Clutch fade

Hi

Recently I have had to adjust my clutch free play a lot during rides (admittedly I am using it a lot more with the wintry muddy conditions in the swampy fens).

It gets to a point where enough slack has crept in that the clutch drags but the lever is pulled right down to the grip, I am presuming mostly due to heat as it returns to "normal" if I leave the bike to cool down. For reference The outside air temp has been between 2 and 10 degs C at most the past few rides, with the added "benefit" of the water cooling from all the water laying about. My engine temps (according to my trailtech vapor)rarely seem to go above 85, unless I am stationary for 10 minutes or so.

The clutch plates are fairly new (+- 1600 miles) EBC plates (friction and steel were replaced). There were new springs in the kit but they were marked as "heavy duty" so I left them out thinking they would make the clutch pull terribly heavy.

I haven't removed the clutch cover yet so don't know if the plates are cooked but hope they are fine as this happened when I abused the clutch climbing the ruddand rigg steps in the spring last year.

My question is guess is, is this normal (probably/hopefully not) and if not should I replace the clutch springs or do we think the clutch plates are toast?

Mine is a "year 2K" piggie (2000) and I had replaced the clutch bush when I did the plates last year.

any ideas would be appreciated.

Cheers
Andy

Not seen many posts on failing clutches over last 5 years Andy....would say the hard work your giving it is taking it's toll on the springs ?....on the ZX12R forum some people mix heavy and stock springs together opposed to either stock or heavy...might be worth a try ?.

Ill try the EBC ones there is only 4 of them so it cant be too heavy ( )

I guess clutch springs might get a bit saggy after 16 years

Measure them... should say in the book how long

Mauser wrote:Measure them... should say in the book how long

Tsk tsk tsk Mauser, what good is knowing the length?
Measure the height Apple, don't let this guy fool you!

'Heavy Duty' is prolly some covered way for these aftermarket plates to tell you their friction coefficient is different than the OEMs, lower perhaps - hence need more push to lock the lot.
Mind though, you didn't put in some 'fuel saving' oil did you? They exist, they even work but are to be used in engines only, not combo's where gears & clutches work.... hence they're a nono for the pig.
Get an old mattress out, lay it on it's side, open the cover and have a looksee?
As per always, a picture paints......

BuRP wrote:

Mauser wrote:Measure them... should say in the book how long

Tsk tsk tsk Mauser, what good is knowing the length?
Measure the height Apple, don't let this guy fool you!

'Heavy Duty' is prolly some covered way for these aftermarket plates to tell you their friction coefficient is different than the OEMs, lower perhaps - hence need more push to lock the lot.
Mind though, you didn't put in some 'fuel saving' oil did you? They exist, they even work but are to be used in engines only, not combo's where gears & clutches work.... hence they're a nono for the pig.
Get an old mattress out, lay it on it's side, open the cover and have a looksee?
As per always, a picture paints......

Since when do you measure the height of a spring ?.....we are talking springs not plates pay attention

Thank guys

I have been using Motul 5000 10W-40 in it so don't think there are any of BuRP's special oil additives involved and the clutch doesn't slip at all so not sure about the strength bit in relation to the aftermarket plates.

I would think the following applies to relevant parts:
clutch plates expand - free play increases
judder springs expand - free play increases
springs "soften" or shorten - clutch slipping
spring expand - Nothing?
clutch push rod/lifter lengthens due to expansion - clutch slips

I am going to take a look inside on Saturday, for interest sake last time i was "inside" i didn't have to put it on its side though as no oil escape when i remove the clutch cover ( it was on its side stand).

I've heard about guys 'soaking' the friction plates in oil before assembly, some even heating the oil.
Quite frankly I don't quite see any gains of doing this but hey, maybe there's method to it?
Yeah, oil them before assembling the stack but that's it I think.
Anyways, have a look, maybe something simple.

fyi,

I changed to the EBC springs and the clutch cable and it seems much better (it is definitely is easier to pull the lever). I was out in the mud again last week and didn't have the same problem so can only assume that the 16 year old clutch springs (even though they were within spec with regards to length) were probably knackered.

BuRP wrote:I've heard about guys 'soaking' the friction plates in oil before assembly, some even heating the oil.
Quite frankly I don't quite see any gains of doing this but hey, maybe there's method to it?
Yeah, oil them before assembling the stack but that's it I think.
Anyways, have a look, maybe something simple.

I soaked mine overnight in oil before installing them.

Good result, my clutch is spot on lever easy and bites perfect no fade or judder.