Got the new clutch pack fitted today.
As is always the case with me, it didn't go without a hitch though.
After I had finished, I went to test it - mmmmmm, that's odd, it'll go into gear, but not back into neutral even though the light is showing, then the clutch lever went really stiff, then I couldn't budge the gear lever. Mmmmmmm.
So - I thought I'd better whip the cover off and have a look what was going on - only to have the answer dawn on me as I saw the scraped tops of my lovely new red spring caps and the track they had worn on the inside of the cover. How come?
As I was finishing up (the first time round) I noticed that the clutch cover gasket was a bit knackered, so I thought "I won't bother with that in case any straggly bits get caught up in the springs" - as a result, there wasn't enough clearance between the springs and the inside face of the cover
Has now been refitted.
Anyway - is all working well now.
Thanks to Cornerspeed for the fast delivery and the idiot proof instructions, and thanks also for the advice and tips from you guys - the magnetic picker-upper-thingy was a masterstroke - I had the old plates out in 10 seconds rather than 10 minutes.
Final question: I found that there was only 1 thick plate instead of 2 in the bottom of the old clutch pack - why would this be? I have fitted 2 this time. Also, the bottom of the basket had what at first I thought was a weld repair, but on closer examination seems to be a thin streak of molten, solidified metal. Surely someone hasn't melted a clutch plate at some point in this bike's chequered past?
Thanks again
[Edited on 9-4-2006 by zhed44]