clutch plates

[stef]

Hi guys, thinking about getting some new clutch plates.

I'm guessing mine are fairly worn, had the missus on the back yesterday and if i ragged it into second gear the clutch slipped a fair bit.

It's generally fine with only me on it, but the clutch feels quit soggy, if i have the proper 3-4mm of travel at the lever then it releases really late, so i run it with a fair bit more lever travel, just doesnt really feel that good though.

Changed the oil recently, with some decent 10-40.

Sound like worn plates to you?

Anyway, reason of the thread is where can i get some decent plates.

I've heard of the EBC ones being a nightmare, not sure if this is true or not though.

Any help appreciated. Oh and where i can get a new clutch cover gasket as well i guess.

Cheers

[masterofinsanity]

what oil did you use mate? full or semi synth?

i would get everything from cradley meself.

[stef]

well the bottle in the garage, but it was motul, fairly sure it was semi.

I asked for whatever the best was, price really doesnt bother me when it comes to maintaining my bikes, but the guy at my lbs who ive been using for years said that this oil wasnt the most expensive or anything but would be the best for my engine.

Defo shifts better after the change though.

Doesnt list much on the Cradley website, i'm guessing they hold stock of original parts though?

cheers

[masterofinsanity]

cradleys are the best kwak dealer imo and they will get the part to you next day in most cases.

[stef]

ok, thats great thanks buddy.

[rene]

ebc street racer kit is what you want, little more expensive but loads more feel and faster pull off's, heavyer springs as well what feels nice as well

[stef]

http://www.intobikes.co.uk/products?det ... 51&src=fro

That the one?

Doesn't seem that bad, springs come too so its only about an extra tenner really.

Also, the clutch is rattling in neutral, should i be looking out for how big the notches are when i change the plates? any ideas on how much is too worn?

[masterofinsanity]

they all rattle in neutral mate

[jake]

Ive heard quite a few people having probs with the ebc plates failing mate, so i would'nt bother with em meself. Get yourrself some kawasaki ones from cradley like Baz says. They really are better. Ebc heavy duty springs, kawasaki steels and frictions. I havent had a single problem since i changed mine to that combo. You can even use fully synth and not get problems im told, if you wanted.

the downside is, now i get a bit more rear wheel hop on heavy braking cos the slipper clutch is less pronounced because of the thicker new plates. But there is a clutch mod to increase the 'wanted' slip

[rene]

I dont understand why people have problems with EBC (herd the rummors as well). I've had mine in the ZXR7 for 8,000 odd miles of HARD riding, i mean pinging of the rev limiter slipping the clutch starts. Also done a few track days with them and there fine. Always have run fully sin oil and had 0 slippage.

As for ratteling they all do it but check your clutch basket for wear on the drive tabs.

[jake]

In all fairness, the problems ive heard are all from racers. So the ebc kevlar jobies are probably ok for hard road riding and trackday thrashing. something about the quality and consistancy being a bit iffy i heard, so maybee you just got lucky rene. I havnent tried them properly, the kevlar ones i had slipped like a barrstard, but my steels where burnt to buggery. The kawasaki ones dont cost that much more to be honest. My set up with the ebc springs came in at around 80 quid, which was'nt cheap, but for genuine parts not to bad either.

[stef]

well now i dunno what to do lol.

Wen you say fail, got any examples of what happens?

[rene]

The people that i've asked normaly dont bother replaceing the drive plates (steal bits) so maybe the ebc ones are abit more sensitive to worn out ones? generaly if im replacing the friction plates then i'll stick new steals in anyway just for peace of mind, think they were £15 all in for the zxr.

As for witch ones to go for..its up to you! personaly id go with the EBC ones but a few people have had problems with them, its your choice!

[Xphyral]

lube your clutch cable.

[Ballsout Racing]

When you get the clutch plates out, if the steals have blue patches, then replace, they've overheated and will have distorted, you'll probably be able to feel some high spots' on them so you'll never get the friction rquired for the cltch to work properly or last that long.

Pretty much all racers will say go for the standard Kawasaki plates, they are just better, and cheaper anyway. Furthermore, I've always just needed standard springs, and with almost 80bhp don't have a problem with a completely standard clutch at all.

Most ZXR400 racers will say use semi synthetic as fully can cause clutch slip, however, there are fully synh oils for bikes that claim it will not cause that problem. If you regularly change oil, then there's no point in fully synth, you gain nothing, and semi is cheaper anyway.