Lee Posted October 28, 2004 Share Posted October 28, 2004 ...need to replace the clutch in the 'blade, but as I've been through two in just over a year and less than 3000 miles, was wondering if anyone had fitted an uprated Honda clutch or an alternative suppliers in theirs? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7Nut Posted October 28, 2004 Share Posted October 28, 2004 Hi Lee, Ask blade_runner for I think 'Richard's' number at Hoddesdon. He's a 'blade engine expert. Got the cage, going on this weekend. Cheers, Stew. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Posted October 28, 2004 Author Share Posted October 28, 2004 Thanks, I'll try and send an email... If I'm home on saturday morning, I'll get some piccies taken of the mounting points for the cage... just make sure that you've got cloths between the struts and the paintwork as you attempt to line it up (it's a tight fit!). An engine hoist supporting the cage helps if you haven't got much help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanB Posted October 28, 2004 Share Posted October 28, 2004 The general conscensus among the Fireblade racers in the 750MC RGB series is that there's nothing really better than Honda clutch plates but that fitting uprated springs is usually a good idea. Try PDQ for the springs. HTH Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Posted October 28, 2004 Author Share Posted October 28, 2004 Is that standard Honda or uprated Honda plates?..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin H Posted October 28, 2004 Share Posted October 28, 2004 Obviously too much time on the road, and too little on the track, that's your trouble . Haven't needed to change mine yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogvet Posted October 28, 2004 Share Posted October 28, 2004 Second that, Honda clutch and uprated springs, ther are available kevlar plates but have to be "oiled" prior to fitting. BUt most go for the normal Honda part. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timbo Posted October 28, 2004 Share Posted October 28, 2004 I uprated my clutch on the ZX9R E2 to a 'Barnet' drag racing clutch kit and springs at the start of the year. Have wrung the s**t out of it all year on the n.i. sprint championship and track days and it has performed magnificantly. Most impressed. Not that cheap but worth every penny in terms of improved gearbox protection. Emerald Isle's 1st SV 148lbft @ 6091rpm and 182bhp @ 6900rpm of cheese power Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanB Posted October 28, 2004 Share Posted October 28, 2004 Lee, Not sure Honda do uprated ones - all the racers use standard ones AFAIK. Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STEVE GILBERT Posted October 29, 2004 Share Posted October 29, 2004 Wow you must be driving this hard Lee or slipping the clutch a lot At 5k inspection mine were all well within the service limit with a mix of Trackdays hard road driving and loads and loads of school runs 😬 I'm not sure how your knackering them so quick Steve See My Caterham Fireblade Here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nickaddison Posted October 29, 2004 Share Posted October 29, 2004 No problems with mine at 6,500 miles 😬 Scream if you wanna go faster! Caterham FireBlade NJA509 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Posted October 29, 2004 Author Share Posted October 29, 2004 Donuts at the Dunsfold Handling Day seemed to kill the clutch pretty quick! I think the 1st clutch was on it's way out when I installed the engine last year, it was slipping slightly from the start, so can't take all the credit! 😬 Going to look into the Honda uprated one, not sure of the cost yet though (if I remember correct, the standard one wasn't cheap at about £150 plus vat for all the plates)! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruff seven Posted October 29, 2004 Share Posted October 29, 2004 whot oil are you all using? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STEVE GILBERT Posted October 29, 2004 Share Posted October 29, 2004 Lee, are you checking that the springs are within service limits? I have a feeling they don't like you sitting with your foot on the clutch for long periods. If they become weak this will hasten failure of an othewise good clutch Also make sure you have the recommended ammount of free play in the cable. Regarding oil I'm on Putolene Fully Synthetic. Steve See My Caterham Fireblade Here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie_pank Posted October 29, 2004 Share Posted October 29, 2004 (More than) a couple of things: I would expect that the clutch does wear out quicker in a car than on a bike because the car is heavier so the clutch will probably be slipped a bit more. Fitting uprated springs will prevent the clutch slipping when it is fully engaged and is, as I understand it a fairly standard thing to do for BECs I can't see how there's a difference between the installation in a car and the installation in a bike in terms of sitting with your foot (or hand) on the clutch for a while. Bikers tend to spend a lot of time slipping the clutch and sitting at lights, in traffic etc.. with the clutch disengaged and I don't think this affects the life-expectance of the clutch at all. I have always been led to believe that you have to be very careful what kind of oil you use in bike engines because it lubricates the engine, gearbox and clutch. IMHO you should use exactly the oil that Honda recommend for the Fireblade. HTH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogvet Posted October 29, 2004 Share Posted October 29, 2004 I use Red Line Synthetic as recommended by Gavin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Posted October 29, 2004 Author Share Posted October 29, 2004 Springs were new September last year, along with all the clutch plates and outer friction ones. Was running on the recommended Castrol oil (R4?) at the time, but the Honda dealers brother had a Caterham Fireblade too and suggested I should use Castrol GPS instead as it stop the plates slipping past each other at temperature, which the R4 is more likely to do. Not sure about the amount of free play in the cable, mine has always been a bit tight compared to others I've seen, and I don't seem to be able to get a satisfactory adjustment on it... maybe this is the problem? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruff seven Posted October 29, 2004 Share Posted October 29, 2004 R4 and other fully syn oils will not work as well as semi-syn for a fireblade use castrol ss 10-40 it works superb. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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