Clutch
 

I posted awhile back about my clutch slipping, at least it feels like it slips, mainly if you give it slightly too many revs when pulling away it will kind of snatch and creak beneath me??

I have since taken the clutch cover off and cleaned it. Since replacing it, it is no better. Is it likely that I need new clutch plates??

The most annoying thing about it is that when it snatches it can actually cause the engine to stall.

Take the plates out and clean them, along with the pressure plate and regrease the bearing in there.

Then reassemble and give it a try.

Unless you've cleaned the dust out from the plates it will have no effect.

OK thanks, is this something I could attempt myself or is it best left to the Ducati dealer?

How long roughly should the clutch plates last on a Duke? (based on average use) Am I right in thinking they wear quicker than wet clutches?

Thanks again.

How long have you had the bike mate? A Haynes book comes in hand at these times, because not a lot of people can afford to go to the dealer all the time, ducatis need a lot of attention. Try and get some pitchers up to show us. The Haynes will show you how much should be on each plate.:burn:

If you can take the cover off, you can take the plates out!

I'd recommend a Haynes manual at this point (order from Amazon if you must) as that has the complete guide to taking the plates out and putting them back in again.

As for checking, again the Haynes manual will give specifics (plate thickness / pack thickness) but as long as there is some meat on the fibre plates left then they should be fine!

It's not a difficult job - once the cover is off it's only 6 bolts to remove the springs and caps, then the plates come out. Clean them up (a tin of clutch/brake cleaner here is good, but a dry rag is fine) and then get all the dust out of the basket and the pressure plate too. You may want to regrease the bearing on the pressure plate as well - all that dry dust tends to knacker it. Then reassemble and you're done.

[Edited on 26-7-2005 by antonye]

Thanks guys, I will order a haynes manual anyway but I was a bit concerned about what would happen if I loosened the bolts holding the springs.

I wasn't sure how much pressure there is applied to them and how difficult it is to get them back on again, hence I didn't venture any deeper than the cover.

My ducati dealer appears to be a bit pap anyway so I'm not so keen on relying on them for anything.

They tend to not answer questions properly or follow things up I always end up having to chase them and I allow them plenty of time to get back to me.

I would love to be able to completely manage and look after my bike myself but my only concern would be what tools I might need for the jobs and how much you can realistically look after.

I'm currently awaiting my dealer to get back to me as to whether the belts were done on the last service they had it in at 6500 miles. 2 days and they still haven't called me back to confirm and I have since called and surprise the person is busy and I am awaiting his call.

Nothing happens when you undo the springs, the caps just fall off!
The snatchy clutch that doesnt repspond to cleaning could well mean that the tangs on the plates have mullered the fingers on the basket causing the plates to catch. You can dress the fingers with a file or replace it if your flush. Go for an STM48 tooth one from Nelly.

My clutch has been on its last legs for a while now. Every six months or so i take all the plates out and rub the steel ones with fine emery paper then spray the whole lot with brake cleaner. Its done 5 trackdays now with no trouble.

I have the same problem with my 748 and found swapping the friction plates around helped. Try this link for info and piccys:

http://www.sportbikes.com/wwwthreads...fpart=all&vc=1

Thanks for the link, certainly helps make things easier.

Does anyone use any special tools for the job as described?

PS: I've ordered a Haynes Manual ;)

my clutch seems to slip a bit between 5th and 6th and sometimes finds a hidden neutral when changing down from 6th to 5th mainly if ive been riding fast.also my clutch seems to be very hot/warm since i put the open clutch cover on, is this a normal issue ???

will i be able to solve these problems by cleaning it

what does the stm48 tooth basket cost and for what benefit

Nope,all you need is a 4mm and 5mm Allen keys.
'T' handled ones are the best.:)

Hardly any fancy tools are needed for Ducatis, maybe large sockets for the wheel nuts but that's about it really.

The only time I used to get false neutral issues was changing up between 5th and 6th and I fixed this by adjusting the gear lever to be one notch lower so I could shift it cleaner .

Is the slipping between 5th and 6th on the up shift?? If that's the case are you sure it's slipping? I would have thought slipping would occur mainly under load, so more likely on a downshift like mine will often do. I think it acts a bit like a slipper clutch at the mo :D

If you've put an open clutch cover on, I would imagine you'd need to be more wary of foreign bodies getting into the clutch mechanism??

Just thought I'd post an update, I took the bike out for a small run this evening and have noticed that what sounds like the clutch is slipping now even while riding along.

More noticeable if I slow down in a gear and then accelerate to add some load on it.

I can only assume its the clutch as it sounds a bit like the high pitch sound you get when you pull the clutch lever in when stopped.

I'm still waiting for the Haynes Manual before I start to take it apart but I'm just hoping that the clutch doesn't need replacing.

If it does what's the rough price for new plates? and do you have to replace all the plates at once or just the ones which have worn out?

About £110 for an set of ST4S plates which have ally friction plates and steel driven plates. Much quieter.

Noisier the better!! :roll:

yep, i think so to;)

you relay don’t need the Haynes for that, just give it a try mate will help you through it. :bouncy:

Thanks but I'm sure it'll arrive tommorrow so may as well wait now. I got some brake/clutch cleaner spray today so hopefully I'm all prepared.

I'm going to get some T handled allen keys tommorrow.

good luck to ya mate.let me know how oyu get on as i need to sort mine before i attack silverstone next month

Dont over tighten the spring cap holding bolts or use threadlock on them becasue they are made out of pasta.

Oh and ally plates will mean your basket will last longer!

Thanks rockhopper much appreciated.