Clutch issue

[Davemn]

98 Standard, 50k
I was sitting at a stoplight and I heard a "clunk" maybe more of a "ping". Definitely a metal on metal sound. The clutch feel has changed.......doesn't go all the way to the grip and seems it grips early than before. It might have been my imagination cuz I have not ridden it much as I have been riding my V Strom most of the summer....until under a hard accel the clutch slipped momentarily. Other times under hard accel (maybe 4 times since the "ping") it hasn't, just once. Did I break a spring? What are we dealing with here to fix it. Bike shifts normally. Maybe I shouldn't be riding it anymore until its fixed.

[Valkpilot]

98 Standard, 50k
I was sitting at a stoplight and I heard a "clunk" maybe more of a "ping". Definitely a metal on metal sound. The clutch feel has changed.......doesn't go all the way to the grip and seems it grips early than before. It might have been my imagination cuz I have not ridden it much as I have been riding my V Strom most of the summer....until under a hard accel the clutch slipped momentarily. Other times under hard accel (maybe 4 times since the "ping") it hasn't, just once. Did I break a spring? What are we dealing with here to fix it. Bike shifts normally. Maybe I shouldn't be riding it anymore until its fixed.

The lever not pulling all the way to the grip is a nearly surefire symptom that the rivets in the damper plates of the clutch stack are failing.  Your ability to shift will get progressively worse, and, eventually, the bits of rivets flying around in the clutch area can score the clutch basket.

I don't think you need to stop riding immediately, but you probably need to tear into your clutch sooner rather than later.  It's not that hard.  Here's one writeup of many on the board: http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,20870.0.html

All that said, I'd change the clutch fluid first, making sure to thoroughly drain and clean the system before rebuilding the clutch stack, just to see if that fixes the problem.

[Mr.BubblesVRCCDS0008]

I'm with the pilot on the rivets fixing to go. My started not shifting right and hard to get into neutral and in less than a day it was gone no clutch at all. The rivet stack up in the damper plate and then the clutch will not disengage. Mine went at 160,000 miles.

[Davemn]

Ok so once I get the clutch out of the bike, then what? Is this a new part? Honda repair? What do I do with this stack of plates? Thanks for the answers.

[Bighead]

Order new clutch plates! If you can get the old ones out you can put the new ones in.

[Valkpilot]

Ok so once I get the clutch out of the bike, then what? Is this a new part? Honda repair? What do I do with this stack of plates? Thanks for the answers.

Here's another good thread on the subject: http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,30038.0.html

[Garry 2r's]

Beg Borrow or steal a bike lift table I borrowed. You can do 90% of the job sitting down. My 98 standard did the same and about same millage and I made my own tools to do job had local Honda mechanic (friend) stack plates for me. Good luck less of a job than it appears to be.

[Davemn]

Thanks guys. I will dig into it this week. I have the time to do it...retired. I can get it all apart. Just a bit confused as to what I should do once I get the clutch out. I know I will have to inspect bearings, look things over. I don't have the special Honda tools but can figure it out (I think). I wonder if my Honda dealer will stack the plates for me.