What milage did your clutch give out?

[HayHauler]

I just replaced the clutch on my 1999 Interstate at 92,500 miles.  

I had some rivets that had dislodged and was forcing the pressure plate width out of spec.  I was getting some chatter on take-off, so I parked it until I could get the parts in and swap it out.

Swapped it out and no more chatter.  Also has a stiffer pull to disengage, so I am assuming it is holding stronger.  I don't think the plates looked bad as far as wear, but if I am going to take the rear portion of the housing/motor off, I'm going to swap them out too.

I am just curious as to the milage that others have replaced their clutch.

Thanks,
Hay  
Jimmyt

[Daniel Meyer]

around 170,000, still original...

[six2go #152]

Somewhere around 86,000

[Hoser]

107000, still no problems.  Hoser

[3W-lonerider]

mine started chattering or shuttering as i call it around 113,000. when i tore into it..the rivit plate was still intact. no rivit sheared or loose. replaced everything except the basket and all was well.
 but i triked mine at 72,000. it takes alittle more slipage of the clutch to get mine going on an uphill grade. so thats what i'm atributing to the plate or disk wear.

[sandy]

130K and still good.

[Joevalk]

24K still pulling strong

[Regis]

changed mine at 90k looked as good as the new one ! guess it was ok, just part of routine maint.also changed alt. and water pump , no failures just replaced them .

[HayHauler]

My plates were fine.  Don't know why those rivets give out, but that is what got mine.  Plates would have gone to 200k if it had not been for the rivets.   

Hay
Jimmyt

[Flat6Valk]

38000 on my standard.  Still going strong on my IS at 81000. 

[F6Dave]

My rivets started to shear at about 143K.  When I changed the damper plate all other parts were fine.  I measured the spring and it was within specs.  I've heard a theory that Honda had an inferior batch of the damper plates.

[cutter]

230,000+ miles and no clutch replacement yet.......   

[fast black]

98 standard with 97000 and no problems

[bscrive]

I changed mine at 28k.  I found that the clutch was slipping a little in first gear and would pop out every so often.  I use full synthetic oil and I found out too late that you should only use dino oil in the original clutches.  The plates looked fine to me, no rivets gone.  I did try to go back to dino oil but the clutch acted worst so I decided to change it.  I went with a Barnet complete clutch kit.  Holds great, but downshifting can be a real pain in the ass sometimes.  I was told it was because the plates are a little thicker that oem.  I put up with it.

[Fudd]

I changed mine at 28k.  I found that the clutch was slipping a little in first gear and would pop out every so often.  I use full synthetic oil and I found out too late that you should only use dino oil in the original clutches.  The plates looked fine to me, no rivets gone.  I did try to go back to dino oil but the clutch acted worst so I decided to change it.  I went with a Barnet complete clutch kit.  Holds great, but downshifting can be a real pain in the ass sometimes.  I was told it was because the plates are a little thicker that oem.  I put up with it.

Have I missed out on something here?  That's the first time I've heard the "dino oil on original cluch" thing.

[5_19]

Have I missed out on something here?  That's the first time I've heard the "dino oil on original cluch" thing.

You didn't miss a thing! All is fine if the oil is compatible with a wet clutch, whether is dino or synthetic!

[HayHauler]

P.S.  Have been using 15-50 Mobil-1 synthetic without the Energy Conserving in the circles on the back of the bottle.

Hay 
Jimmyt

[bscrive]

Even when I was looking to purchase a new set, some of them said that they are not to be used with synthetic oil.  If they are cork based then synthetic oil is not recommended.  EBC is one.  I got a set made out of kevlar.

[Jabba]

P.S.  Have been using 15-50 Mobil-1 synthetic without the Energy Conserving in the circles on the back of the bottle.

Hay 
Jimmyt

And look what happened... your bike only went 81K before it started grenading.  Some people are only getting 110K to 130K out of theirs... 

jabba

[bscrive]

Not all clutches are made the same I guess.  I saw what everyone was getting for mileage on theirs at the time and I thought mine was going prematurely.

Not sure why Jabba has the sarcastic smileys???  Just giving my observations.

[tank_post142]

rivets lunched at 320,000 or so, everything else was fine.

[Jabba]

Not sure why Jabba has the sarcastic smileys??? 

