Crunchy clutch.
 

I've been doing some spring maintenance on my VTR. I got run off the road a few years ago, and cracked a sizeable hole in the clutch cover. I replaced the cover, and have ridden it for two years, about 30,000 km since.
My clutch has been slipping around 7,000rpm. I've bled the clutch repeatedly... still kept slipping. I assumed my clutch plates would be done.
Attachment 22149


Ripped into the bike today, and I found that the first, and last clutch plate are worn down on the edge. The outer basket has a couple busted tangs on the outer edge.


The inner clutch basket has a piece of it floating around in the back, disconnected...


No wonder it was slipping.
Attachment 22150
I'm surprised it didn't blow up... The metal pieces must be in the oil pan. I'll pull the pan later and check.
Attachment 22151

Ouch!

Wow! Looks like you hit the clutch basket as well when you went down. I'm supprised you didn't notice it right away. There wasn't a bad vibration?

Make sure you check the oil pickup screen when you drop the pan. FYI, you can't buy a oil pan gasket, so make sure to buy Hondabond or the like.

Edit: Here is the parts you will need on eBay for ~$75 Click here

Yep. I'll check the pickup screen.

The vtr has its normal rattles and ticks, so I never even noticed. Thanks for the e-bay link. I have a parts bike that I picked up after my accident. I should be able to scavenge the clutch (as lont as its in good shape).

Just thought it was pretty wild and wanted to share with the superhawk community. I am just surprised it ran this long with no major issues!

To remove the clutch basket:
I think its a 34mm nut?

You got very lucky!

The fracture looks clean. The sides of the crack match. The gap you see it's just because the retainer expanded. I don't think you lost any metal pieces in the oil pan.

Damn I can't believe you rode that long with no issues! The clutch covers are like tin cans and the basket usually gets broken. I did the same years ago after I lowsided and figured I'd drop the oil pan. I found all the teeth from the basket sitting in it ;)

I still have to drop the oil pan and check. I'm sure the missing teeth are in the pan (at least I hope they are!) There was a few small bits of metal in the back of the basket.


Weather is miserable here right now... Rainy and cold. Not really looking forward to going back out into my bike shed.