Clutch slip

[Mike Kampman]

I have an '81 XS1100SH with 44,000 km on the clock. When I accelerate hard keeping her above 5,000 rpm power shifting through 2nd, 3rd and 4th the clutch tends to slip a little. I'm figuring that the clutch springs are not strong enough to keep up with the quick shifting, kind of like the same concept of weak valve springs causing float.

Otherwise while shifting normally at 4,000 rpm without pushing it hard there is no slip. Am I on the right track with my assumptions? What brand of springs would you folks recommend if were to change them?

[GNEPIG]

http://www.xs11.com/forum/showthread...&threadid=9481
.. hello Mike, check out this thread, you will find it very informative. that TC is one cool cat!

[Snow]

Wish I would've seen this before I did the same job! Especially... "

This shows that little clutch boss retaining wire sticking out thru a hole,DON'T REMOVE or CUT THIS WIRE!!

[81xsproject]

Anyone have any idea why my clutch would still slip after a clutch refurb, HD srpings, an added friction plate, running motorcycle oil. With the extra hot top end from doing the cam swap it is still slipping. My plates were in spec when I mic'ed them.

I made that mistake, Snow. I had to go buy another boss from yamaha.

[strom]

Change type of oil... dyno juice works for me... mc type, no additives. Change springs... get a stronger set yamaha specific. Can be aftermarket. Change plates last or if theyre not within spec. Watch out how you tighten the star plate.

LP

[DiverRay]

readjust the clutch cable.
Read the book, loosen the lever adjuster, pull the right cover and adjust the clutch push rod, then readjust the lever end. I would also check for "binding" in the clutch cable. make sure it's lubed, and moves freely.
Ray

[81xsproject]

I have adjusted the clutch per the manual and the tips section. It has new springs, honda motorcycle specific oil (which I heard is just Valvoline MC oil), and the lever is brand new and freshly lubed??? The plates were within spec, but maybe I should replace them anyway.

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Jessie,

Anyone have any idea why my clutch would still slip after a clutch refurb, HD springs, an added friction plate, running motorcycle oil.

Did you put in an extra FIBER Friction plate, or a STEEL? The tip is for an extra STEEL plate in the middle of the pack!

Also, did you put in a set of new friction plates, or did you just clean them? Did you de-varnish the steels with emory cloth or such?

Also, are you sure your clutch cable is moving easily and not binding?
T.C.

[81xsproject]

I am pretty pos on the cable. I added a steel plate. I cleaned and sanded both the friction and steel plates per the clutch refurb tip in the tips section.

[GNEPIG]

.. i used an oil additive in my motor at one point and it made things work pretty good but it also made my clutches slip when i got on it hard. so i took everything apart, cleaned, checked spec, sanded, added extra steel, changed oil and added heavy springs. that worked for a minute but within 500 miles it was slippin again. apparently the oil additive had ruined the clutches, so i replaced them with Barnetts and lived happily ever after.
so, the moral of this story is, sometimes fiber clutch plates just go bad and you just have to replace them.

..and yes, i even tried to put 2 steel plates in the pack, boy did that make things feel strange. when you put the bike in gear with the clutch lever pulled in all the way to the bars, it would lurch forward and drag severly, but when you let out the clutch about half way it would disengage. go figure

[mro]

the moral of this story is..........

Agree with GNEPIG,

current set of frictions on 80G I'm using are from parts bike. Spec'ed new, looked new, worked F'en great for 2 weeks and then started to slip. Now have to ride to work like the "little old lady" till I can get some new ones.

Steel on the other hand, if not burnt, are in spec and not warped can not see need to replace em.


mro

[mro]

originally posted by GNEPIG
.. "Why don't we d'do it in the road"..

cause the beaver driving the cage talking on the cell phone is going to run your b#t's over!??????



mro
the Menace

[81xsproject]

Well I have a set of Versah fiber plates I guess I will have to put in.

[bandet01]

replace the clutch frictions and deglaze the steels and change the oil and adjust everything to the book and it should be like new and if you add another steel you wont have any problems

yeah i learned the hard way always run motorcycle oil threw your bike i have been having to change my oil after almost every ride to get the aditives out of the motor and this winter after i get it painted and put all back together i am replacing my clutch and going to go drag racing next summer to see how well the clutch will hold up

[81xsproject]

I did run regular motor oil when I first got it. That must have done the fibers in. Won't make that mistake again Oh the lessons we learn the hard way. So, this will be the third time into the clutch in the last 6 months. The good thing is I could do it with my eyes closed by now.