second clutch problem ???

[seeya]

Bought my Rocket in o7, I put 3500 miles on it and got a viberation in the left handle bar and left floorboard, took it to the dealer and they put in the clutch upgrade kit, everything was fine. i put 20,000 mile on the bike since then and it went out of warranty this past Oct. Anyway i have the clutch problem back and I called the dealer and he said "the bike is outta warranty" You can bring it in and we can check it and see if it's anything to be concerned about. I told them that i was very concerned about it, and it's not right. The point is I really like the Rock, the viberation shouldn't be there, I can't continue to ride it knowing something isn't right.

I've read about clutch upgrade kits on this site to get a better understanding but would like some more input about a solution to this problem and maybe how to handle Triumph to see if they will cover anything. Any help would be great.

Thanks
John

 

[RocketDaryl]

The best course of action is:

1. Take the bike to the dealer to confirm exactly what the problem is.
2. If it's the same issue as before, call Triumph Customer Support and *POLITELY* explain the situation and that, while you understand the bike is out of warranty and that they're not obligated to do anything, you feel two instances of the same issue on a bike with less than 25K miles is a little suspect.

Whatever you do, don't call them with an attitude. I can tell by reading posts in here that a lot of the folks that complain about Triumph Customer Service probably don't do themselves any favors. Their posts are full of piss and vinegar and that's likely how they talk when they call Triumph. A demanding/argumenative attitude usually doesn't bode well for accomplishing your goal.

Anyway, they may help you out if you're cool, and fair, with them. It would also help if you can show the bike has had all scheduled maintenance performed, and at the prescribed mileage/timeframes.

Good luck!

 

[seeya]

thanks Daryl, I'll keep that in mind, is this a common problem with the Rockets???
and do you know of any aftermarket upgrades??

Thanks
John

 

[RocketDaryl]

I haven't personally heard of this particular issue. I do know, however, that the Rocket's clutch adjustment is pretty precise. Whether or not that would have any bearing on your issue, I don't know.

 

[warp9.9]

Seeya since their were no clutch upgrades from 06 till they changed the lifter piece in 09 I am currious as to what upgrades the dealer said he did. If you can turn a wrench doing the clutch is about 4 hours the first couple time and then it gets easier.

 

[seeya]

Hey Warp,

not exactly sure what they had but they said they replaced some springs and did some adjustment, all under warranty. The clutch did get a good bit heavier than what it was from factory and all was smooth for about 20,000 miles. When i had called them about the problem this time they said they had performed the "clutch upgrade" and it was no longer covered under warranty. I have been getting GREAT service from this dealer and i told them that and that I wasn;t trying to get something for nothing but I need the bike to be right, that took their defences down a good bit. Before I left they said they were gonna to talk to Triumph about the clutch because they had changed the design of a plate or washer a while back and it was about as far back in the clutch as you could get. I have worked on many cycles and could chang the clutch but I'm wondering what everybody else is doing with the clutch either aftermarket or OE.

Thanks

 

[warp9.9]

You can always inspect it but the with 20K+ on her I would also look at the front wheel bearings also as I caan see were they could cause a vibration especially if its 1 and on the same side. If you find clutch wear it could be your style of riding or from lack of proper free play as the clutch worn over the 20K. Your dealer might be picky about changing to aftermarket parts especially if it they are pulling some warranty strings. You'll have to talk to them. Iff they don't care then I would install the newest lifter piece while I was in there.



heres the main difference you can see.
top is the new one



left is new one



new one as it sits in the lifter shaft



old one as it sits in the lifter shaft



I would remove the anti-judder spring and seat and install the MTC fibers beloww is the stock Triumph on the Right and MTC on the left.



you can see the difference in fiber grip area.
I would also install their heavy duty springs which are a little over 20% stiffer.
You probably don't need this but MTC also sells a billet clutch basket but if your horse power is not above 200 I would not spend the cash.





you can see from the picture below they have plenty of grip. this is second gear



Hope this Helps.

 

[RocketDaryl]

That lifter "shaft" is what snapped in half on my 08 R3T as I was downshifting for a red light, on my way to Maggie Valley no less. Mine had the new stuff in it from the factory and the free play was set correctly (about a nickel of play, 2 mm). Go figure.

 

[seeya]

very informative Warp, I'll keep al of this in mind when we get in there. That lifter shaft wears doesn't it??



Daryl that was RAA wasn't it??? I was there ,

 

[warp9.9]

the lifter shaft wears if there aint anny free play and when you rev the engine with the clutch lever pulled in. IMO the smaller head on the lifter piece does a burn out on the liftershaft after a few of these you have to start adjusting the free play to make up for what is burnt off the lifter shaft after a little bit you have over rotation of the lifter shaft causing it to hit in the bottom of the groove on the back side this either breaks the lifter shaft or the lifter piece in most cases its the shaft. I check for free play at the lifter shaft where the lifter arm goes on to ensure ther is free play.
in the picture below you can see how much more you would have to rotate the lifter shaft to get the same lift on the lifter piece and well them you over rotate the shaft.



another thing I did was to do away with the internal return spring and went with an external one this puts no spring tension on the flimzy end of the lifter shaft or any chance of binding on that end.