r65 fierce clutch

jimborbm65 · Post by **jimborbm65** » Mon Sep 05, 2011 4:45 pm

Hello wize ones !
I have a 1979 r65 here in England and I simply can not live with this fierce clutch take up .
There is no snatch due to gearbox shimming or spline lubing !!! just a small movement between
disengaged and engaged and the movement of the lever and associated clutch mechanics is smooth .
So having read that this is a feature of this bike and having just replaced a clutch in my wifes small car
and noticed that any car clutch plate has some " squashiness " between the friction surfaces together
with some springs to aid smooth take up .........I thought I would experiment a bit with the r65 plate .
This clutch is a solid plate so........I intend to make eight cuts equally spaced around the circumference
to the centre about one and a half inches long and then slightly bend these segments say one millimeter
out of true alternately ( each side of centre ) to give some squashiness to the plate friction surfaces .
I know that the plate will catch on the outer perimeter friction surfaces first to give uneven wear ....
but I dont care IF I get some FEEL in the take up and the plate sheet metal is strong enough to bear
the torque .
I can hear you shouting that I am MAD but I am an experimenter .
Anyone tried this ?

Jean · Post by **Jean** » Mon Sep 05, 2011 9:00 pm

Rob will probably jump in on this, but we had an '81 R65 and it had the smoothest clutch ever. You could feather it and it did not grab or chatter at all. Maybe your disk is not smooth or there is some kind of contamination on the plate or disk. Might there be some rust on the plate? Or maybe the springs are weak?
The first thought is contamination on the disk, though. Since you are "going in there" check for that and check for flatness, too (on both sides!) !!
Was it always that way?
OH....another thought on this is the cable may be faulty. Has it been replaced (yet)?

SteveD · Post by **SteveD** » Mon Sep 05, 2011 9:17 pm

So having read that this is a feature of this bike...

Is it really? The r65ls I had had a smooth clutch action.

vanzen · Post by **vanzen** » Mon Sep 05, 2011 9:29 pm

Experiment as you will ...
but I would suggest adjusting the clutch as per BMW,
and if that does not resolve the issue –
check the rear engine seal,
And then finding that it has been leaking oil onto the friction disc, replace both.

teo · Post by **teo** » Mon Sep 05, 2011 9:32 pm

R65 clutches are very smooth and light. I second what Vanzen says.

Deleted User 287 · Post by **Deleted User 287** » Mon Sep 05, 2011 9:36 pm

OK, jimbos bike is a '79, that means it has the slightly lighter-weight flywheel than the Type-248 of the same period, but comparing it to a '81 R65 and a R65LS is apple to oranges, as they both had the "nothing" flywheel, which was just a clutch carrier. They also had a totally redesigned clutch assembly.

I really don't know what the answer is, but checking the clutch cable is a good suggestion.
Also make sure your hand lever is properly lubed with axle grease:

The modification you are describing reminds me of the high-performance clutch discs that are made by someone that I cannot remember the name of, but someone here will know immediately.

Sometimes our clutches just need replacement. Then it is wise to replace all 4 parts with new, rather than trying to rebuild the clutch plate and resurface the pressure plate.
It is expensive, but it is likely to be the last time you need to worry about it in your lifetime on this bike.

Major Softie · Post by **Major Softie** » Mon Sep 05, 2011 11:57 pm

I swear to god I read this this way:

justoneoftheguys wrote: Also make sure your hand is properly lubed with axle grease:

(Rob's words edited to reflect my misread)

Deleted User 287 · Post by **Deleted User 287** » Tue Sep 06, 2011 12:25 am

Major Softie wrote:I swear to god I read this this way:
justoneoftheguys wrote: Also make sure your hand is properly lubed with axle grease:
(Rob's words edited to reflect my misread)

Well, I don't want to create any Republicans!

Duane Ausherman · Post by **Duane Ausherman** » Tue Sep 06, 2011 2:59 am

"There is no snatch due to gearbox shimming"

How do you know this?

I guess that I don't understand your problem.

jimborbm65 · Post by **jimborbm65** » Tue Sep 06, 2011 6:57 am

new cable , clean and dry flywheel and pressure plate , new clutch plate , no contamination ,everything is true with no
warping ,free movement on all moving rods in gearbox and yes its always been like this hot or cold .
i have been in this clutch area so often that I can do the job blindfold . the gearbox spline shaft has been tested
as per this forum for movement and been cleared of guilt . It does not snatch but has very little movement
between on and off .I dont want to go to the featherlight route but find a way to make the thing a pleasure to
ride .
jiM

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