Topic: CB550 Clutch Life?

[MD]

How many miles doe one usually ride on a CB550F before it is time to replace the clutch plates? 

Lots of threads discussing adjustment of the clutch and cable but did not find a good rule of thumb on clutch life.

Thanks for your input.

-MD

[bryanj]

Dunno, never seen one worn out

[tlbranth]

I've been riding motorcycles since 1964 and I have never seen a clutch wear out. My CB750 has 60k miles on it, my GL1500 has 152k miles. Wet clutches don't wear like car clutches. I suppose if you slipped it enough you could wear one out but I've never seen it.

[Kelly E]

I wore out a clutch on a 80' CB650 but it took two years and 38k miles of beating on it to do it.

[MD]

The bike has nearly 30,000 miles on the original clutch and is 44 years old.  Not noticing any slippage but have very little adjustment left.  Running Honda Oil.  Trying to decide if it is worth opening the case up and getting the micrometer out to measure the old cork rings.

-MD

[bryanj]

1 its not cork
2 its not worth it----- 550 never had much adjustment

[ekpent]

"If it ain't broke don't fix it"

[MD]

OK,  I'll wait for it to start slipping.

-MD

[Stev-o]

"If it ain't broke don't fix it"

Words of wisdom!

+1...never have changed a clutch...but a cable, yes.