Clutch basket retention wires

[Snakeoil]

Just got a copy of Bill Silver's books and was reading thru them last night. I noticed that he recommends not installing the clutch retaining wires, the little music wire retainers that hold the first 2 or 3 plates (depends on engine number) to the clutch hub. Bill says they can break and foul the oil pump.

Well, I've already reassembled my primary and of course I installed the 2 wires that were in my clutch.

Has anyone experienced failures with these wires and subsequent oil pump damage?

LM, you talked about these wires in one of the posts I found in a search and mentioned that at one point you used none because the combination of plate thickness/count and groove location prevented it. Do you no use them at all anymore.

I'm not proceeding with any more work on the engine, until I finish Bill's books.

Thanks,
Rob

[jensen]

Hi,

Never found parts of these wires in my engines.
I think it is hard to get them new, be careful installing the old ones,
do inspect them before reinstalling.

The wires are made of spring steel (good translation ?), and don't intend to brake easily.

Jensen

[davomoto]

Yes Jensen, good translation. I use them in the later clutches, where the holes align properly with the use of the aluminum core friction plates. Like Jensen, I have never found a broken one, nor any part of one in an engine.

Davo

[Snakeoil]

Thanks guys. I did inspect them and they were in excellent shape. I hated to remove my side cover after compressing that brand new gasket.

regards,
Rob

[brewsky]

I re-used them in mine no problems.

I've also re-used the same cover gasket at least 3 times with no leaks.....it was stuck pretty good to the case so I didn't see any reason to scrape it off...just oiled it down good before replacing the cover.

[LOUD MOUSE]

Ya have a message from back when we were new to these bikes and they were new also.
Honda changed the thickness of the first steel plate and the wire wouldn't install.
After many years the myth was that we had to leave the wire out as it may break where truth was/is Ya Couldn't Install It. .....lm

Just got a copy of Bill Silver's books and was reading thru them last night. I noticed that he recommends not installing the clutch retaining wires, the little music wire retainers that hold the first 2 or 3 plates (depends on engine number) to the clutch hub. Bill says they can break and foul the oil pump.

Well, I've already reassembled my primary and of course I installed the 2 wires that were in my clutch.

Has anyone experienced failures with these wires and subsequent oil pump damage?

LM, you talked about these wires in one of the posts I found in a search and mentioned that at one point you used none because the combination of plate thickness/count and groove location prevented it. Do you no use them at all anymore.

I'm not proceeding with any more work on the engine, until I finish Bill's books.

Thanks,
Rob

[Dgormley]

Ed, Thanks for clearing that up, I have been wondering for some time what the reasoning for leaving them out "really" was. Now I know.........................................D