EBC or Vesrah Clutches

[SovereignDragon]

So I think it might be time to replace my clutches and of course springs while I'm in there. Which brand is better? I notice the EBC parts are just a little cheaper, is there a reason for that? It's been my experience that you get what you pay for but I just want to hear other people's opinions first.

[natemoen]

Ebc seems to be a common brand. Never really heard anything bad about them.

[cywelchjr]

What makes you think you need to replace your clutches? What are the symptoms that make you think it's needed? Most of the time, it's just new springs that are needed, and the clutch materials are still in spec.

[SovereignDragon]

As soon as the rpm start picking up the clutch starts slipping. Plus the guy I got the bike from kept up the minor maintenance but seemed to kinda skimp a little on some things. He said that he had the bike gone over before putting it up for sale but I honestly don't believe someone I don't know right up front like that.

[bikerphil]

I use the Partsnmore cheap disks and they last just fine. Make sure your not running synthetic oil, that can make the clutch slip. Dino juice for these old engines, JMHO.

Oops, looks like PNM doesn't have them anymore.

[Ken Talbot]

As soon as the rpm start picking up the clutch starts slipping. Plus the guy I got the bike from kept up the minor maintenance but seemed to kinda skimp a little on some things. He said that he had the bike gone over before putting it up for sale.

Sounds like another case of PO (previous owner) syndrome. I would be surprised if this wasn't just an adjustment problem. Have a good read over the clutch adjustment procedure and some of the discussion threads, do the adjustment properly yourself, and you could save some buck$$ for something else.

[Yahman]

I use the Partsnmore cheap disks and they last just fine. Make sure your not running synthetic oil, that can make the clutch slip. Dino juice for these old engines, JMHO.

Oops, looks like PNM doesn't have them anymore.

I sent them an email asking if they still stocked them, and this was the reply I received on the 15th of last month.

"Re: Clutch plates for Yamaha XS1100

Hello,

We are still adding parts back to the website - that one should be back up in the next week.

Thanks
PNM"

I'm still waiting...

I need to replace my clutch and EBC or Vasrah are twice the price of PNM.

Larry

[TADracer]

See what you have first

You can pull the clutch basket with the bike on the side stand and you do not even need to drain the oil for this. Measure the thickness of your frictions and if they are thicker then .11" then they are still in specification. Inspect your steel floaters and if they are glazed over, remove the glaze with some 120 grit paper. Definately change the springs as they are usually the culprit and even if they are still within specification, they are still around 30 years old and should be changed. Some guys add an extra steel floater in the center of the pack to overcome weak springs. It might just be a cheap fix for you so I would check everything before you go ordering a bunch of parts you might not need.

Having said all this, I have EBC frictions and their heavy duty springs in my machine and never get any clutch slipping.

[ManagerMike]

Got EBC's in mine

[Geezer]

EBC and Veserah are both about the same quality and I think you would be happy with either. If it were my bike, I would go with EBC since they're a little cheaper...

Mike's XS has the disks too. Same size as the 650 twin but the 1100 uses more of them...

Geezer

[webbcraft2150]

I was having some slippage in 4th and 5th gear despite carefull adjustments. Scored a set of OEM Yamaha fibers and springs on Ebay. Pulled the clutch down (63k on the bike). ALL the fibers and steels were well within spec but the springs were shot. Could have gotten away with just springs but went into it anyway and passed the still good fibers to a member who was on hand to help with the swap. BEWARE of snapping the "star". Real easy to do and real hard to find once you do. The clutch job is pretty easy with basic tools. Knocking the big nut loose can be done with a little help of a 2x4 in the back wheel. Did I mention watch out for snapping the star?