[Death_BySnu_Snu]

Hi all,

Bought this bike about 2 months ago and it's running great and I have no complaints. Other than the clutch. Whenever the bike isnat idle and the clurch is out, it will make a not so great sound from the clutch case. I suspect the clutch basket might have some play in the bolts? It appears when taking off in first, but after i get to about 3.5k - 4k it goes away and is perfect. I made a video of the sound and what it's like at idle, it gets quiet when I pull the clutch lever in. Any ideas on what to do?

Thanks!

Snu Snu

 

[KG KG]

All R1’s sound like that, like clutch is shattered, 😂🤣😂. Learn to love it, and it will love you back!!

 

[KG KG]

Search results for query: Noisy clutch

www.r1-forum.com

 

[Smitty965]

Less than optimal engineering IMO. I've changed many a clutch over the years, 2 and 4 strokes, dirt and street and after tearing down my '05 looking for the source of same loud chatter and found wear more than I believe should be expected on a bike otherwise well maintained - springs dug deep grooves into the boss and housing to the point of both needing replacement and quite the $ hit. I plan to try a few different sets of aftermarket clutch springs to see if those are the culprit over time.

 

[Death_BySnu_Snu]

Less than optimal engineering IMO. I've changed many a clutch over the years, 2 and 4 strokes, dirt and street and after tearing down my '05 looking for the source of same loud chatter and found wear more than I believe should be expected on a bike otherwise well maintained - springs dug deep grooves into the boss and housing to the point of both needing replacement and quite the $ hit. I plan to try a few different sets of aftermarket clutch springs to see if those are the culprit over time.

What exactly is a boss and housing? Would it be easier to just replace the clutch basket and the plates while I'm in there? I'm rather novice, but am pretty well mechanically inclined. I have almost the tools to do this job.

Can you show on a diagram or a picture of what you ate talking about?

Thanks!

Snu Snu

 

[Smitty965]

Sorry, the boss is the part the plates slide OVER (the steels grab this) and the housing is what that whole combination slides INTO (basket that the fibers grab). The boss has the six fingers that the clutch springs slide over and the bolts thread in to. If you want check out the pics in my showcase build I have a few shots of the worn parts including how compressed my springs were. I ended up buying a new boss (about $300) but had the basket edges just smoothed to keep the fiber plates from binding.

As you'll see in a search here, the chatter is something endemic with the R1 and may not necessarily be a sign of something falling apart. But that won't stop me from trying to narrow it down. Looking at the deep wear patterns in my clutch boss where the springs slide over, IMO that's a result of running springs for too long after they soften/compress. The springs loosen and then slide around constantly and with that freeplay comes the chatter. I purchased a complete Barnett set with heavy duty springs - and they are definitely HD, the clutch pull is much heavier than it was with all the old noise.

My suggestion to you, pull the cover and slide the plates out. Look at the boss where the springs sit and basket edges where the fiber contact - how bad is the wear? Do you have calipers? Check your spring length against what the manual says is acceptable compression. It's my guess that the noise is from worn springs and if not caught in time, causes serious grooves in the basket.

I attached a clutch page from the manual, I use the old fashion paper kind

. You will find a full digital copy of the manual here on the forum, just search repair manuals and you'll see the link.

 

[Death_BySnu_Snu]

As you'll see in a search here, the chatter is something endemic with the R1 and may not necessarily be a sign of something falling apart. But that won't stop me from trying to narrow it down. Looking at the deep wear patterns in my clutch boss where the springs slide over, IMO that's a result of running springs for too long after they soften/compress. The springs loosen and then slide around constantly and with that freeplay comes the chatter. I purchased a complete Barnett set with heavy duty springs - and they are definitely HD, the clutch pull is much heavier than it was with all the old noise.

Thank you so much for all the knowledge and the diagram along with your showcase, that really helps a lot.

My bigger question is, did changing the boss and the springs get rid of all your noise, or at least, most of it?

Thanks!

Snu Snu

 

[KG KG]

What your video shows to anyone with an R1 long term knows that is normal noise and that there is no cheap way of making it quieter. But, there is only one way to find out and that is to remove your clutch cover and disassemble the clutch and check the plates and springs for wear.

Here is a video of my R1 with a Suter clutch that a local shop messed up an install on, and is making a distinguished ticking sound:

I, having never done mechanical work, decided not to have the shop touch my bike for the 4th time, and dove into removing and installing all new stock clutch kit that cost like $350.00. Took my newbie self 4 days to figure it out, now I do all my own work. Lots of stripped bolts, bolt holes, and knuckles, oh yeah, don’t forget money. Lots of money, but a ton less then having your local dealership, do the work. And if you have an old bike they won’t touch it anyway. That’s my story and I am sticking to it…

 

[Smitty965]

Thank you so much for all the knowledge and the diagram along with your showcase, that really helps a lot.

My bigger question is, did changing the boss and the springs get rid of all your noise, or at least, most of it?

