Topic: cb500/4 clutch springs

[florence]

The clutch on my bike slips sometimes under hard acceleration and changing gear.  Also if I go over a big bump in the road the clutch will slip momentarily.  I have tried adjusting the clutch and greasing the actuating mechanism etc but to no avail.  Has anyone tried using heavier springs in the clutch basket; does this make the clutch too heavy to operate or drag when hot?  Any experience or views appreciated.  This seems to be a honda weakness because the clutch on my cb350k is bad too. (same plates).

[paulages]

i have heavy duty clutch springs in my 550, and it no longer slips at all. the lever is, however, making my left forearm look like popeye's. 

[number13]

Have you tried new clutch plates?
If not, you can degrease the old
fiber plates by soaking them in
gasoline for an hour or so.
Sometimes thats all it takes.

[Deltarider]

Florence,

I rremeber reading a similar thread on the forum of the German CB Four Club recently. Some people had changed the original springs for heavier. Nobody was happy with the result (indeed, the Popeye's arm syndrome).

[florence]

hey thanks for that, i ride my bike a lot of miles each day so that could become a pain.  I will try the suggestion about de-greasing first and if that doesn't work then i will go for the springs as a second option.  at least all of these things are reversible.

[Tower]

Measure spring height.  You don't need heavier springs, perhaps just newer springs will do?

Also warpage in the clutch plates could create the problem you're having.  Lay the plates (after de-glazing) on a sheet of glass and try to slip a feeler gauge underneath.  In a pinch you may use two sheets of 24lb paper.  If the papers slip under the clutch plate at any point along its edge, replace the clutch plate.  Otherwise, get a gauge that matches tolerances found in the bike's repair manual.

[bozo4onion]

As a newb I replaced my clutch (550F) only to find my cable was gummed and my clutch was out of adjustment. Great learning e$perience.