clutch slipping ... couple q's

[nazzurro_19]

my clutch has recently started to slip , and theres a couple of things i wana ask before trying anything...

is the clutch supposed to be nice and tight , quite strong to pull in then snap back when releasing the lever ... or is this too tight

and also it only happens sometimes mainly in 2nd or sometimes when in first and i go to pull away it slips straight from the biting point ... again is this cause of how tight the cable feels

so should it be soft and smooth or sharp and tight ?

cheers

[iDemonix]

If you change gear, accelerate and the revs shoot up before coming back down and THEN engaging the gear, it's likely that you've got clutch slippage. I had the same and replaced my clutch plates with some new EBC Heavy Duty's, pulls like a train now.

IIRC it can be down to your adjusters, although slippage is a sign of friction plates being worn, so adjustment is only a temporary fix - wait for better advice on this though I'm a novice.

Tightness is relative, what you call tight I might call soft. You can adjust your clutch with the adjuster on the clutch lever itself, just trial and error by adjusting and riding. Also if you remove the left lower panel (I think you need the lowers off) there's a second adjuster where the clutch connects to its pushrod. Try adjusting that to be a bit tighter , it should alleviate the slippage somewhat, but at my guess you need new friction plates.

A garage will likely charge you a small fortune, with the right tools it's a DIY job. There's a how to video in this forum at the top. I did mine myself as my first mechanical job and it worked a treat, wasn't too hard either.

[nazzurro_19]

The only thing thats puts me off doing it is i know one of the threads on the engine has threaded and stripped the bolt so im now scared to undo that bolt as atm its not leaking etc and them if it cant go back after doing clutch im going to need a new engine aint i? As i dont think it can be helicoiled

[Drunkn Munky]

What thread are you on about?

[nazzurro_19]

The like 10 screws that hold the engine cover on i removed em all ok but then when i undid the last one it came out way to easy like finger tight and when i removed it it ha a couple of coils of the inner thread attached

[Drunkn Munky]

Sounds like its already been helicoiled, clean it out and helicoil it properly its not the end of the world.

[nazzurro_19]

Thats ok ill ask around n try get it helicoiled then , fix the plates

Whats the best friction kit to buy?

[CMSMJ1]

I've used a few now and the worst was the Kyoto kit - totally shit. Best is the Kevlar EBC and a 4th spring. Stiffer and more grippy than any other clutch I have ever used.

Get on it, an easy and satisfying thing to do.

[nazzurro_19]

Ive found an ebc hard clutch kit for like £50 ish quid i take it this will do

http://bit.ly/IyCiRw

[CMSMJ1]

I'd always get it from Rick O or Graeme..keep it in the 400GB..but that is what you want.

new clutch nut, gasket if you must and a couple hours of fettling