Forum

[simon]

Haven't heard of your result but thought I would update as a friend of my brother just put a set in his 350 and couldn't get the clutch to engage due to lack of adjustment. It seems in his case although I haven't had a look myself that the clutch rod was too long to allow sufficient adjustment for the much thinner clutch plates. He's apparently reassembled with a set of Indian ones. Clearly at worst he needed to shorten the clutch rod although I suspect that there is more to the story..

[Steve T]

Morning Simon bike is already to go but due to weather & other commitments haven't had the opportunity to go for a ride I'm chomping at the bit to get out, how the clutch feels at the moment at standstill it feels a world of difference. I wonder which way your brothers friend adjustment was? Cable fully adjusted out or or too tight to get cable in, it should be with the thinner plates it gives a looser cable , I know mine was and have quite a bit of adjustment left on the cable.

[simon]

I'm thinking it could be an issue with the three plate clutch and possibly the set up with his push rod. He lives 100 miles away so I'll have to wait to get down and have a look.

[Gwilly]

Hi Steve and Simon, Hope you don’t mind my jumping in on your thread but i did say i would report back to Simon..

I bought the cork plates two months ago to replace the five plate conversion already fitted but due to house refurb have only got on it this weekend..

I fitted a new set of standard springs and topped up with 20/50 classic oil..

Big mistake. The clutch slipped like hell in 2nd and 3rd with more drag than Dame Edna..

Couldn’t get out of gear at a stand still, sooo..

Washed the plates in petrol and refitted with 3 standard and 3 heavy duty springs topped off with 500ml of ATF..

No more slip but still a graunch into second at a standstill..

Filed an 1/8” off the clutch lever perch and adjusted all slack out of the cable for maximum lift..

Reinforcement gizmo fitted in the gear case years ago..

Been around the village like a whirling dervish and good and hot seems better..

Definitely no slip but still a smidgeon of drag.. Maybe it will break in with a few hundred miles on it..

In all, heavier than the five plate with standard springs but slightly less drag than the five plate when hot..

Thanks Simon.. Now i just have to sort an annoying miss fire when opening the throttle from say a junction, especially if the bike is banked over. Plays havoc with the balance.. cheers all, gwilly.

[simon]

Interesting Gwilly, I have the heavy and light spring combo in mine and it is a tad heavy I also have the Dougherty copy levers because I have the 50's look and because they were excellent value. I have no trouble with clearance but it is a big lift from a short lever. It would be good to find a better lever profile so I could have sufficient clearance but a slightly lighter pull. The lever can make a substantial difference as my old Ducati has a lovely light clutch and a friends Darmah with an identical clutch and cable but a different profile of lever was a heavy brute. I think a higher perch might help. Still it ain't really bust for once so it is a low priority.

[Steve T]

Right Simon you can chalk up another sucess, what a difference the clutch is working beautiful nice light and smooth take up even had a GP style take off from a very busy roundabout no problem, there's no slip and no drag, even when I was caught in some heavy traffic stop/ starting. Found that If I put pressure on the gear lever before declutching changing up or down the gears snicked in lovely, To reiterate work done new cable, 3 cork plates set of new light springs, cleaned all the mechanisms, polished pushrods and greased them and final adjustments. Thanks again Simon👍. Changing the thread slightly have fitted a new digital speedo see photo one that records mileage not kilometres and the speed seems about right still got to check it against satnav, all in all a great days ride finished up with the obligatory huge smile😎

[simon]

Splendid news! The result was equally dramatic with mine and it does make the machines so much less quaint and more purposeful.

[Gwilly]

Bumped..

[simon]

Cheers Gwilly