Topica Loopframe_Guzzi Archive


Subject: Re: Was Grabby Clutch-Now Sureflex

Author: Greg Field

Date: Sep 8, 2003, 12:00 PM

Post ID: 1714443215



I've used both the Sureflex and Guzzi plates in my Eldo.

When riding in heavy stop-and-go traffic in hot weather, both got
grabby and draggy such that it was near impossible to get the bike in
neutral with the engine running. Latest was in Milwaukee last week, on
a brand-new set of Guzzi clutch plates, new input hub, and new
intermediate plate, all freshly lubed and assembled on a good flywheel
less than 50 miles before.

Bottom line is that Guzzi clutches (or at least all I've had) do this
under these conditions. I believe they are the weak point of the design
when used under severe, in-traffic conditions. I was intending to
switch to the single-plate clutch with diaphragm spring used in the
later 2003 Cal series (steel flywheel), but it didn't arrive in time.

You may just have to live with the problem, unfortunately.

Sometimes, though, adjusting in or out the freeplay on the clutch cable
will improve clutch operation, or at least it has for me.

GF

On Monday, September 8, 2003, at 10:26 AM, joe jump wrote:

 Ron,
I do believe the friction material on my Sureflex plates was
rivited, but I'm unsure of what you mean by a "Spoke Design". I think
the steel plate that the friction material is rivited to has slits cut
in it at the OD, but I can't recall if the slits go radially in to the
hub. I think the friction material was one piece on either side,
bridging all the slits.

Before the clutch plates you refer to left you on the side of the
road, how did they operate-smooth or grabby? Could you give more of a
description of the solid clutch plates you refer to, i.e., how to
identify, who makes them & who sells them?

Thanks for the help!

Joe in St Louis


Ron Komoroski wrote:
 
If you are referring to the sureflex clutch plates that are a riveted
together spoke design, I have had very bad luck with them. I replaced
a
set
in a friends SP that had disintegrated, and had a failure in my
Eldorado
(the ONLY time any of my loopers ever left me on the side of the
road)
Only
solid clutch plates for me!!
Ron Komoroski
----- Original Message -----
From: "joe jump" <jum-@hotmail.com>
To: <Loopfram-@topica.com>
Sent: Monday, September 08, 2003 9:58 AM
Subject: RE: Grabby clutch reappears


 Ian,
I have the same problem with my V-7 Sport. I replaced
the clutch hub with the 4mm spline unit & replaced the friction
plates
with the Sureflex items, all sourced from MG Cycles. I also changed
out
the springs. My bike doesn't lurch forward like the clutch is either
off
or on, but when warm it hooks up pretty fast & sort of shudders, not
smooth & progressive. My pressure plate, intermediate plate, & ring
gear
were smooth, and I took great care to clean the splines inside the
flywheel spotless-no notches there either. I lightly lubed the hub &
flywheel splines with BMW spline grease & made sure there wasn't a
trace
of contamination on the friction surfaces. I have no trouble with
disengagement-I can easily slip into neutral when stopped & it will
easily go into 1st hot or cold. The only thing I can think of is the
friction charicteristics of the driven plates. I look forward to
hearing
what the list has to say.


Ian Adkins wrote:
 
Hey All,

Well....after 200 miles, and what I thought was a good fix to my
grabby
clutch woes on the White Eldo, the problem is reappearing. The good
news
is
that I now have some experience with the progression of this
problem and
can
come to some concrete answers. Let me know if you folks agree with
my
hypothesis.

When I first bought the bike the clutch was VERY grabby...almost
unrideable.
As I would ease out the cluth, trying to feel for the plates to make
contact, nothing would happen and then all of a sudden it would
grab and
lurch forward (hey...maybe the bikes new name :-)). This problem was
less
evident when the engine was cold. The bike operated fine once
rolling.

I pulled the engine but there were no noticable indicators of
something
wrong. The splines of all components looked good....the clutch
plates
had
lots of thickness. There was a fair bit of clutch dust in there but
nothing
gummy. I replaced the clutch plates....realigned the flywheel (it
was
off),
lubed the splines and bolted everything together.

When I first ran the bike everything was nice and smooth. Clutch
plates
engage evenly and the bike worked like a dream....until 20 miles
ago.
After
spending a good day with my buddy Ed....riding about 80 miles the
grabbiness
is reappearing...getting progressively worse. I can feel the
uneveness
of
the plates making contact as I engage the clutch. The grabbing
appears
to be
consistent with engine rotation.

The clutch operates smoothly so I don't think there is any binding
in
the
cables. If the problem was with the tranny I think it would have
been
evident as soon as I ran the bike after the apparent fix. I don't
think
the
problem is in the splines of the tranny hub. I replaced the clutch
plates
but not the intermediate plate.....

My thinking is a warping intermediate plate as it gets hot. I have
yet
to
retest the bike when cold but will do that sometime today.

Any thoughts?

...Ian



Joe in St Louis



Joe in St Louis

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