Because I forgot the SARCASM font.

I keep wondering about the clutch on my standard.  It just doesn't squall the tire like it used to.  Maybe it's me.

Jabba

[bscrive]

Something going on in your life these days Jabba?  You are not normally like this.  Not getting any these days?

[Mr.BubblesVRCCDS0008]

154K still going strong. Mobil 1 15w50 since I got it with 59k on it.

[Tropic traveler]

Don't know yet.
114K & still feels great. 

[Jabba]

Something going on in your life these days Jabba?  You are not normally like this.  Not getting any these days?

There was nothing serious in any of my posts.  If you thought I was serious about any of it I am sorry.  I love my Valk.  I love both of them.  I find humor in the fact that we, Valk Owners, are so spoiled with our awesome machines, that a clutch issue at 80K is premature.  That's awesome!  I have had a few bikes... 87 VFR700, 83 CB650, 77 KZ 750, 81 CB900C, to name a few... and nothing compares to the Valk. 

I get compliments all the time.  Ya'll know the drill.  There isn't a bike out there now, that I'd trade for.  Well, MAYBE the 1600 BMW, but it's hard to say for sure, I have not ridden it.  And that would be for the IS only, not the STD. 

Yeah, I got a lot going on in my life at the moment.  The Ol'Lady is treating me OK though so not getting any ain't it.  Just a lot of irons in the fire.  If I irritated anyone... my bad.

I have not ridden mine in 2 days...  After only 4 days caged total since April.  Maybe that's it.

Valks ROCK!

Jabba

[BnB Tom]

I wonder if it has anything to do with sitting through a stop lights in gear?

  Would that cause the life of the clutch to be shortened?  And would that cause the rivets to have more wear?  ???

[Willow]

I have 168,000 on mine.  It's still going strong.  (I probably shouldn't have said that out loud.)

I use Shell Rotella T6 full synthetic.  You can't believe everything you hear.

[Red Diamond]

Taking the oil out of the clutch issue, maybe some who are not getting high mileage out of the clutch is directly related to how you ride. Some ride two up, some pull trailers w/2up, some accelerate a little harder than others, you get the picture I'm sure. I don't think oil or leaving the trans in gear while stopped has anything to do with it.

[bscrive]

I usually ride 2 up and I do pull a trailer when we go on our week long trips.  But, there are guys on here that do that as well and they have a lot more miles on their clutches.  I don't ride my clutch nor do I use it to slow me down.  The only thing I could see why it wore out was running synthetic.  The oil deteriorated the cork.  Here is what EBC has to say:

"EBC CSK CLUTCH FRICTION PLATE KIT: (DOES NOT INCLUDE STEEL PLATES OR SPRINGS)

Complete Engine sets of STACK HEIGHT CONTROLLED friction plates featuring the EBC unique alloy particle impregnated clutch facings that prevent burn up or slippage.

    EVERY CK kit is matched and measured to give you a perfect stack height.
    NEVER try to fit individual plates is the EBC recommendation.
    Corked based material with aluminum particles to increase wear life
    Not for use with synthetic oil."
 
The only thing else it could be is the fact that I don't ride much in a year except when we go on our bike trips.  Maybe the inactivity had an adverse effect on the clutch?  It also get's stored for 6mths of the year as well.

P.S. Jabba, keep well dude.

[Mr.BubblesVRCCDS0008]

Eli, you know how I ride my bike and I do ride two up and lot. I also have pulled a trailer with mind some. I think I just got a good one.

[HayHauler]

Mine was not slipping.  There was a vibration from the rivets coming apart.  Does synthetic oil eat up those brass/bronze rivets?  I think not.  Some rivets are more hardy than others. 

Hay
Jimmyt

[Red Diamond]

Mine was not slipping.  There was a vibration from the rivets coming apart.  Does synthetic oil eat up those brass/bronze rivets?  I think not.  Some rivets are more hardy than others. 

Hay
Jimmyt

Eli, you know how I ride my bike and I do ride two up and lot. I also have pulled a trailer with mind some. I think I just got a good one.

You and Jimmy both ride a lot of 2up, kind of my point with that statement. You ride it like you're trying to kill it and it keeps on giving. Technique has a lot to do with how long that clutch last. Good technique.