Cleaning clutch plates

pf1

pf1

Hero member
Location
Portsmouth UK
I've just stripped the clutch out of my 1200TS, it was completely stuck and although it is in unworn condition it's not a pretty sight. The oil in the bike was contaminated with fuel over a long period of time while the bike was sat and it has done strange things to the clutch.
I am in a flat with no facilities so what I would like to know is does anyone have any ideas how to clean the plates without using substances like petrol for instance?
The contamination is a slimy oily rusty residue and it doesn't come off easily with normal detergents.

Failing that I have a clutch from an earlier bike to hand, however the early bikes had one less plate, the 1200TS has the two fibre inner plates connected by springs and the early one doesn't.
Can I just swop these plates over using the early set up or will the clutch slip because it has one less plate?

Many thanks for any help.

 
I have not found a lasting solution to stuck plates by cleaning/washing/sanding the friction plates.
I re-use the metal plates after cleaning but invariably end up replacing the friction plates, preferably with Kevlar plates.
If you want a cheap fix it will last until the next time it happens, which will be sooner than later.
Sand them down to roughen up the friction plates and to de-rust the metal plates, but the damage is done to the friction plates now and it will return.
 
Thanks Grant, the metal plates look to be in the worst condition. I've scrubbed them in the sink with washing up liquid and washing machine liquid and now they are in the dishwasher  ;)
I dont want to take it apart again so I will  try and use the earlier plates if they will work. The are definitely a different type of plate as well as there being less of them.
 
Applied orally, then you won't care what condition the clutch is in.  (cheers)
 
you cannot use 7 plates to replace an 8 plate clutch, will not work
you can use the 7 plates to replace 7 off the original plates but you are going to have to reuse at least one of your original friction plates so you reinstall everything as an 8 plate clutch

good luck



 
Hi Pat the difference in those clutch packs is the first two plates are a pair of friction plates held togeather with the anti rattle springs, you probably saw this when you disassembled the clutch if the friction plates and driven plates are pretty bad you could keep the first two friction plates that have the anti rattle springs and replace with the other plates from there out.
 
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