Clutch recommendations

[duaneage]

My 650G clutch is acting up again. I drive 30 miles a day in stop and go traffic so tires and clutches take a beating. I put a used clutch in it 3500 miles ago but did not replace the springs . Bad idea I think. I'm just starting to get a little slipping if I hit a bump under load or downshift to get around another idiot on the road.

I would like to replace the springs this time and go with new fibres. SO my questions are:

Recommended clutch fibre makers for a bone stock bike driven in daily traffic, OEM or aftermarket?
Spring recommendations, OEM or HD, or a combination of the two?

Best sources to get these parts today.

[brveagle]

I'm in the same boat as you, but looking for 550 clutch packages.

For your stock driving just stick 100% OEM...

you can pick clutch kits up on ebay for around $40, and springs from bikebandit for less than 20.


You will see no extra benefit from the HD packages

[duaneage]

I'm watching a 40 dollar clutch kit now. Problem is the seller does not mention the brand adn I am afraid they are remanufactured disks with inferior materials. Still, for 49 dollars shipped they are worth a try.

GS's are fairly easy to reclutch once you do it. The first time getting the old gasket off sucked but after that it is pretty easy.

[Boondocks]

If you wanted to be a tightwad you could replace the springs first. If it doesn't cure the problem, you could reuse the springs with new discs.

In the Chaparral Motorsports catalog, EBC clutch discs for your bike (part no 326-7545) are $52.99, and springs 10% stiffer than standard (part no 326-7910) are $6.99. Shipping cost up to $100.00 purchase is $6.00 and free if over $100.00.

I think this is a good deal for a quality name brand clutch. I will be buying discs and springs soon for my bike, so already had done some price checking. I have no experience with EBC clutches, but from their other products (such as brake pads) and reputation I would have confidence that it would be a good choice.

[JHawkins]

If you wanted to be a tightwad you could replace the springs first. If it doesn't cure the problem, you could reuse the springs with new discs.

In the Chaparral Motorsports catalog, EBC clutch discs for your bike (part no 326-7545) are $52.99, and springs 10% stiffer than standard (part no 326-7910) are $6.99. Shipping cost up to $100.00 purchase is $6.00 and free if over $100.00.

I think this is a good deal for a quality name brand clutch. I will be buying discs and springs soon for my bike, so already had done some price checking. I have no experience with EBC clutches, but from their other products (such as brake pads) and reputation I would have confidence that it would be a good choice.

I tried a set of EBC springs with my new EBC clutch, but the springs, although they were the correct part number, apparently were not correct. It only came with 4 instead of 6 and the 4 were so stiff I could not disengage the clutch with them in. I put the stock ones back in and it is working great with the new fibers. I suspect they put the wrong springs in the package.

[bwringer]

My 850G is working great with Vesrah clutch fibers and heavy duty springs from CRC2.

http://www.crc2onlinecatalog.com/

Actually, the heavy duty springs probably weren't necessary -- the springs I removed were original and sacked well below the minimum service measurement. New OEM or standard springs would have been fine. But I kinda like the extra firmness to the clutch pull.

The original fibers had very little wear, so I probably could have simply replaced the springs and ridden happily for a few more years. Springs are relatively cheap, so give that a try if you're pinching pennies.

[duaneage]

Love that avatar...

I will probably go with the EBC clutch and springs, that is more reasonable that I imagined. The clutch pack on ebay is 40 but of unknown manufacturer and I don't feel like doing this a third time.

I'll test the springs out with 2, then 3, and then all 6 to see if it gives me the clutch feel I can live with. I don't want a Popeye left arm from working a King Kong clutch lever.

Thanks all!

[Chris Daniel]

Just a note.

What kind of oil are you running?

When I first got my bike the guy was putting mobil 1 synthetic in it.......which itself was not the problem. The problem was on the back, the "energy conserving" in the lower half of the circle was the problem. It has friction reducing additives that cause clutch slippage in our bikes. If you search "energy conserving oil" on this site you can read more about it. My clutch would slip between each shift, if I hit a bump, or if I really romped on it.

Anyway, I started using castrol 10-40 NON energy conserving and all my clutch slippage went away I have put roughly 3000 miles on it since I switched and I have not had a single problem with clutch slippage.

Just something else, maybe it will save you from having to redo the clutch.

Hope this helps.

[hungryman]

I don't have any preference on the plates, but the stock springs (new) won't wear you down like HD aftermarket units. That may be something to consider since you do a lot a of city driving.