Destroyed Clutch, suggestions...

[dynabanshee]

Major bummer! Went to the dunes, first trip of the season. New mods, was runnin great. Was tearing it up all day at Gordon's Well on Friday. Went out for a Friday night cruise. Was sitting at the bottom of a hill, went to climb it. Almost at the top I heard a pop, I get to the top and I hear a nasty sound like metal pieces fumbling around in the case. Turn the bike off and tow it back to camp. Knowing that is the clutch and not having an enclosed trailer (wouldn't dare opening the clutch side case in the sand) we leave and weekend is spoiled.

 

I just opened up the clutch side case, thinking perhaps a spring popped lose or something... wrong! I open the case and find all of the bolts and springs (from the pressure plate) sitting in the bottom of my case. The studs (or housing, whatever you want to call it) on the clutch boss that the bolts that hod the springs screw into all snapped off. The pressure plate looked pretty mangled from it spining with bolts and such between it and the case. Lots and lots of tiny metal flakes inside the case. I don't think much of it got to the tranny, because when I first drained the oil I saw only a little very very fine metallic in it.

 

However, the oil, which only had about 8 hours on it was pretty dark, black.

 

This is a stock clutch.

 

So, the questions are:

1) What should I do in terms of fixing it. The basket seems fine. I did not notice any damage. The boss (inner part of the clutch) is obviously toast since all the pegs snapped clean off. The pressue plate is pretty beat up. I sure it could be used, but it may be off balance from getting thrashed on the outside. The push rod and other inner pieces seem to not have been affected. I talked with a local shop who was pulling prices, and for a clutch kit and aftermarket plate and boss it was like $700 in parts. I swear a boss and plate have to be less than that. I want to get these parts waaaaayy cheaper than that, even if I go OEM.

 

2) I just can't recall my oil ever being that dark after just 2 outtings on it. I used 10W-30 full synthetic. I think it is havoline for high revving engines. Do you think it was that blackened from burning up the clutch, the 8 hours of hard ass riding, or do you think I might have a blown crank seal?

 

Let me know what you all think. I have never ever seen anything like this happen, I am just bewildered.

 

Thanks!

[dynabanshee]

Welp, I've sourced a couple different people to buy used OEM off of. Do you think aftermarket would be worth the cash? Is anyone here using OEM inner (boss) and outter plates with a high output engine? I am trying to figure out if this was a freak thing, or if I can expect to mangle my clutch again. My bike is modded, but is not anything serious.

 

Also, let me know about the tranny oil being so black. What type of tranny oil do you run? Is there any good way to check for a leak aside from splitting the cases? Before I drained it, I check the oil, and although it was at an acceptable level, it was low.

 

Thanks!

[DIRTBIKEZ]

Cant explain why your clutch self destructed but maybe the dark oil was caused by excessive clutch wear possibly due to the fact that you were running synthetic oil. Just a thought.

[fixitrod]

I run a stock pressure plate and inner hub with a hinson basket and barnett dirt digger clutch on my stroker. Are you sure something else didn't get in there to tear all that up. I don't see how the broke unless something broke and tore the rest of it up. Weird.

 

As for the fix, I'd split the cases. If you have debris in there that won't hurt the tranny it may make it past the crank seal and blow your motor. Replace all the seals while you're in there. It's not that bad of a job really. You can do it all in a day if you get rolling on it.

 

Rodney

[dynabanshee]

Yea, I was thinking of splitting them. Just a major pain in the ass! =) If I did it I was thinking about putting a 4mm stroker in it. hmmm... decisions...

[TurbochargedOne]

Synthetic oil + clutch material = expensive learning experience.