Best guesses on RGS "clutch" issue?
- Thread starter Paul LeClair
- Start date
Rusty Spokes
Hero member
- Location
- Decatur, Ga. USA
Paul Marx said:
Indeed..I like PSI and inches too. The kiloponds measurement is not mine. It is the "spec" as published.
Rusty Spokes
Hero member
- Location
- Decatur, Ga. USA
Tippie said:
My clutch slipping was almost imperceptible and only noticed at full throttle, under load and at very high revs. Cruising around was just fine. Could have easily burnt out the clutch and found a gearbox full of neutrals.
If your clutch springs are original or very old, replace them. Either get those kilopound clutch springs or the even better pound force (lbf/in) type springs depending if you live in a metric county or the USA
Wolfgang's springs are very good.
- Location
- Calgary, Alberta, Canada
more fiddling and measuring in the garage this evening. Sent a family member foraging through my storage. Came back with four full sets of clutch fiber plates (three used, one brand new set of Red's Kevlar plates), and a bag of maybe 20 clutch springs.
I can't put the bike back together yet as there were no steel plates in the storage and I can't put my present set of scorched blue/black plates back in. AM going to use Red's Kevlar fiber plates with brand new steels from Wolfgang
closer examination of the fiber plates that came out of the RGS reveals that three of the fiber plates are completely missing any fiber on one side. When I first looked at them I thought they were steels.....
measured the two actuating rods, both 133.25, total 266.50, without the ball bearings. Pretty close.
measured the clutch springs. All short by roughly 4 mm, all around 42 mm, should be not less than 46. Measured the big handful of other clutch springs I had in storage, all 46 mm or longer. No matter, I have new clutch springs coming from Wolfgang with the new clutch plates and various other bits.
Surgery in April has put me way behind on my riding season, really just starting now, and the other two Laverda triples have not been out yet this year.
moved on to getting the 79 1200 Mirage back on the road, finished fitting and shimming the pair of Astralite wheels swapped over from the RGS, refitted the rear sets after some fine tuning of fit and adjustment, and about to fit the brand new chrome full Jota exhaust system just arrived from Malcolm Cox. Couldn't find any exhaust crush rings for the exhaust ports, so those are coming from Wolfgang as well. Didn't think to ask Malcolm to throw some in.
now moving on to the 82 1200 TS Mirage, tried to ride it last weekend, was spitting and popping and spluttering, has not been ridden for a year and I was stupid enough to leave fuel in it. Carbs are coming off for a trip through the ultrasonic cleaner.
still feeling sheepish I thought I had busted a transmission main shaft, when it was just a burnt up clutch, but happy not to have to pull the motor.... 8) :
I can't put the bike back together yet as there were no steel plates in the storage and I can't put my present set of scorched blue/black plates back in. AM going to use Red's Kevlar fiber plates with brand new steels from Wolfgang
closer examination of the fiber plates that came out of the RGS reveals that three of the fiber plates are completely missing any fiber on one side. When I first looked at them I thought they were steels.....
measured the two actuating rods, both 133.25, total 266.50, without the ball bearings. Pretty close.
measured the clutch springs. All short by roughly 4 mm, all around 42 mm, should be not less than 46. Measured the big handful of other clutch springs I had in storage, all 46 mm or longer. No matter, I have new clutch springs coming from Wolfgang with the new clutch plates and various other bits.
Surgery in April has put me way behind on my riding season, really just starting now, and the other two Laverda triples have not been out yet this year.
moved on to getting the 79 1200 Mirage back on the road, finished fitting and shimming the pair of Astralite wheels swapped over from the RGS, refitted the rear sets after some fine tuning of fit and adjustment, and about to fit the brand new chrome full Jota exhaust system just arrived from Malcolm Cox. Couldn't find any exhaust crush rings for the exhaust ports, so those are coming from Wolfgang as well. Didn't think to ask Malcolm to throw some in.
now moving on to the 82 1200 TS Mirage, tried to ride it last weekend, was spitting and popping and spluttering, has not been ridden for a year and I was stupid enough to leave fuel in it. Carbs are coming off for a trip through the ultrasonic cleaner.
still feeling sheepish I thought I had busted a transmission main shaft, when it was just a burnt up clutch, but happy not to have to pull the motor.... 8) :
piranha-bro2
Hero member
- Location
- Melbourne
You're doing an amazing amount of work considering your health status, Paul. Really good tonic for the soul, tinkering with a Lav!
Laverda SF
Hero member
I say Fuck Breganzie's either they Fuck you or you Fuck them.
Shit the last Berganzie was made when - 1984 ?
Glad to see you up and around Paul ;o)
A Sticky Clutch, I would 1st attempt to clean and burn the disc's off with a propane torch and put new springs in her and ensure a main seal isn't leaking.
Shit the last Berganzie was made when - 1984 ?
Glad to see you up and around Paul ;o)
A Sticky Clutch, I would 1st attempt to clean and burn the disc's off with a propane torch and put new springs in her and ensure a main seal isn't leaking.
Tippie
Hero member
- Location
- Dr?bak, Norway
Hat off to you Paul, and no shame in thinking it had a busted gearbox. Any mechanic will have stories of busted gearboxes that had only chucked a rear chain or the front sprocket had come loose amongst other weird stories. You might want to change the oil again after a short time though if there really was a lot of crud circulating.
