EBC clutch instalation

[fat eddy]

Probably missing something glaringly obvious but I've had some problems when installing new EBC clutch plates. Basically when putting everthing back in I've got to the point when I'm inserting the diaphragm spring holder over the diaphram springs and noticed that it isn't going far enough onto the shaft to the point where it isn't even grabbing on to the spline of the shaft. I've pulled everything apart and started again about half a dozen times following the haynes manual to the letter, only to find the same problem when I get to this point.

The only thing I can put it down to is that the new plates are slightly thicker than the old ones, and if one or two of the steel plates were slightly thinner it would be sorted.

Just wondering if anybody else has experienced the same??

[chrisxr]

what model is this for?, The rvf uses 8 plates i think and the vfr uses 9 this is because the metal plates are thicker, on early vfrs they used one plate out of the 9 with a slightly larger internal diameter and used 2 x spring steel circles that sat on top of each other,

also with ebc clutches they provide kits to fit all models so say for example you have a zxr ebc that kit may fit a zzr the zzr may require 10 plates the zxr may only require 8 they will still sell the kit with the 10 in it as it saves time making various kits. Ebc do not make metal plates so my guess is that you have a set of rvf metal plates and are trying to install all the friction plates in the kit? maybe

the other side is that ebc plates are utter toss and they are made to very poor tolerence for road use they may last for a little while but your best bet was the genuine plates although a little more expensive you probly wouldnt be in the mess your in.

These plates wear on the down shift as the one way bearing (antibacklash clutch ) split drum turns against the center plates your plates will wear down around the split area of the drum if you measure them when you remove the old ones, best trick is every now and again replace the last plate in the clutch stack with a single new genuine plate. This will ensure perfect clutch, the clutch on these v4s are one of the few motors downfalls, i had a bad experience when gettin one wrong a few years ago!

[fat eddy]

Cheers for the advise Chris. The kit did come with 9 plates but as you say the rvf only uses 8 so I left one out. I obtained the kit off a friend sometime ago as a spare. I've been told since about them not being the best clutches to use, so it's going to go into my spare engine which is part of a road bike project that I'm sorting out.

Thing is the clutch on my race bike burnt out recently, so I thought I would stick in the EBC kit just to see if it would be okay, which is when I came across the problem.

Just to change the subject slightly, I don't know if you remeber me, but I visited your workshop a couple of weeks ago and mentioned about you doing some work for me. Just to give you a update I'm taking the engine out this week so I'll be bringing it down soon, although I'm going to get an original kit for this engine, I'll bring the EBC clutch with me, you can tell me where I'm going wrong.

By the way I'll sort you out the cash for putting one of those programmable ignitions to one side for when the bike is back in one piece. After having that chat with you it's sounds like it's a 'must have'!!