Clutch slip EDIT Sorted!

[MrDavo]

When I was getting ready for my K1's MOT I found that years of standing had seized the clutch plates together, and it wouldn't disengage.

When I stripped the clutch, I pulled the plates apart, and each steel plate had a 'photo' of the friction plate it had been in close company with for god knows how long. I cleaned up the steel plates, and oiled everything before reassembly, as per the manual. Maybe I over oiled, I don't know.

The clutch has worked fine since, but on a ride out today, I gave it full beans to pass a car, going uphill, and the clutch suddenly slipped. backing off a touch got the drive back, but I got it to do it again later, same thing, WOT and a high gear.
It seems to me that if this happens solo, then 2 up with camping gear is going to be a problem.

Do you think my plates are shot, or could cleaning the plates or adjusting the springs get me my drive back 100%?

[hairygit]

Either weak old springs, and or knackered fibre plates. If you're going to strip it again to find the problem, it would be foolish not to replace those parts, easy enough to do, and relatively cheap, that way you eliminate the possibility of problems for a fair few miles riding!

Sent from my X5 using Tapatalk

[Bryanj]

You dont adjust the springs, the bolts are done up tight and thats it so a set of plates and springs may be called for but try re-adjusting it first as it may have bedded in a bit anf the adjuster gone tight

[MrDavo]

Thanks, I'll check the adjustment first, but if that's OK I'll throw a set of springs and friction plates at it.

The cross shaped lifter plate has a small piece missing at the end of one of its 'ears'. It cant affect the operation, but I'm wondering if it contributes to the 'buzz' that blurs the mirrors at speed as the clutch will be out of balance as it spins.

[MrDavo]

Of course nothings that simple - Silvers didn't have the lifter plate, and only 3 friction plates, so they are sending me the springs, tab washer and a new lifter plate bearing, the plates are coming from Z1 in the US, and the lifter plate from Germany.

Lets see what takes the longest, I'm not dismantling the clutch (or using full throttle) until I have all the bits.

[750rideruk]

Always worth checking the clutch cable is running free. Especially if stood for a while.
don't ask me how I know this!!!

[tom400f]

Are you running mineral oil, or at most semi-synthetic? There are various reports of "modern" oils causing clutch slip on these bikes.

[ST1100]

There are various reports of "modern" oils causing clutch slip on these bikes.

I'd limit this to modern car-oils, as bike specific full synt ones have friction additives added...

[MrDavo]

Are you running mineral oil, or at most semi-synthetic?

Old school Halfords Classic Multigrade. But lets not start another oil thread. I take the point about modern oils, apparently if I put synthetic in my air / oil cooled 911 bad things would happen and it would try and escape through the oil seals.

[MrDavo]

The clutch lifter turned up this morning, and I already have the springs. I'm still waiting for the friction plates from Z1, I just sent them an email as, worryingly, USPS tracking says this package has been delivered - it hasn't!

I just went out for a ride, and its noticable that the bite point isn't where it should be, almost the lightest touch of the clutch lever will disengage it. 2 up, a good twist of throttle on the bypass and it slipped. The clutch is as light as any i've tried (amazing compared to a 750cc Brit) so I dont think the cable is binding, but that adjustment has gone somewhere.

No doubt all will be explained when it comes apart, what determines the bite point though? I remember having to set the adjustment of the cluch lifter arm, could this have gone awry?

[MrDavo]

Just come in from the garage, I am pissed off beyond belief, and the wife and cat are giving me a wide berth. 

The day started badly, the postman plays 'knock and run' and just leaves a card, despite me buying an industrial strength doorbell just for him. Get to the sorting office, pay £5.53 VAT plus an £8 fee to the Royal Mail. 

Get in garage, strip clutch, try to refit with the new plates from Z1, can't. The ad says they fit http://z1parts.net/clutch-friction-plate-honda-early-cb750 the number is correct from my parts book, but the ears are 1mm too wide and wont pass the band that goes around the basket to stop it spreading. I could grind them but there are a lot of ears, it would be rough, and why the &*(% should I have to?

I waited nearly two weeks for these to show up, now what do I do?

I'd like to say that's the last time I use non - Honda parts, but D Silver still has just 3 plates in stock.  The only OEM ones on eBay are in the USA of course.

[hairygit]

It sounds like you have a later clutch basket fitted. Can't recall exactly what point in production Honda changed it, but the early basket did not have the strengthening band round it. Probably why the drive tongues on the new plates foul the band.

[MrDavo]

I'm confused. It's not a K0 clutch with the clip to hold the end plain plate, and my parts book (K0 - K2) shows a basket with a band round it.

The plates I ordered were listed as equivalent to 22201-300-000, my parts book thinks that's right for K1 and K2.

If I have a later clutch than K2, quite possible, can someone suggest a part number for the friction plate to fit? Any way to tell? I'm loathe to order pattern plates from say CMS, they may very well be from the same source. The only other course is to start grinding ears!

[JamesH]

Mr Davo, hate to say this (only just read your thread properly) but I had Exactly the same issue with the clutch plates on my previous red K1. Tried pattern parts from Wemoto and another source, both had the ring clearance issue. In the end DSS supplied new Honda parts and they were perfect. Other source to check is Fowlers to see if they have stock, or try CMSNL. J

[flatfour]

I think that I still have the set of friction plates that I removed from my 750 K2 when I bought it some three years ago. I changed them as a matter of routine rather than for a specific reason, as I had clutch slip on my previous K6 and thought that I would take care of a potential problem before it could arise with this bike.

If these are of use to you, I will check that I still have them (all parts that I keep are stored indoors in sealed plastic bags) and if you want to arrange for a courier to collect (from Norfolk) you are welcome to them.