Clutch Failure

[Joker]

I have Nev's lock up fitted and have a problem. After Richard (TTS, Blowme) fitted it, it seemed fine. A bit heavier than standard (to be expected) and a bit rough in the last couple of millimetres of travel to the bars.

For the last few days it has been dragging a bit occasionally when stationary. Today it became difficult to find neutral when stationary. I thought the cable may have stretched a little so wound the adjuster a couple of turns on the lever. Next time I got to the lights, pulled it in and, snap, came right to the lever and no clutch. Yes, the cable is in tact. Yes it operates the arm om the outside of the clutch casing.

I have no doubt it's nothing to do with the parts supplied by Nev, but some of the Triumph parts around it leave a lot to be desired. It's an 05 bike.

Any suggestions, especially our resident expert RRman???

 

[Hipporider]

:idea: When you isolate the Triumph part responsible for failure ,(it was not designed to cope with this extra work perhaps), take it to a machine shop and ask them if they can make another one that will fit where the old one went, but with beefed up wall thickness or whatever/wherever it failed.If you go for this idea, best getting a handful fabricated at the same time and you may be able to recompense your expenses , selling the part to others on this site with the same problem.

 

[RiderRocketman]

Did you upgrade your clutch lifter piece and thrust bearing to post-2005 spec at the same time as the lockup clutch install? I believe your lifter piece snapped like mine did the first time a while back (see that clutch warning thread in the tech section). You're going to have to open her up again and fit a new lifter and likely need a new lifter shaft as well. You may have hastened the failure by tightening up that cable but it was on the way out anyways. Your clutch was "dragging" because the lifter shaft was getting so worn away.

The main problem is not the lockup clutch but the lockup can make the design fail even faster. Extra stiff springs like in the lockup, supercharger, turbo and Barnett clutch kits put too much force on the old style thrust bearing which will prevent the lifter piece from being stationary when the clutch is pulled and so it spins with the clutch and grinds away at the lifter shaft and weakens itself in the process and then snap. I also wonder if the Triumph "upgrade" kit springs will do the same thing with old style clutch parts.

You should try to update to the new style clutch lifter parts but the lockup pressure plate will need to be modified. Maybe Nev could help you out with that.

A final note, even if you have updated clutch parts, the clamping nature of the lockup clutch can still put enough force on the lifter piece and bearing to produce that grinding action on the lifter shaft if the clutch lever is held while revs are up. I have looked at my current lifter shaft and it has some signs of grinding. Not bad but I will replace with a new one. Because of this, it is not advisable to rev the engine high with the clutch lever engaged or to engage the clutch while revs are high. I recall reading a warning about that in the lockup install directions. It is just how the lockup is designed to work.

Hope you get the thing fixed soon. I imagine Richard ain't gonna be happy to play with that clutch for another go around.

Personally, I'd like to see a whole new lifting mechanism designed. There could be some money in that upgrade, eh Nev or Richard?

 

[Joker]

Thanks RR.

I've got to have the dealer diagnose the misfire before I take it to Richard anyway so I'll get him to sort the clutch. I'll give him Nev's instructions and assorted posts from you.

Hippo,

I've got a mate who works in the aircraft engineering game so I'll see what he suggests. Thanks for the idea.