Dry Clutch Question

[cakeman]

Hi, im still working out the ins and outs and dos' and donts of my first duke.

I am wondering if i have an open clutch (like i do) is it a problem if water gets in it, either from riding or from washing (hosing down)

Thanks in advance and apologies for the newbie question

Andrew

[Justo]

Hey cakeman. Welcome .

Water won't get into the clutch plates while you're riding, no matter how heavy the rain or the surface water. It gets in there when you stop! In heavy rain and stop'n'go traffic, you'll find that water will get in and your plates will slip a little as you take off. However, once you're moving again, all the water gets flung out and the clutch will behave like normal again.

After a ride in the rain the residual heat of the engine then dries what little water may remain.

With an open cover, you need to be careful that you don't leave the clutch plates wet for too long! If you wash the bike, take it for a quick trip around a few blocks to fling the water out. Don't get too paranoid though!

Im a wet boy. but there are some noisy dry clackers degenerates  on the site who will no doubt add their 2¢.

Justo

[ozducati]

pretty well summed up Justo.. have both, and don't mind the wet clutch...

Cakeman, just don't hose the clutch down and leave it, or leave the bike sitting in the rain for any period of time.. as Justo said, it will get rid of the water with a run, or when hot anyway...

[dragonworld.]

From a personal perspective............I havnt had any probs with a wet, dry clutch . But I make sure it doesnt stay wet after a wash or wet ride, I commute on mine all year, on all shifts so it gets wet regularly.  

I pull the clutch pack out and blow everything out prob once month, and every service I replace the pushrod bearing as a matter of course (Cheap $6 at a bearing service) cheap insurance cos if it starts to go it can spin the pushrod and screw your clutch slave cylinder.  

Other than that they are pretty bulletproof generally, The original Duc clutch was totally knackered at 19,000k, and the current one I got from Monster spares (EVR with the multi splines) is pushing 30,000k and still works fine, if getting a bit rattly (More rattly!!   )

[heatherp]

I got 60 000kms out of my (dry) clutch basket  .  I have mine covered tho - and I ride like a girl   

[Nickati]

Does any one else get a bit of a squark on take off sometimes from the dry clutch ?

[FIFO]

Does any one else get a bit of a squawk on take off sometimes from the dry clutch ?

I did  get the occasional squawk on my clapped out original Ducati clutch mainly from slipping it for to long.
Replaced it with a barnett clutch pack and procutting basket all good.
 I am assuming that with your bike even being new .
With the gearing you probably need to slip the clutch a bit more in traffic getting the clutch pack hot causing the squawk?

And +1 Justo

[Mr.S2R]

dont worry cakeman I had the same questions when I got my first Monster - with dry clutch!  I have a TPO spacer kit which spaces out the original cover by 1/4 inch.  Rode home one day in a torrential summer down pour.  when i got in the shed I quickly whipped the cover off paranoid about water getting in - absolutely nothing!  whenever I wash my bike I let it idle for a couple of minutes afterwards to make sure the clutch spins out any water! 

[cakeman]

Does any one else get a bit of a squark on take off sometimes from the dry clutch ?

Yes i do sometimes

[Nickati]

I did  get the occasional squawk on my clapped out original Ducati clutch mainly from slipping it for to long.
Replaced it with a barnett clutch pack and procutting basket all good.
 I am assuming that with your bike even being new .
With the gearing you probably need to slip the clutch a bit more in traffic getting the clutch pack hot causing the squawk?

And +1 Justo

MMMM yes the gearing is tall, it really doesn't like the clutch being fully out until around 30-40 km/h.
When taking of like this it's OK, it's when you try to take off and let it out in a hurry it does squark.........

[cakeman]

MMMM yes the gearing is tall, it really doesn't like the clutch being fully out until around 30-40 km/h.
When taking of like this it's OK, it's when you try to take off and let it out in a hurry it does squark.........

Ive only had my monser for jus over a week and notice i get this when i try to take of quickly. I am doing exactly as nickati said, im obviouslly releasing the clutch to quick. Im going to practice slipping it a bit more to get that quick take off (hopefully i wouldnt have burnt it out within 3 sets of traffic lights  )

[dragonworld.]

Its interesting that even though (On the OEM clutch) the splines were hammered to the shithouse the actual friction material was plenty good!! 

Even the EVR unit has heaps of material, although burring on the plates is obvious.

The squawking  usually gets worse as the baskets/plates wear and the plates are able to get more "sideways" in the basket and chatter a bit as they come under compression.
Not to mention the fact that take offs get a bit more enthusiastic as a rider gets used to their beast! 

And then of course there are the groans of complaint from the poor clutch when you hammer the crap out of it off the line!  [moto]

Not that anybody here would act like an antisocial street hooligan!! Would they??!! 

[Nickati]

But even from Day One Dragon ??

[signora monster]

Not that anybody here would act like an antisocial street hooligan!! Would they??!! 

No, not my angelic Nickati. He is a good boy. 

[gino]

What i do is every 2 to 3 weeks is blow the whole clutch pack out with my compressed air gun. Heaps of carbon dust usually comes out so i always wear a mask .About every 4 to 5 months i take off the pressure plate  and take all the plates out , give them a good wipe with metho and a bit of a sand with fine paper .Wipe out the whole basket and a good air blast . Good oportunity to see how much meats left on the plates , and last time , not much !Then each plate i'll give a light spray with brake disk conditioner , repack (making sure i dont over tension the 6 screws) using thread lock .After doing that the clutch works so well! I give my clutch a real hard time round the city so i can dump it with heaps of throttle . There's never any binding plates and no screaching , smooth as silk ! Quick test ride , then check the bearing with my finger if its giving off too much heat if it is needs replacing  ,jump back on and hammer the crap out of it cause i know it's all serviced and can handle it !