Topic: Clutch Plates

[KilledByGreg]

Last weekend my clutch blew out while I was on a ride, so I took it apart once I pushed myself home. Once I got my clutch disassembled, I noticed that one of the steel plates was much thicker, and was a different style than the rest. Has anyone else ever seen this? Because I can't find anything regarding this odd plate (not even in Hondaman's book). It seems like all of the friction plates that were behind it (towards the engine) were destroyed and left with a thickness around 2.65mm, while the friction disks ahead of the odd plate were in spec. Here are some photos:

[bryanj]

Standard item in later clutches to try and stop rattle, should be explained in one of the bulletins in technical section

[madmtnmotors]

What year? The later clutches had the thicker steel plate as original equipment while some early models had this updated as a service bulletin. The inner frictions wear out first. Scuff the steel disks with a scotchbrite pad, put new friction disks in and keep riding.

[maxheadflow]

That steel plate has small spring pieces between the plates that allow the plate to squash down under pressure. It preloads the clutch pack slightly to provide a wider friction zone.  These were used on HD EVO clutches to increase the friction zone.   Make sure the rivets are still tight. they can rattle apart.  They typically go somewhere in the middle of the stack.

[KilledByGreg]

What year? The later clutches had the thicker steel plate as original equipment while some early models had this updated as a service bulletin. The inner frictions wear out first. Scuff the steel disks with a scotchbrite pad, put new friction disks in and keep riding.

K5

[KilledByGreg]

Standard item in later clutches to try and stop rattle, should be explained in one of the bulletins in technical section

Thanks! I’ll check there!

[KilledByGreg]

That steel plate has small spring pieces between the plates that allow the plate to squash down under pressure. It preloads the clutch pack slightly to provide a wider friction zone.  These were used on HD EVO clutches to increase the friction zone.   Make sure the rivets are still tight. they can rattle apart.  They typically go somewhere in the middle of the stack.

Thanks, rivers still seem right, but I’m confused as to where they go in the mix. I suppose I’ll stick it back in the same position.

[Terry in Australia]

It's an anti-rattle plate, and can pretty much go anywhere in the stack, although they're usually located in the middle. Be careful cleaning your steels if you decide to clean them mechanically, I took one in the face a week or so ago, and needed plastic surgery last Tuesday to repair the damage. Make sure the steels aren't warped (use a sheet of glass) and that they're all going the same way. If you feel each steel plate, you'll notice that each has a "sharp" edge, and a "smooth" edge. Make sure all the "sharp" edges are pointing in the one direction.

 

[HondaMan]

In OEM engines of the 750K5 era, the dual-steel sprung plates was the 3rd steel plate from the back. In the later K6/F0 (and onward) engines they were most often the second steel one in the stack, where the top cork plate has wider outer tabs than the other plates in the pack.