Taming S4RS Clutch

[jezzamondo]

At 6000 miles my S4RS clutch basket is toast - started to get whiny, grabby & grindy. I've popped a pic up of the basket - I'm thinking of using it as a cheese grater. I've also added an Oberon slave &, as an experiment, removed two clutch springs. I now have a delightfully light & smooth clutch & gearbox. I'm curious if anyone else has run an S4RS with 4 springs successfully & if anyone can tell me what problems I might expect? I owe an apology to Ducati Glasgow BTW, as I was didn't believe the basket could be wrecked at so few miles - mine must have been made from butter. Sorry for incredulous response guys.

[Starter Sprag]

I've got a 900ie, with two springs removed, 32,000 miles ~ no problems

[jezzamondo]

Crikey, that's promising! Thanks. I'll be on my 5th basket by then, so plates should be least of my worries.

[Rally]

It will slip under power if you use it to the full.

[jezzamondo]

I do tend to gas it- Is that in higher speed/gears or generally? I haven't had it out on the road yet, but around town/low gears haven't noticed any slip so far.

[gary tompkins]

Was that the original factory basket?

[Rally]

It will slip when the torque is at it's most, so under fast acceleration or in a high gear and pulling hard. The engine will rev and the forward motion will not be in sync.

[jezzamondo]

Pretty sure it is: bike only had 2000 miles when I got it. Any thoughts about the wear?

[jezzamondo]

It will slip when the torque is at it's most, so under fast acceleration or in a high gear and pulling hard. The engine will rev and the forward motion will not be in sync.

Ok, will drop springs back in. Loving the light lever tho...

[gary tompkins]

Pretty sure it is: bike only had 2000 miles when I got it. Any thoughts about the wear?

Looks like basket is made of alloy on the S4RS - would explain the wear at low mileage

My 900 has a steel clutch basket which tends to last longer, but it is heavier and much noisier when worn

[Rally]

My S4Rs has 7800 miles on it and the basket shows a small amount of wear, but nothing like yours. I do blow mine out with an airline every 1000 miles or so, which does smooth out the action, maybe it also reduces the wear?
My clutch does get some abuse as well, from time to time...................

[buzzbomb]

My clutch does get some abuse as well, from time to time...................[/QUOTE]

Don't you mean all the time...:chuckle::chuckle::chuckle::

Sorry Alun I just couldn't resist...;);)

[cairojay]

I've done 21,000 miles and on 2nd basket and plates - Had the basket and plates changed at 13,000 miles but they were completely shot. Got replacement Aluminium basket and plates, and at 21000 the wear is fine. It makes no odds whether you have steel or aluminium as long as you have like for like plates and basket. Makes a difference dropping the bike into neutral at lights though. And I concur with the others - its 6 springs for a reason!

[J.P]

That picture looks just like my basket did when it was replaced after 'spirited' riding, the power of that engine it just too much for it after a while. :)

[LouSCannon]

Same here, do a search for my thread and it wasn't that far behind...

[Rally]

My clutch does get some abuse as well, from time to time...................

Don't you mean all the time...:chuckle::chuckle::chuckle::

Sorry Alun I just couldn't resist...;);)[/QUOTE]

It only gets abused about 10% of the time, the other 90% it sits in the garage waiting to go out! :rolleyes:

[Pedro]

MPL in Germany used to make an ally basket with hardened steel inserts where the plates clatter against it, not sure if they still do but makes it a lot more durable without the weight of a full steel basket

[gary tompkins]

Unfortunately they don't

I tried to email an order about 2 years ago - they stopped making them :(