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Which Clutch Plates

  • Thread starter Thread starter Suzuki_Don
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Suzuki_Don

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The background to requiring new clutch plates is as follows:

I was out for a run this afternoon on a country road and was in the process of passing another vehicle. I was pulling 6 grand in 6th (just over 85mph) and lost drive to the rear wheel while on the wrong side of the road. I shut the throttle and then eased it on again and passed the said vehicle. I was a bit anxious for a moment or two.

I am assuming it was clutch slippage as I got the drive back when i backed off the throttle.

When I rebuilt the motor I measured all the clutch plates and they were within specifications.

I have looked at clutch fibre plates and they are $8.50 from Z1 and $21 ea. from the Suzuki dealer. Has anyone used the Z1 clutch plates and do they work OK or is it essential to buy the OEM Suzuki plates?

Comments please.
 
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If it was clutch slippage the RPM would have risen dramatically while failing to provide forward acceleration. Is that what happened?
 
Suzuki_Don said:
When I rebuilt the motor I measured all the clutch plates and they were within specifications.
Click to expand...

If it was within specs then, it still is. Either your springs are too weak, or there is some tension on the pushrod, or the oil that you used has some friction modifiers or something else preventing your clutch from getting the grip it needs.
OR,
Your huge increase in torque from the 650 top end is just more than the clutch can handle, you may need stronger springs or something to make it work.

Start with the first three, did you replace the springs? Springs always get weak from being compressed for decades. Adjustment correct? There should be some slack, no tension on the pushrod at all when the lever is not pulled in. What oil are you using?

If everything is good, and the clutch just isn't strong enough, bigger than stock springs may do it, or maybe just shimming the stock springs for a little more tension.
 
If it is the clutch slipping, it is more likely to be the springs...especially if they are original...

EDIT: Late again! What he said ^^^^
 
Been breaking-in the engine on my 1000 and experienced some clutch slippage the other day. Clutch disc's all measure comfortably within spec and new OE springs are installed. I've read before that the fiber pads get hard with age so to speak, which leads to slippage even though they may be of the proper thickness. I don't know if this is true but starting to wonder.
 
Nessism said:
Been breaking-in the engine on my 1000 and experienced some clutch slippage the other day. Clutch disc's all measure comfortably within spec and new OE springs are installed. I've read before that the fiber pads get hard with age so to speak, which leads to slippage even though they may be of the proper thickness. I don't know if this is true but starting to wonder.
Click to expand...

It might be, brake pads sure do.
I have seen a couple clutches that needed new plates to work well, but mostly springs and proper adjustment fixes it.
 
I did fit new OEM springs when I did the rebuild and the clearance of the clutch rod was OK when I did the initial adjustment, but I will recheck it. On a side issue when turning out from my driveway and going up a steepish hill in 2nd gear under hard throttle the clutch seems to slip momentarily at high revs then when I slip it into 3rd it goes away (no slip).

I would still like advice on which clutch plates to use. OEM look very expensive, especially over here.
 
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I would go gen suzuki if you can afford it, I havent used any aftermarket plates myself, but if you arent highly modified then you shouldnt need the best.
The clutch in my 750 slipped even with ebc springs and the fibers measured within spec. I replaced all the steels and fibers with gen Suzuki stuff and it never slipped again even with the bunch of upgrades to the engine later on. I think old plates get hard or something or maybe contaminated at some point with the wrong oil.
The plates in my current bike are worn enough to allow me to add an extra steel and along with 6 Barnett springs stopped the clutch slip. Until I can afford new fibers:(
 
Im at Commonwealth Motorcycles and the aftermarket clutches are a o.k. fix for short term. We havent found a aftermarket clutch that does as well as the Suzuki factory. Are you running a full syn oil? Sometimes it will make the clutch slip even with factory fibers/steels.
 
I checked at Suzuki 21441-45001 are $18.24 and the steels 21451-28c31 are $9.26 each. Sounds like your dealer is a little high on pricing. I can get you 10 percent off on anything above $10.00, let me know if that would help. PARTS@COMMOTO.COM is my e-mail.
 
I'm going with EBC when the time comes. I used their clutch plated on one bike before and they were fine. They make fine brake pads too.
 
jamminjimmy said:
Im at Commonwealth Motorcycles and the aftermarket clutches are a o.k. fix for short term. We havent found a aftermarket clutch that does as well as the Suzuki factory. Are you running a full syn oil? Sometimes it will make the clutch slip even with factory fibers/steels.
Click to expand...

Jimmy I am running MOTUL motorcycle mineral oil 3000, 20W50, 4T. So that should not be the problem.
 
I to had clutch slipage issues when I first got her on the road a few years ago, so last year I picked up some EBC disc's off of E-bay for GREAT price. Like a idiot I did not replace the 4 springs, I mesured them and they speced out . Installed the new fibers useing Valvoline 4 stroke oil and thought all was fine, It did ride much better for the rest of the season. Then this year I took it out and noticed when I started to ride it pretty hard it was slipping on WOT... Crap... Bought 4 new EBC springs and WOW what a difference a complete different bike!

Now when I shift hard the bike responds, I wish I had these installed when I took it to the drag strip last year I think I might have given those 1100's a race LOL or at least it would have helped my ET's.

DON'T Run synthetic oils... Remember you have a WET clutch and yes the oil works great for the motor but does wonders on the disc's also.

Replace the springs and you will be mostlikely good to go. I didn't even notice a difference in my clutch lever pull in feel.
 
Really !!! Been thier done that !! On various different bikes.. Lesson learned.. Clutch disc's replaced...

Whatever.... Use whatever.. It's not bike
 
Rkt-Rch said:
I to had clutch slipage issues when I first got her on the road a few years ago, so last year I picked up some EBC disc's off of E-bay for GREAT price. Like a idiot I did not replace the 4 springs, I mesured them and they speced out . Installed the new fibers useing Valvoline 4 stroke oil and thought all was fine, It did ride much better for the rest of the season. Then this year I took it out and noticed when I started to ride it pretty hard it was slipping on WOT... Crap... Bought 4 new EBC springs and WOW what a difference a complete different bike!

Now when I shift hard the bike responds, I wish I had these installed when I took it to the drag strip last year I think I might have given those 1100's a race LOL or at least it would have helped my ET's.

DON'T Run synthetic oils... Remember you have a WET clutch and yes the oil works great for the motor but does wonders on the disc's also.

Replace the springs and you will be mostlikely good to go. I didn't even notice a difference in my clutch lever pull in feel.
Click to expand...

Well I did replace all my springs of which there are six, and they are genuine suzuki from my Suzuki dealer. I have just bought a set of EBC fibre plates off EBAY with new springs as well. EBC say these springs are 10% stronger than standard.
 
Suzuki_Don said:
Well I did replace all my springs of which there are six, and they are genuine suzuki from my Suzuki dealer. I have just bought a set of EBC fibre plates off EBAY with new springs as well. EBC say these springs are 10% stronger than standard.
Click to expand...

Just shim the springs with washers. Start with around .060 and go from there. If you still have clutch slip then add washers.
Any groves from clutch plates in the basket or hub? If so they can make a clutch slip.
 
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