Clutch plates

[Craigy]

Hi guys,

Following on from my last post re clutch plate shroud (now fixed - thanks)

I took a few pics before I removed the clutch plates - showing the outer plate being a steel plate.

This means that the inner most plate (against the casing), is a friction plate. - 5x steel plates, 5 x friction plates

Is this correct?

Thanks Craig

[limeyrob]

No, there should be one more plain plate than friction plates.  The inner plain plate sits on the flange on the centre.  Does yours have the cush drive or plain centre?

[Craigy]

Sorry I’m not sure, see attached pic.

Would being a plate short cause damage?

Thanks

[morris]

One plate short won't do any damage but it will make the clutch less efficient.
A bonded plate will sit with its tangs on the outer basket but won't touch the basket's surface so will flex a bit.
As Limeyrob said, the first one should be plain and slightly thicker but the thicker ones are like the proverbial hens teeth. Most use a regular plain plate as first.

[Swarfcut]

  My parts book from 1961 shows 5 lined and 6 plain, (42 3195) so no difference in the plain plates according to this publication. So starting with a plain plate, alternating lined and plain gives you a top plain plate under the pressure plate.

  PO could have read the wrong book...Haynes is particularly poor, diagrams show 6 spring and Triumph type 4 spring, but text refers to Plunger type and 6 spring.

 Swarfy.

[Craigy]

Thanks everyone for your replies.

The bike has done less than 1,000 miles since rebuild 2 years ago. I’m completely new to old bike (hence all the questions), but have always thought the clutch was slipping a bit when opening the throttle at speed. maybe this was the cause.

I only stripped it down (learning every day), because there was a tinny rattle inside of the primary case, which turned out to be the shroud with had parted company with the clutch basket.

I think I’m also correct in working out that it has been converted to RGS 4 spring clutch at some point.

Cheers

[limeyrob]

Not having a plain plate as the inner will leave the innermost friction plate free to rattle about so the extra plain plate should solve that problem.