In getting ready for my Sturgis trip I decided to replace the clutch. I had experienced some slippage on my Redwood Run trip with Glenda on the back with a loaded pack. Could have been just out of adjustment but to be on the safe side......
With 52,000 miles on the bike I figured it would most certainly be worn out.
I conferred with Dogvet who provided me with all the specs in checking thickness of pressure plate and friction and steel clutch plates.
So I contacted Nelson and found out that to replace the BDM clutch was more expensive than replacing it with the Bandit including Carrier and bearing.
Anyway, the are already "How-To" on installing this clutch so wanted to just let all of you know what I found inside my primary after pulling the BDM clutch and some other observations.
First off is the Carrier that has failed with a few of you. Mine was in great shape and had no sign of stress fractures, breakage or rubbing.
As with most here I had an issue finding the right size socket for the motor sprocket so said the hell with it and pulled the clutch basket without removing it.
My transmission shaft was heavily gunked up with crap so had to use lots of engine gunk and a wire brush to get it all cleaned up. It was a rusty color but I got it all cleaned up.
My chain tension block was very worn and I figured it was so ordered one before hand.
Only issue that threw me for a loop is that all those that have already done this show removing the c-clip from the clutch rod (button) from the old throwout bearing and moving it over to the new pressure plate/bearing.
In my picture you can see the old throwout bearing on top with the orange arrow pointing at the "button". The Bandit instructions clearly show the removal of the c-clip in the illistration. My new Bandit pressure plate is on the left under the old throwout bearing.
Problem is my "button" clutch rod cup didn't have a c-clip holding it in. So, I tried to punch it out and it came out with a little resistance then I put it int he new pressure plate and tapped it in and it went in without a problem.
Since it taps in from the backside it won't go anywhere with the clutch rod pressing against it. Did get me wondering/worried that I wasn't doing something right though.
Here is the button re-installed in the new Bandit pressure plate
And this is the back side also showing the old and new clutch rod. You can see the wear on the old rod, it's more rounded off.
After it was all done I'm happy to report that my pressure plate and friction and steel discs were all within tolerances and could have gone a lot longer. No problems found other than a lot of gunk from friction debris and other stuff. Everything looked good. Now it's definitely ready for another 50,000 miles and I'm ready to go.
Breakin is 1000 to 5000 miles though! Guess it will be broken in after I get back from Sturgis.
With 52,000 miles on the bike I figured it would most certainly be worn out.
I conferred with Dogvet who provided me with all the specs in checking thickness of pressure plate and friction and steel clutch plates.
So I contacted Nelson and found out that to replace the BDM clutch was more expensive than replacing it with the Bandit including Carrier and bearing.
Anyway, the are already "How-To" on installing this clutch so wanted to just let all of you know what I found inside my primary after pulling the BDM clutch and some other observations.
First off is the Carrier that has failed with a few of you. Mine was in great shape and had no sign of stress fractures, breakage or rubbing.
As with most here I had an issue finding the right size socket for the motor sprocket so said the hell with it and pulled the clutch basket without removing it.
My transmission shaft was heavily gunked up with crap so had to use lots of engine gunk and a wire brush to get it all cleaned up. It was a rusty color but I got it all cleaned up.
My chain tension block was very worn and I figured it was so ordered one before hand.
Only issue that threw me for a loop is that all those that have already done this show removing the c-clip from the clutch rod (button) from the old throwout bearing and moving it over to the new pressure plate/bearing.
In my picture you can see the old throwout bearing on top with the orange arrow pointing at the "button". The Bandit instructions clearly show the removal of the c-clip in the illistration. My new Bandit pressure plate is on the left under the old throwout bearing.
Problem is my "button" clutch rod cup didn't have a c-clip holding it in. So, I tried to punch it out and it came out with a little resistance then I put it int he new pressure plate and tapped it in and it went in without a problem.
Since it taps in from the backside it won't go anywhere with the clutch rod pressing against it. Did get me wondering/worried that I wasn't doing something right though.
Here is the button re-installed in the new Bandit pressure plate
And this is the back side also showing the old and new clutch rod. You can see the wear on the old rod, it's more rounded off.
After it was all done I'm happy to report that my pressure plate and friction and steel discs were all within tolerances and could have gone a lot longer. No problems found other than a lot of gunk from friction debris and other stuff. Everything looked good. Now it's definitely ready for another 50,000 miles and I'm ready to go.
Breakin is 1000 to 5000 miles though! Guess it will be broken in after I get back from Sturgis.
