The old first friction plate sits down into the rounded portion of the bottom of the slots and below where the first plain plate would normally sit, so adds very little if anything to the stack height. However, you can easily ditch one of your first pair of plain plates and the reduced stack height will reduce the preload on your springs, giving you a lighter clutch action. I actually have neither of those first two plain plates in my stack and it gives me a really light clutch. My first plate after the old friction plate is the thin, dished one, followed by alternating friction and plain plates. This gives me a really low stack height, so much reduced pre load on the springs and a two finger light lever. However, it might just cause slip but if it does, just put one plain plate back.
Well I suppose, as well as preventing the bolts coming undone the Loctite will also prevent any oil seeping through the threads into the clutch - bear in mind the holes in the gear that the clutch basket sits on pass right through and therefore into the sump.
Since Loctite 510 and Threebond 1215 are used in similar applications I think the Threebond would work ok, specifically with preventing oil weep through the clutch drive gear, besides I have the Threebond 1215, and cant find any Loctite 510 My understanding most installs are done with liberal amounts of blue Loctite. I have emailed both Loctite and Threebond technical support, will be interesting to see if they bother responding:Smuggrin:
