Clutch Failure

wilbur-t

wilbur-t

Top Fuel
Joined
Mar 8, 2006
Messages
1,573
Location
Carthage N.C. U.S.A.
I have been having to tighten my clutch adjuster to the point that it was almost out of adjustment. This morning it broke. Pulled the clutch and noticed that the lever on the side of the case was pulled straight up as far as it could go. let go of the clutch and pulled it again and heard a snap. All the tension went out of the cable. Cussed up a couple of storms, got out the tools and pulled the front cover. The end had popped off the actuating rod in the center of the clutch. I pulled the clutch out to inspect it and found that the flat [Torrington] bearing behind the clutch pressure plate had eaten into the aluminum about 1/8 of an inch. Lots of chewed up aluminum everywhere. The bearing was assembled with the roller part of the bearing right against the aluminum of the pressure plate and the steel washer on the back side of the roller. [See pics]
I have been complaining about a noise and vibration from my clutch area since around 11,000 miles. Have had it to the dealer and left it there for a week for the same problem. Dealer said he couldn't find anything and told me to just ride it. Does anyone here have any advice on trying to get Triumph to help me with this problem?

Ok, I'm having some trouble with the pics. I'll try again soon.
 
**** sorry to hear Wil

Looks like your Dealer might have been able to save you from this heart ache if he would have only looked at it.Dealers need to be sued and shut down until better ones can be found. BKC
 
Triumph Motorcycles (America) Ltd.
385 Walt Sanders Memorial Drive
Suite 100
Newnan, Georgia 30265
Main Telephone: (678) 854-2010
Customer Service: (678) 854-2010, extension 2064
Dealer Development: (678) 854-2010, extension 2046
Triumph Motorcycles (America) Ltd.
385 Walt Sanders Memorial Drive
Suite 100
Newnan, Georgia 30265
Main Telephone: (678) 854-2010
Customer Service: (678) 854-2010, extension 2064
Dealer Development: (678) 854-2010, extension 2046
 
wilbur-t said:
I have been having to tighten my clutch adjuster to the point that it was almost out of adjustment. This morning it broke. Pulled the clutch and noticed that the lever on the side of the case was pulled straight up as far as it could go. let go of the clutch and pulled it again and heard a snap. All the tension went out of the cable. Cussed up a couple of storms, got out the tools and pulled the front cover. The end had popped off the actuating rod in the center of the clutch. I pulled the clutch out to inspect it and found that the flat [Torrington] bearing behind the clutch pressure plate had eaten into the aluminum about 1/8 of an inch. Lots of chewed up aluminum everywhere. The bearing was assembled with the roller part of the bearing right against the aluminum of the pressure plate and the steel washer on the back side of the roller. [See pics]
I have been complaining about a noise and vibration from my clutch area since around 11,000 miles. Have had it to the dealer and left it there for a week for the same problem. Dealer said he couldn't find anything and told me to just ride it. Does anyone here have any advice on trying to get Triumph to help me with this problem?

Ok, I'm having some trouble with the pics. I'll try again soon.
Click to expand...

Wilbur, I take it you are not still under warranty. Triumph replaced the flat bearing design with a ball bearing sometime in early 2006... probably because of this very problem. If it makes you feel any better, I've also fried the new ball bearing design by pulling clutch at over 7000 RPM (lock-up clutch)... but I've got a hundred more horses.

I believe Peter Carlleo (sp?) is still the man to talk to at Triumph Atlanta (customer service). He should be familiar with this problem and the change in clutch bearing design.

If Triumph doesn't give you any satisfaction, it's a relatively easy fix (and internal aluminum shaving clean-up). Having done it myself already, I'd be happy to guide you through it... but I do recommend going with the new pressure plate and bearing design (or upgrading to a Lock-up clutch).
 
I called the service manager at Capitol Triumph where I had my bike worked on right before it went out of warranty. He said if I email him the pics he will pass them on to Triumph and try to get me covered. He also said he had seen some clutch problems, but he didn't go into details.

Thanks for the info and offer to help, Hombre. I'll keep you posted.
 
Last edited:
Here are some of the pics of the clutch problems.



3218334169.jpg

3218334230.jpg

3218334196.jpg
 
Last edited:
Wilbur:

You have some checking on the pressure plate (I can see it). I have exactly the same setup on one of my metal lathes that is used to take up the horoziontal slop in the spindle. I modified the lathe with a ground washer on both sides and then I case hardened both washers....Your bearing looks like my bearing......
 
That pressure plate's gone! Bearing problem caused lifter piece to snap... I bet lifter rod is severely worn too (not hardened like LP). All of the above should be replaced with updated design... heavier lifter shaft, ball bearing, and new (ball bearing) pressure plate.
 
If the good folks at Triumph decide to help me out, I wonder if they would use the new design pieces, or replace with what came from the factory?

Lifter rod is worn where the rod contacts the lift pin.
 

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