Thanks!

Snu Snu

Yes, all that I did got rid of my ridiculously loud chatter. Mine sounded like loose bolts rattling in a can, like it had fallen apart.

 

[Smitty965]

What your video shows to anyone with an R1 long term knows that is normal noise and that there is no cheap way of making it quieter. But, there is only one way to find out and that is to remove your clutch cover and disassemble the clutch and check the plates and springs for wear.

Here is a video of my R1 with a Suter clutch that a local shop messed up an install on, and is making a distinguished ticking sound:

I, having never done mechanical work, decided not to have the shop touch my bike for the 4th time, and dove into removing and installing all new stock clutch kit that cost like $350.00. Took my newbie self 4 days to figure it out, now I do all my own work. Lots of stripped bolts, bolt holes, and knuckles, oh yeah, don’t forget money. Lots of money, but a ton less then having your local dealership, do the work. And if you have an old bike they won’t touch it anyway. That’s my story and I am sticking to it…

Our local Yamaha/Kawasaki dealer out here in CA farm country will take any and all bike work they can get, no matter how old your ride. probably just depends on where you're at if they can be picky.

 

[KG KG]

Berkeley Yamaha/Husqavarna/Ktm wont touch my 2008 Husqavarna SM610R. In a 50 mile radius of San Francisco They are the ONLY Yamaha Dealer Service Center. They are usually swamped with work, I can say that they are GOOD, but expensive, and that it sucks that they are the only option, so when they wont service your vehicle, or can't, or the wait time is long your only recourse are the ma & pa shops, some good, some bad. So I decided I will learn it all A la YouTube and this Forum. It's almost as expensive, but I am constantly learning, and forgetting, and learning not to forget, because it gets expensive. Did I mention becoming your own mechanic is expensive. OK, maybe at first, but when them $$$ start adding up. You get better!


@Smitty965
Did your clutch sound like the OPs video?
Do you have a video to show how yours sounded before fixing it?
Can you make a video of how it sounds now, after fixing it, while pulling the clutch in and out slowly?

 

[Smitty965]

Berkeley Yamaha/Husqavarna/Ktm wont touch my 2008 Husqavarna SM610R. In a 50 mile radius of San Francisco They are the ONLY Yamaha Dealer Service Center. They are usually swamped with work, I can say that they are GOOD, but expensive, and that it sucks that they are the only option, so when they wont service your vehicle, or can't, or the wait time is long your only recourse are the ma & pa shops, some good, some bad. So I decided I will learn it all A la YouTube and this Forum. It's almost as expensive, but I am constantly learning, and forgetting, and learning not to forget, because it gets expensive. Did I mention becoming your own mechanic is expensive. OK, maybe at first, buy when them $$$ start adding up. You get better!


@Smitty965
Did your clutch sound like the OPs video?
Do you have a video to show how yours sounded before fixing it?
Can you make a video of how it sounds now, after fixing it, while pulling the clutch in and out slowly?

I've run the gauntlet here where I'm at with Joe Blow bike mechanics, some referred by friends, some I've just found and tried out - shelled out serious $ only to find they didn't actually fix the problem or screwed something else up in the process, every damn time. Its not easy finding competent mechanics where I'm at. I won't use anyone but a dealer mechanic going forward unless no dealers willing to work on it. I agree with you on learning and doing as much as you can yourself.

I think my clutch chatter was worse than Snu's but hard to tell for sure over a tablet speaker. I seriously thought something came apart, don't think I recorded it though. Was surprised to find it still together. I'll make an audio when I get the exhaust back on, trying to fit an aftermarket y-pipe between my oem header and yoshi slipons.

 

[Death_BySnu_Snu]

Yes, all that I did got rid of my ridiculously loud chatter. Mine sounded like loose bolts rattling in a can, like it had fallen apart.

I'll be tearing into my clutch housing and seeing what it looks like. I'm assuming I'll probably need to replace the master and all the disk/springs to make it happy again. The pictures on your show case really makes me think the sound I'm hearing is from the springs not finding their home until higher RPM and that's why I can't hear that sound anymore at that point. It would make sense if they are as compressed as the ones you had.

I'll post some pictures when I get to it.

Snu Snu

 

[Death_BySnu_Snu]

I think my clutch chatter was worse than Snu's but hard to tell for sure over a tablet speaker. I seriously thought something came apart, don't think I recorded it though. Was surprised to find it still together. I'll make an audio when I get the exhaust back on, trying to fit an aftermarket y-pipe between my oem header and yoshi slipons.

If its from the video you posted, I wouldn't ride the bike at that point. That sounds almost like a knock and would terrify the hell outta me. Mine doesn't chatter, it's more of a constant almost grinding sound when the clutch isn't depressed. Which would explain the springs being upset in there. I'll post some pictures when I get into the clutch housing. Lady wants me to wait so she can watch and learn as well.

Have a good week, Y'all

Snu Snu