Clutch squeal

[Crank1000]

Question: Should I worry if when I let the clutch out, it squeals really loudly? For reference of how loud, I have termis (no plugs), open clutch cover, and ducstacks, and it is still very loud over all that. I have about 4k hard miles on it, is it possible I need a new clutch already?

[08hyper]

Originally Posted by Crank1000

Question: Should I worry if when I let the clutch out, it squeals really loudly? For reference of how loud, I have termis (no plugs), open clutch cover, and ducstacks, and it is still very loud over all that. I have about 4k hard miles on it, is it possible I need a new clutch already?

Originally Posted by 08hyper

For some of you that are experiencing a grabby or groaning/squealing clutch,
I have the fix, especially if you have a enclosed cover.

The clutch plates in time will get grungy & sticky with use, which will cause noise, and grabbiness, and if you are a track day rider, hard rider, or just slip the clutch alot in traffic, you may have overheated the clutch, which can take the tension out of your convex steel plate in your clutch pack.

Buy a new convex steel plate from Ducati, part# 19010241A you may have to order this, as many dealers don't even know it exists, cost about ten bucks.

So here's the fix, take off the screws, springs, and pressure plate, remove all the steel & friction plates, (KEEP THEM IN THE EXACT ORDER THAT YOU TOOK THEM OFF!) as the pack has "mated" to each other. At your local auto parts store get a couple cans of "brake clean spray" and one at a time spray the plates & wipe them down, remembering to keep them in order, now reinstall.

Start with the 2 steel plates first, then 1 friction, then install the NEW convex steel plate, tossing out the old one, the convex plate will have a small punch mark on one of the teeth, (hard to see, but its there) this punch mark faces out, towards you. The convex plate should be the 3rd steel plate from the bottom, or you did something WRONG! Now just finish up the rest of the plates in the order you took them off.

Your clutch should be good as new, and if you take apart the clutch pack, once in a while, and spray her down with the brake clean, you'll get the max life out of you clutch! Happy clutching! Aloha Alex

Old post of mine, still applies.
You can also lightly rub the friction plates on a FLAT surface using 220 sandpaper, to break the glaze, and scotch bright the metal plates, then clean them with the brake clean. Aloha Alex

[Crank1000]

Ah! Very good info. Thanks!

Btw, will I hurt anything running as it is for now?

[08hyper]

Originally Posted by Crank1000

Ah! Very good info. Thanks!

Btw, will I hurt anything running as it is for now?

Your ears..

The plates can ware faster, and when they are sticking and not sliding, the clutch plate tabs can dent up the basket faster.
Clean them as soon as you can. Aloha Alex

[Crank1000]

Ok, I got the plate in today, and I know for sure I put all the plates back in in the proper order and direction. But when I pull the clutch, part of it seems to grab the basket, and then lets go. So when I pull the clutch, the plates don't push straight out until I pull about 70%, and then it 'clicks' and the plate straightens out. I suspect it has to do with the friction plates grabbing the outer teeth of the basket, but I can't figure out why. Is there a specific direction the green teeth on the friction plates are supposed to go on? Also, the steel plates all have a little dent in one spot, is there an alignment point for those too? I tried looking, but I don't really know what I'm looking for.

[08hyper]

Originally Posted by Crank1000

Ok, I got the plate in today, and I know for sure I put all the plates back in in the proper order and direction. But when I pull the clutch, part of it seems to grab the basket, and then lets go. So when I pull the clutch, the plates don't push straight out until I pull about 70%, and then it 'clicks' and the plate straightens out. I suspect it has to do with the friction plates grabbing the outer teeth of the basket, but I can't figure out why. Is there a specific direction the green teeth on the friction plates are supposed to go on? Also, the steel plates all have a little dent in one spot, is there an alignment point for those too? I tried looking, but I don't really know what I'm looking for.

I have not done a stock clutch in a long time, (I now use a DP Ti racing slipper clutch) so this by memory. On a properly installed clutch, the clutch will push evenly with no "clicks"

If your clutch is stock, I remember that the friction plates had a stamp on one of the clutch tabs, I lined them all up the same way in the same slot.

The metal plates are made from a "stamping" and when you look closely at the inner teeth, you will notice that one side is slightly "rounded" and one side is sharp, I made sure that all my steel plates went in the same way, and I put the sharp side toward the motor. The single spring plate should be the 4th plate you put in.

Make sure the basket has no major "dents" in it caused by the friction plate tabs, as this can cause the plates to get hung up.

Thats all I can think of, oh yeah, make sure the pressure plate is on right, as it only fits on one way. Hope this helps, Aloha Alex

[Crank1000]

Well, I took all the plates back out and felt the slots in the basket. There were some pretty obvious burs that I just smoothed down slightly with a small file. Just enough so the file didn't 'grab' them when I ran it down the teeth. Also, when I put all the plates back in this time, I made sure to randomize which direction the tabs and green teeth were pointing (I had lined up all the tabs in the steel plates, and also the green teeth on the friction plates the first time) and now it seems to be operating very smoothly. Also, the squeal is gone now. Thanks for the all the info.

[Corse1]

Bit concerning that you are describinhg basket slots with Teeth like its normal. This means that your basket is very worn which is why you had to take a file to it to stop the plates catching.
Factory max clearance is 0.6mm between the plate tang and the basket slot. +1 on the brake clean. It stopped mine from squealing.

[08hyper]

Originally Posted by Crank1000

Well, I took all the plates back out and felt the slots in the basket. There were some pretty obvious burs that I just smoothed down slightly with a small file. Just enough so the file didn't 'grab' them when I ran it down the teeth. Also, when I put all the plates back in this time, I made sure to randomize which direction the tabs and green teeth were pointing (I had lined up all the tabs in the steel plates, and also the green teeth on the friction plates the first time) and now it seems to be operating very smoothly. Also, the squeal is gone now. Thanks for the all the info.

When its time for a new clutch basket, I suggest a Barnett one, they have stainless steel "inserts" to protect the basket edges, & come in different colors, I got mine for a good price on Ebay. Aloha Alex

[Crank1000]

Originally Posted by Corse1

Bit concerning that you are describinhg basket slots with Teeth like its normal. This means that your basket is very worn which is why you had to take a file to it to stop the plates catching.
Factory max clearance is 0.6mm between the plate tang and the basket slot. +1 on the brake clean. It stopped mine from squealing.

I think there is definitely some wear, but probably not as bad as I may have explained it before. Basically if I rub my finger down the edge of the basket, I feel very slight changes in elevation. Not really any hard edges. The part that seemed to be catching were the inside corners where it was basically a sharp edge that was exaggerated into knife edge by 4k miles of clutch use. Not very much to the naked eye, but just enough to make the clutch release less than smooth. I am planning on swapping to a slipper soon enough though, so even if my basket is more worn than is recommended, it won't be for long.