Topic: CB550F - Clutch Life Expectancy

[The Sovereign Man]

What’s the expected life of the clutch under normal riding conditions?

I acquired a bike with 11,000 miles, unknown history, and the clutch judders a little when pulling away from a stop. Not bad, but enough that I can’t ignore it.

The clutch does not slip unless I’m attempting to get the front wheel up, which may be an impossible task anyway. Hard acceleration in any gear pulls without slippage.

Thoughts? I’ve made no adjustments so far.

[Kevnz]

I ran my 500 for 10K+ miles without any problems and the clutch wasn't new when I got the bike. Plus the 500 is known to be less robust than the 550. Maybe time for an oil change?

[bryanj]

Simple answer------forever

[jonda500]

possibly someone put oil with friction modifiers (car oil) in it at some point in the past?
John

[The Sovereign Man]

I found some receipts in a box that came with the bike. It looks as though it had an oil change, just prior to me buying it, and they’ve used Silkolene Super 4 10W-40 which is a semi synthetic oil. I’ll switch it out to mineral oil and see if it makes a difference.

Has anyone tried 15W-40 Diesel Engine Oil? I read on Common Motor Collective that the addition of zinc is beneficial. Can anyone confirm or refute?

[HondaMan]

I found some receipts in a box that came with the bike. It looks as though it had an oil change, just prior to me buying it, and they’ve used Silkolene Super 4 10W-40 which is a semi synthetic oil. I’ll switch it out to mineral oil and see if it makes a difference.

Has anyone tried 15W-40 Diesel Engine Oil? I read on Common Motor Collective that the addition of zinc is beneficial. Can anyone confirm or refute?

Yes: a good (cheap) oil for the 500/550 is the 15w40 Rotella Diesel-rated oil. It has low detergent and more ZDDP than most oils today, but is not a mineral-based oil. You might want to run this stuff for a few hundred miles to rinse out the other stuff, then install some expensive stuff. It's all just stuff...

[jlh3rd]

If you're gonna be trying to get that front wheel up all the time, then I'd recommend just inexpensive Crisco oil, cause you'll be cook'in that clutch real soon no matter what oil is in there.... 

[The Sovereign Man]

Is it even possible to get the wheel off the ground?

[jlh3rd]

I never tried back in the day with my 76 550 F......I'd guess if enough revs were there and popped that clutch....that front end might come up........It's not a crotch rocket with a lightweight front end ...

[seanbarney41]

somewhere on this site was a video of a young japanese man stunt riding a cb400f...all these guys, even those who ride modern, very powerful 600's run giant rear sprockets to make it easier to pull up.  So, maybe bolt a cb750 48 toother on there then forget about riding on the freeway ha ha.  I have had small unexpected power wheelies in first from my cb750f3.

The clutch plates, discs, and springs are virtually indestructible on these.  The actuation mechanism on the smaller bikes leaves a lot to be desired imo.

[ekpent]

 We have a business loop here in Kalamazoo that goes to the highway and I was in my car following a pack of young men once on 600 crotch rockets. I remember as we rounded a corner going to a long strait section doing maybe 55 or 60 one of the guys stood up on the pegs and did a wheelie and held it for at least a half of mile or longer all the while increasing speed. I remember when he finally set the front down a big patch of white/blue smoke came off his front tire like an airplane landing. I was very impressed and those 600's are vicious little machines if you want to do wheelies.