When I got my 748 the guy I purchased it from said to remove the clutch cover and blast the clutch with brake cleaner every so often. My question is, is this correct and how often should I do this? Also for the first time today I felt the clutch slip under load pulling away but once off and running its fine. Could this just be because I need to 'blast' this dust out?
I am sure that there will be several opinions on this, but I don't think that simply taking the cover off and "blasting" with an aerosol will achieve much. On the other hand, taking the cover off and carefully removing the pressure plate and springs, then removing the plates (maintaining exact sequence) and cleaning them individually does make sense once in a while. Brake cleaner should be OK for cleaning plates. It won't guarantee that the clutch will not "groan" or judder a little from time to time though - ways of improving the clutch (aside from replacing it) are a subject of much discussion.
Removing the rubber gasket from the clutch cover will give you clearance of around 3 to 5mm when replacing the cover without it. You'll find 2 or 3 small steel spacers inside the gasket where the bolts go through it. Replace the cover using just these as spacers and this will prevent the dust from building up and keep clutch cool as well.
Sounds like a good idea but whats the gasket for in the first place if you can just remove it? (I'm a complete novice when it comes to mechanics. I'm starting to see one of the trueist quotes on here I read was 'owning a Ducati will make you a compitant mechanic' )
Glad you mentioned the steel spacers as it is vital you fit these otherwise the (standard) clutch cover will touch the spring caps
Part of me wants to have someone else do all these things to the bike incase I funk it up, the other part of me knows I cant afford too
you will be fine :smile: Take your time, be over-thorough if necessary if you aren't sure, ask all the questions on here you need to and don't be put off by any attempt at ridicule :smile: if in doubt ask, if you come up against something that needs forcing more than you expected then think it over before you do it.
