My '99 VFR has 21,xxx miles on it and needs the clutch replaced. When I first got the bike a few weeks ago, I noticed that the engine would shudder during the last little bit of clutch lever travel when engaging the clutch at low speed and low RPMs in first gear--like the clutch wasn't engaging smoothly. I also noticed that when shifting at high RPM and high load (like running it up through the gears and shifting at redline), the RPMs wouldn't drop instantly when the clutch was released after upshifting. They'd drop down relatively quickly, but not nearly as quickly as if the clutch was engaging tightly. Now today, I've noticed that it seems to slip, then grip, when accelerating hard in the lower gears (for sure in 2nd, haven't tried the others enough yet to know if they are affected).
Short version--it seems like it's time for a new clutch. I searched the forum and didn't find anything helpful so I figured I'd ask outright.
Obviously I'll need the friction discs. Should I get OEM Honda or aftermarket? If aftermarket, which?
Should I get the steel discs too? Assuming yes, Honda or aftermarket?
Should I get the clutch springs too? Again, Honda or aftermarket?
Does anywhere sell a clutch kit (frictions, steels, springs, or whatever)?
Any part numbers you guys could provide would be much appreciated too. Thanks!
21,000mi on a VFR clutch is nothing, unless it's been abused big-time. They should be good for 60k or more. There are two things that usually affect VFR clutches: the wrong oil and the push rod. Have you recently changed oil? A car oil, perhaps? Many modern oils contain "friction modifiers", such as moly, which can cause wet clutches to slip a bit. Most motorcycle oils do not have this stuff. I believe you need an oil rated SF or SG--not higher.
The other thing that can happen is that the push-rod that goes through the block can get crud on it and stick. Easy to clean.
The clutch baskets can also get notched, and sure, the plates can wear or warp, but those things are much less likely.
Barnett springs are available separately and are stronger than OEM. Barnett also makes plates, which are fine, AFAIK. Only Honda makes steels, so hope they're not warped...
Veefer, thanks for the suggestion--Ebay has Barnett clutch kits for $180 shipped with springs, steels and frictions.
JZH, my VFR was doing the clutch slipping when I got it. I changed the unknown oil with Amsoil 10W40 motorcycle oil, and that had no effect on the clutch slippage. (I have used Mobil1 15W50 Extended Performance exclusively in all of my bikes for many years with no problems--it isn't "energy conserving" so it doesn't have the potentially clutch-harming modifiers in it--but the EP variant is no longer available and the regular variant is supposedly not nearly as shear resistant as the EP.) I agree that the clutch should last a very long time--my F2 has almost 35K on a clutch--so maybe the previous owner was running the wrong kind of car oil. Oh well..
Ebay also has kits without the steels--EBC kits with springs and frictions for about $70 shipped. I was thinking about getting the steels too but since they aren't a wear item and add about $100 to the price of the clutch job, I'll skip 'em. (normally I'd replace them just to do a thorough job, but I'll get less grief from my wife if I spend $70.)
Flushing the clutch fluid as well as the brake fluid is on the agenda as well.
Ah, the dreaded PO syndrome... For all you know, it could have been "stunted" for half it's life. Your VFR wasn't covered in fake fur, by any chance, was it? :tongue:
I just did my clutch at nearly 80,000km just because I wanted to, not because it was slipping. The steels had a couple small spots of bluing, which I dressed with a nylon wheel chucked in a drill. Actually I did all the steel plates like that all over. Cleaned them up real nice. Put in new springs and friction plates only.
[image: View Post]JZH, on 24 September 2011 - 08:02 PM, said:
Ah, the dreaded PO syndrome... For all you know, it could have been "stunted" for half it's life. Your VFR wasn't covered in fake fur, by any chance, was it? :tongue:
No, I don't have any inkling that it was abused or stunted. The bike seems to be farkled for safety, handing and comfort--I'm guessing that the PO actually did sport tour on it. Although it was probably more just tour than sport tour--the rear tire had 1"+ chicken strips.
[image: View Post]Veefer800Canuck, on 23 September 2011 - 01:43 PM, said:
You can get a complete Barnett clutch kit off eBay for less than OEM prices. It comes with everything. Beware that 98-99 clutches are slightly different than 00-01, be sure to get the correct one.
On the Barnett site, I can see that the part numbers are the same for both models, only one disc less is used for the 2000-01.
I have a 1998 bike clutch. Can I use its parts for my 2001 model?
I checked Barnett's site and the part number for the individual plates is the same for the '98-'99 and the '00+. I found a vendor on Amazon selling the plates individually. 8 cost me $56 shipped.
End of thread · 11 posts recoveredWayback Machine snapshot 1 Jul 2012