Well today was a little bit of a learning curve for me as I stripped the clutch on a bike for the first time. It always helps to have the service manuals to hand when doing this, even if just for some piece of mind. Here we go There's no need to drain the oil for this job, which is a bonus as I'd only just changed it. So it was off with the outer casing, and then it was time to undo the clutch springs and take the pressure plate off. Measured the length of the springs and they are well within service limits. It was then onto removing and checking the clutch plates. Which were all fine and looked fairly new, which really got me thinking as to what was wrong with the bike as I was fast running out of ideas. I went back through the service manual again to see if I had missed anything, and realised that I hadn't removed the pusher rod from the centre of the inner housing. This took a little bit effort to get out. When it did come out though, it was covered in rust. Having now atleast seen something that wasn't quite right I began to piece together what had went wrong. When talking to the guy that I bought the bike from, he had told me that the previous owner had changed the clutch plates and springs. Which explains the fresh plates. But what the guy never done was put the pusher rod back in the right way with the coated end towards the clutch slave cylinder, which then caused it to rust. Which to be fair is only half of the story as the slave cylinder must be letting in water in some way. Anyway I have ordered up a new pusher rod, and new seals for the slave cylinder via our very own MrB at a very reasonable price. Thanks I also have to say a massive thanks to Arthur as I have been pestering the life out of him these last few days even though he is loaded with man flu.
Welcome Colin, I've made a note on our system of your VIN for any future requirements, give me a shout if/when your after any other bits. p.s. for those of you who haven't spoken to Colin you'd be hard pushed to know he's Scottish, that's a winning accent
Thanks, I'll be back for more bits and pieces as the project comes along. Oh and that's my phone voice mate. Normally I'm a mumbling buffoon
All looks ace mate and your a top chap it's always nice to chat, even if I do have to listen hard....lol You've defo got a good propper Scottish tone mate and there's nothin wrang witd dat....
Just a little update on things for the SP My parts arrived today from our own MrB, this includes the clutch pusher rod, and the seals for the clutch slave cylinder. I also ordered and received new clutch spring, as even though the old 1's were well within their limits, I decided to just replace them anyway with some EBC springs. Which are a little stiffer and give better feel (apparently). The biggest thing on it's way though is a new swingarm, I couldn't stand the polished 1 on the bike any more. It's coming along just nicely
Here's another update on the SP1 project. I have a few pics of things that I have done lately to get the thread up to date. First of all I had to get the clutch re-built, and while I was at it I replaced the clutch springs with EBC springs that are slightly stronger in feel on the clutch. I also replaced the slave cylinder, push rod, and seals as I was getting problems while changing gear when out for a spin a few weeks ago. Clutch and springs back together Slave cylinder, push rod and seals It was then time to bleed the clutch hopefully solving the problems Proof that with some hard work and patience, good things do happen I took the bike out for it's first proper run, and it was absolutely fantastic. The problems with the clutch were sorted and it rode amazingly.
Oh and nearly forgot that a big box from Honda arrived. Holding my new swingarm I aslo have new front and rear wheel bearings and dust seals coming from our very own MrB again. He's a top bloke and really wastes no time in getting things sent out. Thanks mate. These will arrive this week in preperation for the wheels getting powdercoated. The plan is to fit the new swingarm while the wheels are at the powdercoaters. The thread is going to get a bit more interesting in the following months though as I will be dropping the engine, and doing the valve clearances and also the valve stem guide seals. It will also give me the chance to get right in about the engine with ally cleaner to get rid of any tarnishing, and get this bike up to my kind of standard.
This is a really good thread. You have my attention to detail, but with the time, ability and money to do the job properly. Keep it going
Time is tight, but I try and make the most of it when the weather is crap (quite often ) the ability comes from patience and also a good friend who helps me out, and money wise I'm no better off than most. All I've spent really is on service kit and various bits and pieces including the swingarm and all that cost no more than £250. Way I see it though is that with a little spend in the right places, and with proper TLC that costs nothing, I'll be left with a bike that is better than what I started with and still cost less than 1 in the same condition when I'm finished with it. That and I do like a good tinker. I enjoy this kind of thing, and if time/money wasn't an issue I could do this day in day out. I love it
