Clutch plates: What's the difference?

[LOUD MOUSE]

Hello Steve. I think had you looked at the parts you removed and the new ones you would have seen the difference in the friction contact area. If ya get a chance I recomend ya look at the ones ya removed. If they don't have missing cork/neoprene I'd clean and reinstall them. The early cork/plastic will start to slip/fail after a few times of hard take off or what can be called FUN DRAGS! May I recommend ya check the thickness of the first plate and see if it's twice as thick as the others. If it isn't twice as thick put 2 of the others there and then stack in the correct manner. Do ya have any idea what the size of the Ball Bearing on the right side is? May be that's why the extra plates. ...............lm

L.M. and all, Damn! I wish I had taken a picture of my clutch set-up. I did have to install 6 of the fiber discs and 5 plates to make my clutch work. It wouldn't engage otherwise. I admit I made the mistake of ordering these discs off Evil-Bay and not looking at what I had first. So I replaced the aluminum center discs with the older(?) style fiber. MY MISTAKE,but....it worked,,well. So with all due respect Ed(and I really mean that) In my case that is what worked! Steve Greer

[kustommusic]

Ed, Actually that was the bike I sold this past summer. But, It worked very well for me. I really hope it still is as the guy that bought it was a real nice fellow. Just an aside, I replaced the clutch plates because the bike had set for awhile before I got it and the clutch did not engage smoothly. Steve

[ggray]

OK, I'm jumping back into this probably at some's frustration but i do need some info.

I tore into my clutch assy this afternoon. I have the 5 disc set-up and do have the thicker plate "A".

I can assume the wires being referred to earlier in this thread are the wire clips running through the basket holding the inside metal plates and the two innermost friction discs in place..Correct??

Also, I have seen no reference to nor does my manual tell me what the thickness tolerance is on the aluminum core discs. The thickness tolerance range in my book is for the thinner 6 disc setup.

I mic'd the discs and am getting an average of .143-.145 as a thickness. Any idea as to what this compares to a new aluminum core disc????

I have not removed the wire clip(s)......Are they a bitch to get back in???

Any help here will be appreciated.

Gary

[LOUD MOUSE]

First the wires.
Pinch the ends just enough to get them out of the hole.
Put them in the groove and push the ends through the hole and be sure the ends are completely through.
THERE WAS NEVER A 6 DISC CLUTCH ISSUED BY HONDA FOR THESE ENGINES.
Look at the black friction material and if all of it looks good and isn't loose or missing areas then wash with a parts wash.
If they look good then use them.
Fortunatly I can blast the steel dics.
You can use a wire wheel on a grinder motor.
Oil each disc as you reinstall them. ..................emo

OK, I'm jumping back into this probably at some's frustration but i do need some info.

I tore into my clutch assy this afternoon. I have the 5 disc set-up and do have the thicker plate "A".

I can assume the wires being referred to earlier in this thread are the wire clips running through the basket holding the inside metal plates and the two innermost friction discs in place..Correct??

Also, I have seen no reference to nor does my manual tell me what the thickness tolerance is on the aluminum core discs. The thickness tolerance range in my book is for the thinner 6 disc setup.

I mic'd the discs and am getting an average of .143-.145 as a thickness. Any idea as to what this compares to a new aluminum core disc????

I have not removed the wire clip(s)......Are they a bitch to get back in???

Any help here will be appreciated.

Gary

[kustommusic]

GGray, I don't recall the thickness difference,but I remember measuring and trying to figure it out that way. I know Ed states there was no 6 disc clutches in these bikes. With the highest regard for EMO I maintain I put 6 discs in my clutch basket because it wouldn't work with 5, and it worked perfectly with 6. Ed, could it be that the newer clutch baskets were different in depth due to a difference in the new style discs? Steve Greer

[LOUD MOUSE]

Hello Steve.
My statement was and is that HONDA didn't issue any 6 disc clutches.
The early ones had 4 THICK friction plates and 4 thin steels.
Then 5 thinner friction and 5 thin steels.
Then 5 friction and 1 thick and 4 thin steel. (thats when the center hub was changed to acccept the thick 1st steel)
Then 5 friction with the aluminum core.
If you HAD to put 6 in to make the clutch work then you had/have a problem that you worked around.
I've taken clutches apart that had 2 steels together or 2 friction together.
Probably worked but I rather dougt they worked well.
I don't recommend the friction disc that are sort of plastic and don't have the aluminum core.
Those will starrt to slip after being hot a couple of times.
Ask me and HONDA how I know.. .................lm

GGray, I don't recall the thickness difference,but I remember measuring and trying to figure it out that way. I know Ed states there was no 6 disc clutches in these bikes. With the highest regard for EMO I maintain I put 6 discs in my clutch basket because it wouldn't work with 5, and it worked perfectly with 6. Ed, could it be that the newer clutch baskets were different in depth due to a difference in the new style discs? Steve Greer

[kustommusic]

ED, I really appreciate you input and consul on these matters (as does all the board) so I'm not about to argue with you, I just appreciate you taking your time to educate the rest of us! Steve