Well, after faffing about for a while after putting in a new clutch pack, I eventually realised that the gorgeous looking but cheap CNC billet levers I had put on the bike were actually the culprits in my difficulty in find neutral. A bit of modifying and now I have bling and neutral—result! So, yesterday, I fecked about with it again and cleaned up one of the old friction plates and did the quiet clutch mod. Now, the stack height has been reduced by 0.5mm or so, but it is indeed very quiet. After a run in and out of work today, including a fair bit of town riding, it's all good. Apart from the biting point changing slightly there's no discernable difference in the action. I am regarding this as success! A
Hey Ascalon, Tell me more what is the quiet clutch mod......and how does one go about achieving this?? Eoin
The quiet clutch mod is aimed at achieving two things, first of all, it settles down the rattle in the dry clutch and secondly it is supposed to stave off clutch basket finger wear because the clutch friction plates aren't hammering back and forth! This is done by taking an old friction plate, preferably one that has been cleaned up to ensure there are no burred edges on it and that there is still some friction material left, and placing it down in the clutch basket first. To maintain the stack height, you then use one rather than two of the thick steel plain plates and then build up the stack as normal. That's it really. And it works. A
Thanks Ascalon, Sounds very simple...so just so I have it correct...the first thing I put in the basket is a old friction plate cleaned up as you described, then followed by only one thick steel plate, and build the stack as normal after that?? Eoin
Bang on! If you do a search for the quiet clutch mod, you'll turn up loads about it. Seems to work and most of those who do it swear by it. A
Thanks a million...I will have a got at that over the weekend and let you know the outcome. Many thanks again Eoin
Yeah, I'll have some of that too. It occurs to me that while those plates are rattling about they're also wearing friction material off the plates. Any pro or semi pro Ducati mechanics on here got any opinions on the mod? One critisism I read was possible extra load on the basket bearing?
Did the mod myself a few weeks back on my carby 900SS - have an MPL alloy basket which may alter things? Simply remove your clutch plates in order (two telescopic magnet sticks make this an easy process!) then add a friction plate right at the back of the basket before adding all the plates in the order they came out? Didnt need to add or remove any plates as due to the baskets build the stack height needed stayed the same? The friction plate stops all the plates from rattling around & the plate "dakka-dakka-dakka" is now a LOT more subdued/dampened, certainly taken the edge off it! All good.
Ascalon, Well I found myself with some free time this evening and I did the mod, worked a treat, thanks for posting the thread, very useful indeed. Funny thing...the clutch is quieter now when disengaged, than when engaged. Regards Eoin
Glad to hear it worked out for you. Indeed, it is odd that there is now more of a tamburine effect with the clutch pulled in as opposed to the skeleton breakdancing in a biscuit tin that was audible before when in neutral. I like it. It makes such a change to hear the actual engine noise as opposed to the clutch. Plus, I now don't piss the neighbours off as much when I am doing my 04:30 airport dashes! Result! A
That's it A...tamburine effect, I was looking for a word to explain the new sound from my old but modified clutch...Happy days.
This is obviously a low (no) cost option . When you are at the stage of buying a new basket i can recommend the 48 tooth options that are available. If the clutch noise bothers you this this option virtually eliminates it but still lets you know that its a Ducati you're riding.
Replaces the 12 tooth basket and relevant plates with a set of 48 tooth ones. Spreads the load over a greater area and the noise of course. This will probably outlive the bike. Had one on a previous bike but it got stolen !
Sorry if I'm being a bit thick here, but does that mean that you have to use specific friction plates with more tangs on 'em?
Yes , it comes as a kit. Basket and teeth together. The other plates are already 48 tooth i think, certainly many more than 12 anyway. E bay example 370567860336 of the basket only actually but you get the idea.
Healthy price tag...on that basket...but I suppose if you were going to replace the complete clutch..it's a option to consider...could cost the guts of €1000, if you include, basket, pressure plate and friction plate kit....Oh the cost of Ducati Ownership.
The version i had came from the Czech republic i think, not STM and was about £330 for the basket and plate set. It might have even included the inner plates but i dont remember anymore. Certainly no where near 1000 though. If you want to reduce the noise and you consider that it will last a lot longer because of the spreading of the forces over a greater area then the cost makes much more sense.
Did the mod to me 999 today, done a few miles and love it. Seems so much smoother and easier round town, with the jerkiness on a neutral throttle at low revs gone. Cheers, Keith.
