[redrider666]

Okay here's the dilemma...

I punched a hole in my left crankcase and drained the oil out of my tranny out on the trail. Managed to limp it back to the truck about 30 min away stuck in 3rd gear. Safe to say the clutch took some abuse. But not too much. I replaced the left crankcase and checked the clutch while reassembling. Friction plates looked fine and were within spec and the steel plates looked okay. No warpage or discolorment. I went for a ride and noticed when the bike heated up it wasnt shifting smooth at all and when I came to a stop in gear with the clutch in it was dragging still. Enough to propel me along on flat ground. If i blipped the throttle, as the engine revved the clutch would stop dragging and act as per usual, but as the revs dropped down to idle again I experienced the dragging again. Everything seems to be adjusted just fine (cables and such). Lots of fresh oil everywhere. I don't know much about clutches and am wondering if I cooked my steel plates and need new ones or if there is something I am missing. I thought the clutch was supposed to slip, not drag when it was fried. Any advice would be helpful. Thanks

[IamTheCowboy]

Most likely warped, not fried! If the metal got too hot, it could easily warp, and without oil for lube/cooling, you are far more likely to ruin it. Not sure how far you went, but without tranny lube, you might have cooked your entire trans. Replace the friction plates and the metal plates and see whats what! Clutch parts are cheap, trans is not!
Good Luck!

[redrider666]

thanks! I checked out the trans when I had the engine apart to replace the left crankcase (not the cover the actual left side of the engine). All seemed well with the gears and bearings. Not too knowledgeable about clutches, but am hoping you're right with the warpage theory.

Any advice on aftermarket clutch plates. Should I stick with the stock OEM or go with the White Brothers or Hinson available on this site. My springs are still within spec can I keep them or should I just get new springs. Not looking to cheap out just don't want a super hard clutch pull. Thanks again for the advice.

[IamTheCowboy]

As long as you are in there, replace the springs with heavy duty, they are fairly cheap. Ken has what you need. White brothers seems pretty pricey, but personally I have no experience with it to say if it is worth it or not. Look around for a good price on the whole kit, I am sure it can be found for less than $100.00. Send Ken an Email and see what else he has!

[wakebuddy]

Have you considered a Rekluse? I don't know what you want to spend, but they are well worth the money IMO. If you're gonna be replacing plates and springs, its just as easy to put in the Rekluse, they are unbelievable. There's plenty of discussion about them in the 450X forum. Good luck!

[redrider666]

I have considered the rekluse and even though I spend a lot of time in tight single track I don't think its worth the investment quite yet. And I'm worried about the fact that I free wheel backwards down hill if i get stuck.hahaha And its just another thing to get "dialled" in. I spend enough time on the trail messing with my fuel screw! lol



I'm up in Canada and I asked at my local shop and they quoted me 160 just for the friction plates! So the white brothers looks pretty cheap right now even with the duty and the exchange. Probably go with that unless someone else knows a better quality clutch kit. Hope this fixes the problem!