Ed's post. U can also pic up one of teh clutches on e-bay for about $125-$150 used.

http://www.theflyingbanana.com/clutchhub.htm

Jim

Hey Jim,

I don’t think it’s necessary to replace the back plate if the stock springs are going to be shimmed and reused. At least I hope not…or maybe I should say I'm not planning to on my clutch hub rebuild.

[jadesystem]

Hi Jim,

How was the Escondido rally ?? Thanks for your e-mail reply. I'm thinking about keeping this bike because it is a rare and only manufactured for one year back in 1983. I would like to do the GSXR front conversion complete with a new front-end while keeping the "old school" integrity of the esd architecture intact.

The clutch issue I will look into more in-debt and to resolve the rattle that
is more irritating than related to performance. I'll look into this more when I tear it down completely and go over everything with the engine removed, the frame electroplated (maybe power-coated), and everything gone over including painting the bodywork to its original color and artwork,
and again the front-end conversion. The 530 chain conversion is a must for these older classic machines.

Your 1982 GS1100e is the classiest naked GS bike around. It is amazing what you did to it that turns heads wherever you go. I've not seen a
bike like yours that is so meticulously clean and far from stock. It is an
awesome bike which I;m sure everyone at the rally were amazed to see
it. If there ever was an award for inginuity, your bike is it.

Pos, take care,

Ken

[Big T]

Thanks for the info guys. Clutch work for sure in the near future.

There's no reason you can't run it as is for a while.

The clutch rattle is merely annoying. You can get the updated hub and be ready to change it out -it'll only take an hour or so. Just lean your bike against the wall, pull off the brake and footpeg and pull the clutch cover.

Just don't drop anything down into the transmission while you have the bike tipped over.

As for the Barnett clutch, many here have had bad luck but I've had mine for 20 years. It definately builds up your left hand and it's a bitch to find neutral. So, once I get the "new" 78 on the road, I'm going to do the half Barnett/half stock fibers and springs as 49er did and see how that works.

[tas850g]

As you probably were going to, PLEASE keep us updated on the clutch rattle issue. I have the same issue and it is very annoying. I/we know it isn't a performance issue but the looks/questions i get are annoying.

Thanks!