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Clutch problem , possibly wrong new friction plates ??

jerry

Old Git
Joined
May 12, 2006
Messages
3,029
Location
Cricklade
Bike
Multiple Monsters
1991 750ss ,, clutch still giving me headache ,, new inner spring pressure plate and new friction plates as it was slipping badly and inner plate was badly worn ...
Now its very grabby even with 1 less friction and steel plate so only 6 each instead of 7 as normal , No air in hydraulics the push rod lifts fully , Under acceleration no slipping ,, But I now see that the new Newfren Friction plates are not like any previous Ducati plates they are thicker and the friction material is like on a Japanese clutch 24 friction segments not a fewer wider friction ones on older Ducati type plates ,, The clutch is not a nice and smooth action ,, Clutch pack height is now 3mm less than it should be, but clutch still grabby ,,,, wondering wether I have been sent wrong plates ??? The Newfren box says for Ducati 750, SS and Monster s 600-900 etc ??
 
Been chatting with some guys from Ducati Club and they are recommending the Lithium grease mod on the friction plates ,,, spray or smear friction plates with a little lithium grease , bake for 20mins in hot 200c oven and then use .... apparently its a common modification ?????? if it does not work I can get some different new friction plates ... The basket is still in OK condition
 
They're messing with you :LOL:

40,000 km ago I got a Surflex which is a bit more expensive, but very very smooth.
 
I'm using Newfren plates in both the Monster and 916, by using a combo of 2mm and 1.5mm plain plates, I've even managed to squeeze 8 friction plates in and both are smooth, progressive with no slip and I can select neutral at idle.

Not just the Newfren but (I think) all alloy plates are thicker than the old Ducati steel plates but ever since I went to an ally basket I've used the Newfren with no bother and they are cheaper than most the others.

Lithium grease may help smooth it out but shouldn't be necessary IMO.
 
They're messing with you :LOL:

40,000 km ago I got a Surflex which is a bit more expensive, but very very smooth.
No mate they are not ,, lots of info about it on Various Ducati forums ,,,, apparently its even used by some racers , and is common for the latest V4 road bikes even in dealerships ....
 
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I'm using Newfren plates in both the Monster and 916, by using a combo of 2mm and 1.5mm plain plates, I've even managed to squeeze 8 friction plates in and both are smooth, progressive with no slip and I can select neutral at idle.

Not just the Newfren but (I think) all alloy plates are thicker than the old Ducati steel plates but ever since I went to an ally basket I've used the Newfren with no bother and they are cheaper than most the others.

Lithium grease may help smooth it out but shouldn't be necessary IMO.
This 1991 clutch only uses 7X7 plates as standard ,, if I put all 7 in its so grabby its unusable from standstill, no clutch clearance at all ,,,,,,,None of my other ducatis with dry clutch have ever had this problem ...
All my steel plates are thin 1.5mm with 6x6 plates its usable but not smooth ,, any way I am cooking the friction plates with some lithium grease on in the oven right now ,, but wont be able to test the clutch until next week as i have the carbs off again for the air cutoff diapragms too . if it does not smooth out I will try another brand sureflex , Barnett ????
 
Not heard of cooking them in grease. I have tried spraying lithium grease on my 916 plates: spray-on/wipe-off, worked fine but can't really say I noticed any difference than running it dry.

I've heard people say it'll make the clutch slip but that wasn't my experience. I once accidentally used WD40 on my clutch instead of clutch/brake cleaner, that didn't seem to make any difference either but probably not advised.

The only time I've ever had a Ducati clutch slip was when I had a output shaft/pushrod oil seal leak on my 916 due to 'someone' fitting it backwards :oops:

Whilst parked up engine oil would drip through onto the plates and then down onto the exhaust so I'd get a bit of smokeage on startup but even that would stop slipping after a few miles, presumably after the oil had burnt off?
 
Not heard of cooking them in grease. I have tried spraying lithium grease on my 916 plates: spray-on/wipe-off, worked fine but can't really say I noticed any difference than running it dry.

I've heard people say it'll make the clutch slip but that wasn't my experience. I once accidentally used WD40 on my clutch instead of clutch/brake cleaner, that didn't seem to make any difference either but probably not advised.

The only time I've ever had a Ducati clutch slip was when I had a output shaft/pushrod oil seal leak on my 916 due to 'someone' fitting it backwards :oops:

Whilst parked up engine oil would drip through onto the plates and then down onto the exhaust so I'd get a bit of smokeage on startup but even that would stop slipping after a few miles, presumably after the oil had burnt off?
Lithium Grease a smidgeon and then cook them for 15 minutes ,, we will see???
 
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