Clutch plates: What's the difference?

kustommusic · Post by **kustommusic** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 9:28 pm

30 30, I just wanted to clarify somthing here, The earlier style disc is all fiber and you would use 6 of them. The latter style are aluminum center and you use 5 of those. Either disc type will work in the clutch basket of any year cb77 just be aware of how many you install and dont forget the steel discs that go in between the fiber discs,5 of those for all fiber and 4 if you use aluminum hub style. Good Luck ! Steve Greer

LOUD MOUSE · Post by **LOUD MOUSE** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 10:14 pm

As I know these clutches there was never a 6 disc issue.
The parts book shows this but for only one issue of this clutch in the 3 different engines for that year. Bill and I agree the parts book has a typo. The early issue was different. It had 4 dics and they are very thick. As the bike became more and more popular we continued to have sliping clutches when they got hot because that thin plate would warp back and away from the disc. So honda changed the first Steel Plate to a thicker one but then the wires (first clutch had "0" wires then 2 then 3 then bact to 2) wouldn't fit on the center case. Honda changed the clutch center 4 times and the last acepted the thick plate and 2 wires and had a different center plus the outer case was a Cush Drive (neoprene gasket/washer) between the aluminum case and steel sprocket). The last change was around 1966 and it was a Cush Drive with the aluminum center dics and changed center and pressure plate. That is the only clutch I install in my engine rebuilds. .........lm

kustommusic wrote:30 30, I just wanted to clarify somthing here, The earlier style disc is all fiber and you would use 6 of them. The latter style are aluminum center and you use 5 of those. Either disc type will work in the clutch basket of any year cb77 just be aware of how many you install and dont forget the steel discs that go in between the fiber discs,5 of those for all fiber and 4 if you use aluminum hub style. Good Luck ! Steve Greer

3030vision · Post by **3030vision** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 12:42 am

So I guess my cluelessness is fairly evident at this point. It sounds like I will not be needing all 6 plates. I'm not sure if I'll need 4 or 5 based on what I'm reading here. Since i ordered the plates with the aluminium center, will I need any other plates or parts to rebuild this clutch?

Thanks.

LOUD MOUSE wrote:As I know these clutches there was never a 6 disc issue.
The parts book shows this but for only one issue of this clutch in the 3 different engines for that year. Bill and I agree the parts book has a typo. The early issue was different. It had 4 dics and they are very thick. As the bike became more and more popular we continued to have sliping clutches when they got hot because that thin plate would warp back and away from the disc. So honda changed the first Steel Plate to a thicker one but then the wires (first clutch had "0" wires then 2 then 3 then bact to 2) wouldn't fit on the center case. Honda changed the clutch center 4 times and the last acepted the thick plate and 2 wires and had a different center plus the outer case was a Cush Drive (neoprene gasket/washer) between the aluminum case and steel sprocket). The last change was around 1966 and it was a Cush Drive with the aluminum center dics and changed center and pressure plate. That is the only clutch I install in my engine rebuilds. .........lm

LOUD MOUSE · Post by **LOUD MOUSE** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 6:37 am

No matter the clutch center you have you will need (5) dics.
If the steel plates are flat and not warped they should be OK. .....................lm

3030vision wrote:So I guess my cluelessness is fairly evident at this point. It sounds like I will not be needing all 6 plates. I'm not sure if I'll need 4 or 5 based on what I'm reading here. Since i ordered the plates with the aluminium center, will I need any other plates or parts to rebuild this clutch?

Thanks.

LOUD MOUSE wrote:As I know these clutches there was never a 6 disc issue.
The parts book shows this but for only one issue of this clutch in the 3 different engines for that year. Bill and I agree the parts book has a typo. The early issue was different. It had 4 dics and they are very thick. As the bike became more and more popular we continued to have sliping clutches when they got hot because that thin plate would warp back and away from the disc. So honda changed the first Steel Plate to a thicker one but then the wires (first clutch had "0" wires then 2 then 3 then bact to 2) wouldn't fit on the center case. Honda changed the clutch center 4 times and the last acepted the thick plate and 2 wires and had a different center plus the outer case was a Cush Drive (neoprene gasket/washer) between the aluminum case and steel sprocket). The last change was around 1966 and it was a Cush Drive with the aluminum center dics and changed center and pressure plate. That is the only clutch I install in my engine rebuilds. .........lm

prima5star · Post by **prima5star** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 11:00 am

3030vision wrote: will I need any other plates or parts to rebuild this clutch?

It's a small part, but the clip that holds the clutch center on the shaft is a good thing to replace. I had a 305 clutch slip at high rpm because the clip was bent and didn't fully seat and the basket could float and rock a little. I know, the cause and effect here seem off, but I think what was going on is I had to adjust the clutch to operate with a moving center and it was slipping because it was adjusted too much in the preload direction. You should be able to get the clip for cheap at any good hardware store, but try Honda first.

LOUD MOUSE · Post by **LOUD MOUSE** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 5:46 pm

Like any engine part it is either insatlled right or WRONG!!!!!!!!!!!!. ............lm

prima5star wrote:
3030vision wrote: will I need any other plates or parts to rebuild this clutch?
It's a small part, but the clip that holds the clutch center on the shaft is a good thing to replace. I had a 305 clutch slip at high rpm because the clip was bent and didn't fully seat and the basket could float and rock a little. I know, the cause and effect here seem off, but I think what was going on is I had to adjust the clutch to operate with a moving center and it was slipping because it was adjusted too much in the preload direction. You should be able
to get the clip for cheap at any goo

d hardware store, but try Honda first.

prima5star · Post by **prima5star** » Fri Oct 27, 2006 3:18 pm

Hey, don't give me any grief about it, this was on an extremely low miles 64 Superhawk that was restored in the late 1980's by the president of some southern California Japanese motorcycle club in San Clemente or Long Beach or something. I only discovered and corrected the problem after I got it in about 1999 and had the clutch slip above 9000 rpm!

The bike was probably to date the nicest CB77 I've ever seen- everything was done correctly- except this clip. It now lives in Arizona.