Quick pressure plate question...

[johnster]

Hey guys....This is probably a stupid question, but here goes....


     I just installed a Motowheels pressure plate/springs/open cover last night and rode to work this morning, and noticed a couple of things...

1. - To get it in 1st gear, and up through the other gears, it takes a LOT more force to engage each gear, and the "snick" is much more pronounced and harsh feeling...

2 - Usually I can easily find neutral by tapping down from 2nd, but it seems like it's much more difficult to find than before.....I found myself doing the "2nd-1st-2nd-1st" dance, trying to find it..... 

   -I realize that the stiffer spring preload makes for a more positive clutch engagement and would assume that this is normal, but I just wanted to double-check if it really changes the feel of the GEARBOX this much normally....

   -I LOVE the sound (obviously     )  and will post pics later today, but I just wanted other people's takes on how different a new pressure plate & springs made the shifting feel.....I noticed that the bolt holes on the old OEM pressure plate were starting to wear through!!!     Good thing I changed it now!!!

    -Thanks in advance for your feedback!!!   

-john

[Slide Panda]

Sounds like you might need to bleed your clutch line.  The new springs you put in are stiffer than the old ones and if there's some air in your line, any related issues will be more noticeable.

From what you describe it seems like you're not able to move the new pressure plate quite far enough off the stack, so there's a little  bit of friction between the plate.  This will cause the problems you described, hard to find neutrals a bigger thunk when dropping into 1st from N.

Try out your old softer springs, or 4 of the new springs.  If the clutch operates as it used to then that's a good indicator that there's some air in the line which is being compressed (more) by the 6 stiffer springs you just installed. 

[CDawg]

Johnster,

Here's the response I got from Rizoma regarding those spacers:
http://ducatimonsterworldwide.org/index.php?topic=1649.0

[johnster]

Thanks for the feedback, I figured that bleeding the line might be a good idea....

Honestly, I was more worried about installing the push-rod properly....I just put the new pressure plate face-down on a towel, and hammered the rod into the bearing with a rubber mallet...I verified that the plate spins perfectly straight on the rod, but I was concerned that maybe I hammered it in too far, causing the plate to not disengage as fully as before...
 
Although the push-rod appeared to be flared on the back side to stop it at the right length through the bearing, so maybe that's not the case....

I guess it's possible that I may just need to break the springs in, or am just not used to the difference....

Johnster,

Here's the response I got from Rizoma regarding those spacers:
http://ducatimonsterworldwide.org/index.php?topic=1649.0

Interesting!!  I wonder if that's what I'm missing....Motowheels didn't send me any washers, but Maybe I should look into putting some on....Do they look like they could be bought @ a hardware store??

[Slide Panda]

You probably don't need anything, and if you did something like the Rizoma instructions I'd wager your problem would be worse since you're adding preload to the spring. 

Even with heavier springs, your clutch should function as it did before. 

[CDawg]

You probably don't need anything, and if you did something like the Rizoma instructions I'd wager your problem would be worse since you're adding preload to the spring. 

You would be removing preload.  The washer sits inside the spring, not outside the spring like a collar.

[CDawg]

Johnster,
Our plates are different:
http://ducatimonsterworldwide.org/index.php?topic=1649.0

[M900Sie]

One thing worth mentioning that hasn't been touched on yet, is making sure the mark on the pressure plate aligns the the slotted stud of the clutch hub. That can cause problems very similar to yours.

[DucHead]

Adjust your clutch lever out one notch.