As the weather's picking up and MOT due soon, I decided to service the Monster today. Oil changed, no dramas. Chain tensioned, a bit of a tight spot but it'll do, everything else checked out OK so I'm thinking I've got away lightly. Clutch has been quite noisy lately, not all of a sudden, it just creeps up on you. To the point where children ask "Is your bike broke Mister?". So, I thought I'd take a look, remove the plates, give them a clean, a quick 'shuffle of the pack' if you like but I was a tad disappointed to see this; Now I can't remember what the official service limit is for play between basket and friction plate tangs (couple of mm?) but, I think 7mm is possibly a tad too much? I do have a set of plates in decent condition, here's a good one next to the old one for comparison; But, given the notching in the basket, it maybe wise to replace it or the new plates will likely wear out rather quickly plus, the retaining ring around the basket is loose for extra rattle. This bike wears the drivetrain out so much faster than my 916; clutches, chains & sprockets, gearboxes, bearings, rear tyres etc. despite being less powerful and lighter, it's just the way the power hits that seems to do it. BTW, the clutch was working fine with a nice progressive action, easy to select neutral and, noise aside no problems plus the most annoying thing is that there is still 3mm of thickness across the friction material - the same as new plates, maybe should have left it alone. Bugger.
Its done now and all is ready for the imminent arrival of sunshine! Have you treated your jacket yet?
Believe it or not the recommended clearance is 0.6mm. Yes, 6/10ths of a mm, not 6mm. Your clutch drum looks worse for wear too. You may have to replace that too as well as the basket and the friction plates.
Indeed, I'm getting a new basket and though I don't need them if I get new plates with it they're only £35 so, a no brainer really and the 916 plates are getting a bit rattly so I'll change them for a bit of aural peace. Might even go back to the original hub with the cush drives in it on the Monster - might help reduce some of the wear? though the same lightweight, billet hub setup has been in the 916 for many years with no detriment.
I knew it was a small tolerance, so small that you'd be changing the clutch every year if you stuck to it. 7mm might be taking the piss though.
Change the whole sheebang and be done with it, all in one go ! Mind you, my fairly recent experience tells me Ducati clutch drums don’t come cheap.
Well, I've got a good OEM hub, the heavy steel one with the cush drives in that I might fit. The lightweight one in at the moment is not as bad as it looks in the pictures though, it's more marked than damaged.
