Replacing original 900SS Clutch

**BertAgain** · 31 Aug 08, 03:01 PM

Ok - me again - and no riding for me this Sunday....AGAIN

Having a noisy clutch isn't a problem, but it's got to the point where campanologists are calling 'round to see who's peeling bells ..... gaps between plate tangs and basket were almost 3mm

So I splashed out and got meself an ergal basket, ali lightweight clutch pack, and a corse lighweight hub..... all very lovely and total of about 1/3 weight of the original bits .... good so far !

I made a hub holding tool out of a handle and two plates (one friction and one steel) and even that worked ok - the problem I've got is ( and some of you are probably already laughing), when I came to put things together, the baskets gone in fine, but how the hell do I attach the springs back to the corse hub? There's obviously some part that replaces the original cush drive/hub/spring posts that I haven't got .... because nowhere on any sites (including the shop I got the hub from

) does it say I needed a different cush/post set......

Now, I'm doing the 'calm down' bit ..... does anyone know what part I need, or even better, has the part and wants to get rid of it to a new home?

p.s. - Mr Ducati take note - I now have to use the car to get to work, so I am not the happiest bunny in town - when I kill someone in a Road Rage attack tomorrow, frustration with your engineering will be cited in my defence!

**nogaromill999** · 31 Aug 08, 10:14 PM

Then use a new std part...£65 roughly from your local Ducati dealer...

**BertAgain** · 01 Sep 08, 06:48 AM

Do you mean the original 900SS standard part? The original is ok, it just seems daft to refit it when I've got the lighter part sat there..... or do you mean a different 'standard' part off a later bike, in which case what part do I need? What does it look like?

I can't just nip down to my local Ducati dealers cos they are 35 miles away from where I work and they close half an hour after I finish in the evening, so even on a Duc (which I'm not today

) that's pushing it .....

**mcr998** · 01 Sep 08, 11:48 AM

Bert,

As the title suggests I'm somewhat confused here. The clutch hub has the posts on it that the pressure plate fits over that then support the springs etc... Even a "corse" hub should have the posts on it. Could you post a picture? Also as you say putting the standard hub back in does defeat the weight saving excersise a bit.

**MarkST** · 01 Sep 08, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BertAgain

..... gaps between plate tangs and basket were almost 3mm

3mm, is that all ? The entire eigth army could sneak unnoticed through the gaps in mine

**nogaromill999** · 01 Sep 08, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcr998

Bert,

As the title suggests I'm somewhat confused here. The clutch hub has the posts on it that the pressure plate fits over that then support the springs etc... Even a "corse" hub should have the posts on it. Could you post a picture? Also as you say putting the standard hub back in does defeat the weight saving excersise a bit.

Thats whats throwing me too....any hub has to support the pressure plate and springs....so it sounds like you dont have the complete assembly.....

**BertAgain** · 01 Sep 08, 01:37 PM

Will try to sort out pics later.... but basically if you look at the original hub as like a birthday cake with 6 candles on top, and the cush drive fits in the back - the lightweight hub I've got (and pics I can glean form internet) is just the 'cake' part with holes in it where it looks like the 'candles' part would go through enabling the springs to be added over the pressure plate.... something tells me the lightweight hub is meant to be part of a slipper setup rather than a direct replacement for the stock unit ... I feel a decent 'conversation' with the seller coming on

.... whilst I'm getting grubby - does anyone know the proper torque setting for the 8 bolts holding the clutch basket on? The Haynes destruction manual doesn't say, and as they are steel into ali, too much force will mean a 'stripped thread' job.....

**MarkST** · 01 Sep 08, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BertAgain

does anyone know the proper torque setting for the 8 bolts holding the clutch basket on?

It's probably in this free download somewhere - The Spares Network - Downloads - info@thesparesnetwork.co.uk

And this is quite handy too - Ducati.com || Bikes || Ducati Service || Tech Data

**nogaromill999** · 01 Sep 08, 01:56 PM

I've scanned in the torque settings pages from the 'Works' manual.....hope they help...

**BertAgain** · 01 Sep 08, 02:14 PM

Many Thanks ....

edit - I'm assuming the 'clutch drum nut' (at 140N.m) is for the main hub nut - i'll use the 'general screws' setting of 22-24 for 8mm and 34-37 for 10mm I think ... and gobs of loctite....

**Masher** · 01 Sep 08, 03:56 PM

I beleive the advice for the spring retainers is just to "nip up" as it doesn't take very much to strip or snap.

**Mr.R** · 01 Sep 08, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BertAgain

.... whilst I'm getting grubby - does anyone know the proper torque setting for the 8 bolts holding the clutch basket on? The Haynes destruction manual doesn't say, and as they are steel into ali, too much force will mean a 'stripped thread' job.....

The 8 bolts holding the basket on pass through your new alloy basket and bolt up into the steel primary gear.
V Two of Australia make and sell an alloy replacement hub, this's also available through LT Snyder's Desmotimes.
These hubs do away with the rubber cush inside of the clutch hub, but this isn't really a problem.

Steve R

**BertAgain** · 01 Sep 08, 06:53 PM

Cheers - never thought of that being where the bolts attach to, but makes sense when you think of what the clutch does

...and springs nipped up, ta!

OK - some new bits and some old bits combined, so I thoight I'd try the 'how to quieten your clutch' trick of putting a couple of the old friction plates in the basket first ..... and here is a link, technology gods permitting, to the result .... sorry about the vid quality but it's dark and rainy (yep AGAIN) in NW England, but hey, no clutch rattle ..... and I still lurrrrvvvvv that burble .....

YouTube - Ducati Clutch - Ssssshhhhhhh

and being an avi it takes a while to load (about 3 mins) - be patient young padawan

**mcr998** · 02 Sep 08, 12:41 PM

Er.... where's the clutch noise/rattle? If I remember correctly the service limit on the clutch basket to friction plate it 6mm so at 3mm you've nothing to worry about. If I'm wrong Nog or someone else will correct me.
Noisy clutches are all part and parcel of the Ducati experience, revel in the symphony of noise.

**BertAgain** · 02 Sep 08, 01:02 PM

Now I've got the thing on the bench, I checked the old basket and plates properly. I can get 3mm gauges between tangs/basket at all points, the worst gaps being 5mm, and the notches in the basket are another mm or so ..... so 6mm is about right. Have to admit that there was no slippage in the clutch, just that the clanging (original steel basket is basically a bell with grooves in it) was so loud that I couldn't fully appreciate the burbling 'debaffled' cans

No doubt those of you with new machines with 'quiet' standard cans need to hear the clutch to make sure it's still ticking over

... as for the whining noise on the vid - that's not there in 'real life' - weird one that... it's an old vid camera! - or poss the missus nagging away cos I spend too much time working on the Duc

...it is eerie to stand next to it now and not hear the usual Duc sounds ..... whether I take the extra plates out or not in the future? Don't know yet .......