• Required reading for all forum users!!!

    Welcome!
    Register to access the full functionality of the GSResources forum. Until you register and activate your account you will not have full forum access, nor will you be able to post or reply to messages.

    A note to new registrants...
    All new forum registrations must be activated via email before you have full access to the forum.

    A Special Note about Email accounts!
    DO NOT SIGN UP USING hotmail, outlook, gmx, sbcglobal, att, bellsouth or email.com. They delete our forum signup emails.

    A note to old forum members...
    I receive numerous requests from people who can no longer log in because their accounts were deleted. As mentioned in the forum FAQ, user accounts are deleted if you haven't logged in for the past 6 months. If you can't log in, then create a new forum account. If you don't get an error message, then check your email account for an activation message. If you get a message stating that the email address is already in use, then your account still exists so follow the instructions in the forum FAQ for resetting your password.

    Have you forgotten your password or have a new email address? Then read the forum FAQ for details on how to reset it.

    Any email requests for "can't log in anymore" problems or "lost my password" problems will be deleted. Read the forum FAQ and follow the instructions there - that's what we have one for...

  • Returning Visitors

    If you are a returning visitor who never received your confirmation email, then odds are your email provider is blockinig emails from our server. The only thing that can be done to get around this is you will have to try creating another forum account using an email address from another domain.

    If you are a returning visitor to the forum and can't log in using your old forum name and password but used to be able to then chances are your account is deleted. Purges of the databases are done regularly. You will have to create a new forum account and you should be all set.

what does replacing the clutch consist of?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Davefw
  • Start date Start date
D

Davefw

Guest
I just bought a 79 gs850 and was wondering what does changing the clutch mean? there are alot of parts in the diagram, is it the plates I see or the outer peice that has the springs? I have several guestions but I'll not muddy the water with others now. this is my very first post, thanks in advance for your help.
 
Last edited:
I've only taken apart a clutch but only to inspect it while doing other things to the engine.
I would assume that the parts that wear are what would be replaced. That would be the plates and possibly the outer pressure plate if it were scored. The springs usually don't go out of spec unless they are heat damaged - they will lose their tempering and then won't have the tension needed to put pressure on the plates.
 
Both sets of plates have a minimum thickness measurement. I would replace the cork AND steel friction plates if I opened it up. The springs also have a minimal length and should be measured.
Oh yeah, and use a new cover gasket will ya?
 
Most people just replace the fiber plates, the springs, and the cover gasket unless there was a juddering or grabbiness problem. You do not have to remove the clutch hub. Use a new clutch cover gasket after removing ALL of the old one, but install it dry -- do NOT get anywhere near your GS with silicone or sealers.

If your clutch is just slipping, try replacing only the springs -- the fiber plates hardly ever actually wear out, but the springs all seem to lose their poop after 20 years or so. If you measure the old springs, they're likely sagged far below the minimum spec in the manual. Springs are a lot cheaper than the fiber plates.

Start to finish, it might take you 30 minutes the first time, unless you have an extremely stubborn or gunked-up gasket to scrape off. Very easy. Place the bike on the sidestand, and you won't even lose any oil -- it will all run over to the left side of the engine.
 
KPottorff said:
The springs usually don't go out of spec unless they are heat damaged - they will lose their tempering and then won't have the tension needed to put pressure on the plates.
Click to expand...

Clutch springs certainly can and do get weak simply from the passage of time. No heat damage needed.

You can get aftermarket heavy-duty clutch springs, but OEM springs from Suzuki will work perfectly fine for another 20+ years.
 
You're right about the springs. I've been working on my old VW's lately and was thinking along those lines.

It's tough getting old...
 
thanks

thanks

I thank you all for the input, it was very helpful. I love these forums!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top