Clutch time soon

wazza300 · 13 Oct 2015 at 11:33

Whats the rule when changing a clutch?

I can feel mine slipping slightly when starting/riding from cold so I know it will be due soon,i know that your supposed to bath/soak the cork or Kevlar plates in a bath of oil overnight but what do you guys use to stop the basket from rotating as you undo the nuts ect?

and do you go with oem or heavy duty clutches or springs?renew the steel plates aswell?

Fireskull · 13 Oct 2015 at 11:47

I went with official suzuki for everything, got the plates, friction and springs for just over £100.
I also purchased the basket locking tool, plenty of them on ebay, I had a voucher so only cost me £5, worth it though, saves struggling around to get the shaft bolt undone.

Craig321 · 13 Oct 2015 at 12:15

wazza300 said:
and do you go with oem or heavy duty clutches or springs?renew the steel plates aswell?

Go OEM I reckon? You'll have done what, 70k miles on that clutch before you take it out? So it lasted well, no reason to change it and potentially risk something that won't last as long or the bike won't like?

wazza300 · 13 Oct 2015 at 12:20

Yeah I've seen those locking tools

Idk whether to go ebc? I think genuine Kawasaki would be more than £100 for me,I'll ring and ask though

Thing I was worried about with heavy duty springs is it makes the lever stiffer

ShakenNstirred · 13 Oct 2015 at 13:22

When I did my Kawasaki zr7 clutch a few years ago, I didn't need the locking tool, your not taking the basket off. Your just undoing the 6 small bolts on the pressure plate, putting it in gear was enough. I went with the heavier springs and the 15% ones you don't really notice it, well I don't

Posted from Overclockers.co.uk App for Android

wazza300 · 13 Oct 2015 at 13:37

ShakenNstirred said:
When I did my Kawasaki zr7 clutch a few years ago, I didn't need the locking tool, your not taking the basket off. Your just undoing the 6 small bolts on the pressure plate, putting it in gear was enough. I went with the heavier springs and the 15% ones you don't really notice it, well I don't

Posted from Overclockers.co.uk App for Android

ahh that's good then,did you go for ebc? or genuine

.one. · 13 Oct 2015 at 13:43

wazza300 said:
ahh that's good then,did you go for ebc? or genuine

Nothing wrong with EBC.

Genuine is usually king but your not looking at putting another 70 thousand on her.

ShakenNstirred · 13 Oct 2015 at 13:57

wazza300 said:
ahh that's good then,did you go for ebc? or genuine

I went with EBC, have used them before and they were fine.
leave the plates in new oil over night.
just check the metal plates to see if you need to replace them.
the 3 clutches I have replaced, they were fine

Craig321 · 13 Oct 2015 at 14:10

.one. said:
your not looking at putting another 70 thousand on her.

Isn't he?

Guess he's got his restored one to ride soon.

wazza300 · 13 Oct 2015 at 15:52

ill never sell my workhorse,it was my first bike big and tbh the best bike ive owned

Craig321 · 13 Oct 2015 at 16:15

wazza300 said:
ill never sell my workhorse,it was my first bike big and tbh the best bike ive owned

How long have you had it now? Are you just using your new one on nice days then?

Dogbreath · 13 Oct 2015 at 16:58

wazza300 said:
Yeah I've seen those locking tools

Idk whether to go ebc? I think genuine Kawasaki would be more than £100 for me,I'll ring and ask though

I'd avoid EBC clutch plates, they aren't a patch on the originals. Have a look on Locostbuilders; there are plenty of people with bike engined cars who have used EBC plates, only to replace them with originals shortly afterwards as they don't work at all well with the extra weight.

No point in using heavier springs unless your engine is producing so much power that it's making the (new) clutch slip with standard ones. Just something else to annoy you by making your hand ache in traffic.

wazza300 · 13 Oct 2015 at 16:59

yh,i plan to start using it next summer so I can do all the bits on my old bike

had it from new 17years

@Dogbreath ill weigh up the cost of originals and see,im expecting silly money though

ShakenNstirred · 13 Oct 2015 at 17:53

with the age of the springs i'd think about replacing them. the ebc ones cost me £10
in the ZR7 there known to go weak on high mileage bikes
as said those 15% heavier ones that I got(which are meant for a zx6r) they don't feel heavy and had no problems with forearm ache on long rides and stop/start etc.

Snaggle · 13 Oct 2015 at 17:59

the bolts that hold the plates in are swines ... done 3-4 clutches and every time i torque them they snap... do it by feel as they seem soft

wazza300 · 13 Oct 2015 at 18:35

yeah I will thanks,i reckon ill manage a few k miles out of it yet but on cold starts its slips a little

the clutch lever atm is lovely and soft

.one. · 13 Oct 2015 at 20:39

wazza300 said:
yeah I will thanks,i reckon ill manage a few k miles out of it yet but on cold starts its slips a little

the clutch lever atm is lovely and soft

When fitting remember to criss-cross and slowly slowly catchee monkey.

Never had a bolt go on me but it is easy done.

wazza300 · 13 Oct 2015 at 20:42

yeah,i hope non break off,

need to do that then oil n filter change,new rad fan switch,try to stop a blowing exhaust gasket and then get the valve clearances checked/new cam cover gasket to stop the niagra falls of an oil leak

might try those aluminium/felt crush exhaust gaskets this time,copper ones didn't seal it

Dogbreath · 14 Oct 2015 at 12:48

wazza300 said:
@dogbreath ill weigh up the cost of originals and see,im expecting silly money though

Well worth keeping an eye on eBay. I picked up a set of genuine Honda clutch plates for my Fireblade for £40, new in original packaging.

wazza300 · 14 Oct 2015 at 14:23

I wonder if I'll get away without replacing the steel plates?