This being my first ever ducati, I did notice the clutch was noisy when I purchased it back in October. I was told that's how they are. It sort of makes a grinding noise when biting. Yesterday I managed to pop a wheelie whilst turning right, slightly leant over at a set of major traffic lights. It seems the clutch is either engaged or disengaged now, no inbetween. Could this just need a good wash out with Clutch cleaner? I have the standard case fitted, do they become clogged with clutch dust? Just need a heads up before I start removing fairings and casings etc. EDIT, bike is a 1098.
Bleed the clutch slave before you get too involved. My old 1098 used to do that whenever i got stuck in traffic and the clutch fluid got hot. If the fluid is black probably worth changing and bleeding up. Again, mine used to go black after about 1000 miles. My 848 does it too.
Take the clutch plates out and give everything a good once over. Make a written note of the plate order. Look out for the plate with the dot (4th from last I think). Note that the dot goes to the outside, if it is painted on use a punch to mark this plate. Clean everything with clutch cleaner and use a Scotchbrite pad to take the glazing off the plates. If you have a compressor give the basket a blast out. Check the bearing in the pressure plate and replace if not turning freely. Non-turning can result in clutch fluid boiling. If the friction plates are OK then reassembly is the reverse process. Note that the hole on the pressure plate that has the arrow goes over the peg on the clutch basket with the slot.
Thanks Chrisw, Is this not over technical then? I hate to think I could make a right mess of it. Shame there is no Haynes manual available as I am not over confident.
If you can do Lego then you can do the clutch You should find 3 types of metal plate in your clutch. The first and last two should be thickest. The 4th to last in the stack should be the one with the dot and the rest are identical. Just have a pen and paper handy as you take them out. Two thin screwdrivers help to hook the plates out of the basket. As you note their position, pile all the identical plates together. Give them all a clean and then reassemble. A small drop of oil on the push rod O rings also helps. Red = Thick plates x 3 Green = Dot plate x 1 Yellow = Thin plates x 6
Just to add, there's a great thread on ducati.ms in regards to grabby clutches. Do a search on grabby, shrieking clutch. It involves white grease and apparently works on wet clutches too.
I know what I am doing now, hence the thread. I shall bleed the clutch first then take the plates out and clean and grease up the rod if required. I purchased the bike "with a full service including belts" but the clutch fluid was black when I picked it up. Maybe its not a serviceable item at my main dealers........... I will bleed the bleeder myself and see if that helps.
Which clutch fluid do you guys use? I have always used silkolene dot4 but notice it had doubled in price since I last bought it. I can get the Carlube dot4 for half the price but have never used it before. I usually get a box of x12 at a time as my friends use it too. Any thoughts? [TABLE="class: product_detail_info"] [TR] [TD="class: product_detail_info_value"]Carlube Dot 4 Brake Fluid [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="class: product_detail_info_value, colspan: 2"][TABLE="align: center"] [TR] [TD="colspan: 4"]Carlube Dot 4 Brake Fluid [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="colspan: 4"]Carlube Dot 4 Brake fluid is a synthetic brake and clutch fluid, mostly specified for Disc Brake systems, giving high performance and protection exceeding FMVSS 116 Dot 3 and SAEJ 1703 [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="width: 500"]specifications. It will mix safely with other brake fluids (E.R.B.P.) conforming to[/TD] [TD]Size[/TD] [TD="width: 80"]Stock Code[/TD] [TD]Barcode[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="width: 500"]these specifications.[/TD] [TD="bgcolor: #cccccc"]300ml[/TD] [TD="bgcolor: #cccccc"]BFL300[/TD] [TD="bgcolor: #cccccc"]50552290[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="width: 250"] [/TD] [TD="bgcolor: #cccccc"]500ml[/TD] [TD="bgcolor: #cccccc"]BFL050[/TD] [TD="bgcolor: #cccccc"]50552283[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD="width: 250"] [/TD] [TD="bgcolor: #cccccc"]1Litre[/TD] [TD="bgcolor: #cccccc"]BFL100[/TD] [TD="bgcolor: #cccccc"]50541089[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Specifications: Minimum Boiling Point 230°C[/TD] [TD="bgcolor: #cccccc"]5Litre[/TD] [TD="bgcolor: #cccccc"]BFL005[/TD] [TD="bgcolor: #cccccc"]5010373721582[/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] [/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE]
The clutch fluid will go black again in 5 seconds. Saw a thread on it somewhere but no one seemed to have an answer as to why, lots of theorys though.
Owing to the amount of clutch/brake fluid I can get through I decided to order the cheaper carlube stuff. Borrowing my mates big bleeder and hopefully get it bled tomorrow. If that does the trick, great, if not, out with the clutch plates!
