I recently had a clutch fail in under 5 hours of riding.

I suspect oil (see http://www.thumperta...__fromsearch__1),

But could my clutch heavy style have caused or contributed?

All riding was in dunes, I'm fairly novice.  - I do always pull the clutch as I top; typically I wet myself approaching the blind crest and want to loose some speed, I use the clutch rather than throttle for this as I can then very quickly get back on the power if I find I've over done it and I'm not going to make the crest.

Is this technique bad it could be killing my clutch? What's the best way to crest a blind dune gracefully (and safely!)?


Thanks!
Al

I read your other thread there too, for me it doesnt sound like you are doing anything wrong, other then maybe as you say, run on some wrong oil, or buy your plates to cheap, go for oem plates..

Check for notches in you clutch basket,I burned up 3 clutches before I replaced mine.I didn't think it was bad,but it was.

Are you running some free-play in the lever?  If not, the clutch will be under a constant state of slippage, overheating it / burning up the plates in no time.

Thanks guys, great feedback

Oil is cheap insurance for expensive parts. I started running motul 300v and wont run anything else now...between my two bikes (identical) the one with 300v shifts smoother and has a way better clutch feel.

Mr_Snips, on 07 June 2012 - 05:58 PM, said:

+1 for Motul 300V. On my modded XR426, after 1000 kms of trails, singletracks and climbs the oil still has a nice color, and feels sticky and slippery. And it shifts much better than my fellow's almost new XR with Motul 5100.

2-Strokes 4-ever, on 25 May 2012 - 01:07 AM, said:

This.

Your clutch is made to be slipped, that is not likely to be the problem. Too little/wrong oil, something not together correctly, or most likely the above post.

mikea 2, on 10 June 2012 - 06:48 PM, said:

Agree I abuse thencrapnouta my clutch in a lot of slow single track slipping it like crazy and 2nd gear starts uphill for traction and mine last a long time.... In fact I have yet to replace one. Look at some of the issues mentioned.

If your bike is a Kawasaki or Honda, or any Japanese bike for that matter, don't replace your clutch with the OEM plates. Those bikes have a huge tendancy to fade VERY fast...Just my 2 cents

Try to use momentum instead of clutch abuse.  Pull clutch in and let out as quickly as the engine will take it.  Run top shelf motorcycle gear oil made for wet clutch plates.  Auto oils use too much of wrong type moly and can promote slippage. You may try a heavier flywheel on bike also.

Hello all,

Al has the specifics, but as far as I know we think it was the fact that the local Yamaha dealer had sold him YZ clutch springs, which when new are already at the bottom end of the spec for the WR clutch pack (i.e. short).  I gave him my WR springs when I installed a Rekluse.  So far so good, although a number of his steel plates have been turned dark due to the clutch overheating at some point.  I don't think he has put enough hours on the clutch yet since we replaced the springs, but we'll check back in once we have.

Dwight, I really think in the situation where you are toping out at the crest of the dune you have to feather the clutch.  If you're going up the steep side you are either faced with losing too much momentum and falling short of making it up, or conversely you carry too much momentum and end up going over the top into an unknown situation.  Hard to judge the happy medium as the sand is very dry here and you have to get on the trottle and hold it there to get up some of these dunes.

I'm still working on Al's desire to use the cheapest motor oil available.  At least he is getting the stuff without friction modifiers.  We'll get there one day.

Cheer everyone,
Ken

PS:  Here's Al.  He says "cheers"

Edited by ADVRider808, 14 July 2012 - 04:11 AM.

I could never finish a race with any brand autoclutch.

Dwight_Rudder, on 14 July 2012 - 11:13 PM, said:

Riding a gear too high?  I held off forever, but just last summer installed the EXP 2.0 in my RM.  Very nice, and perfect traction.  I do change the oil every ride though... always have.

Probably but I like to load / lug my engines a lot and with autoclutches I didn't feel I could properly without a lot of slippage. It actually made me feel like I had to ride the bike harder than without the clutch.  Sure didn't make it easier.  After a lot of testing and two brands of autoclutches I can do without them.

Hi Ken, How was the diving?

- Correction on the springs. I asked for 2008 YZ450 springs (elsewhere on TT they were recommended for addressing clutch problems on my 2008 wr450), However, without telling me they gave me 2006 YZ450 springs  (90501-231E9)... which when I checked with TT (and measured them!) are way too short and not suitable. The springs that came out of my failed clutch most likely were from the same Yamaha dealer, and were below spec, so it's possible they were also the wrong year. - That would explain a lot!

Oil: -> It's cheap (the cheapest to try to avoid unwanted additives) but unlike motorbike oil which is rare here I can get it everywhere... If I change it regularly am I being really bad to my bike?

Thanks for all the ongoing advice guys, it's really appreciated!

Al

Dwight_Rudder, on 15 July 2012 - 10:36 PM, said:

I tend to be a short-shifter too, with me worrying about it slipping too much (a gear high) I've found that I shift more than before.  Eating up more fuel too.  I don't race anymore and our trail system is truly old-school enduro tight.  With the rocks and roots and see-your-back-fender tight single track we have, I wish I would have done the auto long ago.  On the wider quad stuff, no need for one.

Dwight_Rudder, on 15 July 2012 - 10:36 PM, said:

after a few years on my XR 250 I learned to ride the clutch relentlessly to make up for the lack of power. i tend to ride the rev limiter more than lug... the clutches can take a lot of abuse. I would rather ride it cresting a climb than risk bogging

n16ht5, on 16 July 2012 - 01:56 PM, said:

Never felt the XR250 had a lack of power.  Use torque not HP.  Short shift and carry your speed.  No need to bounce off the rev limiter......EVER.  Soon as the engine starts pulling good shift as quickly as possible. Only let it rev once in high gear. Then you are doing about 78mph.