I replaced the friction plates on the 900 today as the clutch was slipping. Ignore the model though as the bike very probably has a 748R slipper clutch fitted. Initial stack height after new friction plates were fitted was way too high. I didn't measure it as I've lost my calipers and staff at B&Q had no idea what calipers are, much less had any in stock (see separate thread on that issue) but it was obvious because the last friction plate was only just engaging with the basket and also it was almost impossible to pull the clutch lever. I have played around with the stack height by using half of the old (and therefore thinner) friction plates in the stack, alternating with new ones. It is better, and I can pull away, change gear etc but it's still very difficult to find neutral with the engine running. I don't have any spare steels to tune the stack height further, unfortunately. Any other ideas beyond obtaining some 1.5mm steels or adding more old friction plates to the stack? Interestingly, two things surprised me: 1. There didn't seem to be a dished plate in the stack 2. Even though it's a slipper, I found the innermost plate was a steel and not a friction as expected. Should I put a friction in there first, and if so, what will my stack ordering be then? Any ideas? Thanks Photo shows the clutch empty of all plates
You defo need a friction plate in first. Just build with alternate types and finish with a steel. If you can't measure the stack, you want about 4mm of drum sticking past the last steel plate, no less but you can go a little more.
Thanks very much for that advice. I suspect the slipper function isn't working as it's all pretty dry and rusty in there and I can't feel it (I have a Monster S4 to compare it against). I've also had a 748R in the past and I can remember the freewheeling type effect quite distinctly, particularly as that was a factor in me crashing the bike when I hadn't had it long because I thought I'd hit a false neutral and it put me off my stride when I was braking into a bend.
Put old friction plates in as your top two friction plates. This will allow the clutch to clear enough so you can get neutral without the clutch dragging. Once the new friction plates have worn in a bit, you can put the two new friction plates you've left out at the bottom of the stack and leave the old ones out. The problem is caused by your brand new friction plates sticking in the basket slots because they are a tighter fit and also have new, sharp edges on the tabs.
Thanks for that. I'll give it a go. I did actually try it, but I'll also reorder the stack too and see how I get on. I also filed down the tangs on the basket.
I had another go at it this morning but still can't get neutral. It is now F-S-F-S-F-S-F-S-F-S-F(old)-S-F(old)-S-S All the steels are 2mm. I'm going to try swapping in another old friction plate instead of a new one and see it that works. Failing which, I'll go back to square one and use the old pressure plate and springs to eliminate that possible variable. Failing that, I think I'll need to get hold of a dished steel and maybe some 1.5mm plain steels in order to give me a range of options.
Err on the side of a low stack height. Mine is super low and doesn't slip. It does make for a light lever though. I have no doubled up plain plates at all.
You can identify your dished plain plate by a tiny punch mark which is in line with the half moon cut out but at the base of the adjacent tab. Mine is to all intents and purposes flat. Iirc, the punch mark goes to the outside.
Yes, thanks. I've changed quite a few Ducati clutches over the years so I recognise the dished plate. It definitely doesn't have one and believe me, over the course of the last 24 hours, I've looked and looked
Just an aside from stack height etc. Have you bled the clutch up?? Might have been "adequate" with a worn pack in there, but if you're not getting full travel you'll not get away from a dragging clutch.
Right. It's sorted at long last. "How?" I hear you cry I simply got throughly fkd off with the whole thing and so I just put all the old plates back in except one, which I swapped for a new one, and I put a friction plate in first. It now has two steels under the pressure plate. Pulls like a train in all gears and no sign of slippage even though I went out on the test ride with only 4 springs fitted. No problems finding neutral. Thank you all very much for your time and wisdom