As PB2 says, riding and working on your bikes is soul therapy.
As PB2 says, riding and working on your bikes is soul therapy.
Jo
Hero member
- Location
- Cologne, NRW Germany
Tippie said:
That's what I was going to post too ...
- Location
- Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Piranha Brother 2 said:
to clarify, I am definitely "tinkering". Still have not recovered enough from surgery to hoist any of the bikes on to their respective center stands without a second person helping. Am enlisting the help of my 28 year old son as needed, am using air tools as much as I can, and everything is still taking 4 or 5 times as long as usual. I work on things until I tire out, then totter into the house for refreshment, pain killers and insulin as required, and rest as required.
what I really am is persistent. I keep chipping away as I can. As mentioned, good tonic for the soul, much better than laying around feeling sorry for myself, who knows how long any of us will live, but while we are here lets make each day count!
going out for a ride tomorrow morning, will be Sunday morning here, same bunch of guys as last Sunday, but as all three Lavs are waiting on parts from Wolfgang, this time I am taking the ZX 14. Before we leave I will make sure they all know where I am going to stop for refreshments so they will know where can eventually catch up to me
Paul LeClair
ps. chipping away at repair/maintenance to the 1990 Bentley Turbo R, just replaced (with considerable assistance) the entire front suspension and brakes of the 72 Triumph Spitfire Mark IV including four fancy new wheels and new tires (booked in for four wheel alignment Tuesday). Last week just found and bought another 1992 Jaguar XJ 40 with 60,000 original kms from an estate. Was still on its original 28 year old tires, took it for four new tires this morning, and just ordered a bunch of parts to sort its minor issues arising from sitting so long. Gorgeous car, looks like new inside and out, dark British Racing Green with Barley interior, and an incredible bargain compared to the Bentley..... If I can ever get everything working on the Bentley all at the same time, it might find itself with a "For Sale" sign on it
martymoose
Hero member
- Location
- Sydney, Australia
Hey Paul no shame in getting 2 people for a centre stand, I do it all the time at work, triumph tigers are rediculous! If only they had designed the centre stand like a Laverda. The bonneville ones are ok
Dellortoman
Hero member
- Location
- Tasmania, Australia
A Jaguar eh? You're a glutton for punishment Paul.
lawrence
Hero member
- Location
- Idaho, USA
Now that the issue has apparently been identified as a fried clutch, I'd like to throw out a comment/question. Various Laverdas I have owned have a tendency to resist proper clutch action. By that I mean that the plates don't release when the lever is pulled. This is common after the bike sits unridden for only a week/ten-days. I've used different brands of oil but that seems to make no difference at all. The bikes have all had the OEM clutch plates, as far as I know. After the plates are freed and the engine is fully warmed up, the clutch operates as it should.
Is this a common experience with other Laverda owners? Other non-laverdas bikes I have owned have not had such reluctant clutches.
Is this a common experience with other Laverda owners? Other non-laverdas bikes I have owned have not had such reluctant clutches.
G
Grant
Guest
Pretty common on Laverdas unused for a while.
You may find a solution by cleaning and sanding the friction plates but in my experience replacement is the best answer.
And Kevlar plates appear to remain unaffected.
The sticking seems to be contributed to oil type used attacking the friction plate material.
You may find a solution by cleaning and sanding the friction plates but in my experience replacement is the best answer.
And Kevlar plates appear to remain unaffected.
The sticking seems to be contributed to oil type used attacking the friction plate material.
Rusty Spokes
Hero member
- Location
- Decatur, Ga. USA
Hi Lawrence..just my opinion...the original Laverda fiber frictions worked very well in the 1970s. In 1986, in the USA and maybe Europe, there was a non-mandatory Asbestos Standard removing asbestos from all automotive (and motorcycle) products. By 1994 the standards became mandatory.
Then the newer Laverda frictions seemed to start having issues. Don't know if Surflex formulations work all that well. They seem to be the only game in town for Laverda friction plates.
However, Red's Kevlar clutch friction discs are a remarkable improvement. Do try and get them.
Then the newer Laverda frictions seemed to start having issues. Don't know if Surflex formulations work all that well. They seem to be the only game in town for Laverda friction plates.
However, Red's Kevlar clutch friction discs are a remarkable improvement. Do try and get them.
Dellortoman
Hero member
- Location
- Tasmania, Australia
It's not just Laverdas. I had a Honda 750-4 that used to do get its clutch stuck. It was a real pain in the arse to get it to release sometimes.
I never actually had the sticking problem with any of my Laverdas. I had the other problem - slipping. But I'll add my vote for Red's Kevlar plates. They seem to grip better than whatever the original stuff is.
I never actually had the sticking problem with any of my Laverdas. I had the other problem - slipping. But I'll add my vote for Red's Kevlar plates. They seem to grip better than whatever the original stuff is.
Did some legal anf iligal lane fuiltering in heavy traffic heading home from last weekends Orange ride.I was stopped at a red light sandwiched between 2 cars and needed a fast start to clear them.That resulted in a full blown RACE start.Just so easy to do with Reds plates.5 grand plus and bang it out.No muss or fuss. Hard as you like.
martymoose
Hero member
- Location
- Sydney, Australia
Race start eh? How are those spokes looking?