Topic: What's the proper way to prepare steel clutch disks?

[Patrick]

I found various postings and FAQs on how to tell if your steel clutch plates are warped, but nothing definitive about the best way to prepare them for reuse. Do I want to polish them so they don't bind on them friction plates to make finding neutral easier? Do I want to rough up the surface on them so they grab the fibers better? Is minor pitting from age a bad thing or does it help them grab better?

What's the best route to a smooth clutch that finds neutral easily but doesn't break loose at WOT?

Patrick 

[MRieck]

 I bead blast mine.

[Patrick]

What texture does bead blasting leave on the surface, Mike? I don't have a bead blaster. I'm just wondering if there's a way to replicate the finish without paying someone to do it.

Thanks.

Patrick

[mattcb350f]

I bead blast mine.

I sanded mine today with 150 grit sand paper laid on a plate of glass to make it nice and flat. Gave them a nice even finish and took the glaze off. Also highlights any warpage.

Do you mean "glass" beads Mike? I might give that a try since I have a bit of time before I'm at putting the clutch together on mine. I don't want a weak clutch 

 Matt.

[mattcb350f]

bump.

[mattcb350f]

According to wikipedia...
"Bead blasting is the process of removing surface deposits by applying fine glass beads at a low pressure without damaging the surface"

I learn something every day 

I'm gonna go ahead and bead blast my clutch plates before I put them in.

 Cheers, Matt.

[Tower]

Glass plate and 150grit sandpaper are fine for removing warpage.  The final step should be 300 - 400 grit in a "spoke" direction.  Just enough to leave fine scratches, but not to remove a huge amount of material.

[MRieck]

What texture does bead blasting leave on the surface, Mike? I don't have a bead blaster. I'm just wondering if there's a way to replicate the finish without paying someone to do it.

Thanks.

Patrick

Bead blasting raises the surface slighty (.0001/.00015)./ It blows all the contaminates out of the plates. Honda bead blasted the brake rotors of all their American Supersport bikes after races for the same reason.

[.RJ]

Honda bead blasted the brake rotors of all their American Supersport bikes after races for the same reason.

I do the same on my bikes before installing new pads.

[lordmoonpie]

If it's warped, I junk them for the sake of the cost of a new one. If it just needs claening up - scotchbrite and elbow grease work nicely 

[Tower]

MRieck, I didn't realize that bead blasting placed a 10 to 15-micron finish on the steels.  Are you certain of the decimal place?  That's quite a shiny finish compared to, say 800 grit paper (0.00125).  Smoother by about a factor of 10.

I've always used 400 grit thinking that its a little "better" i.e. grippier, than the original finish.