I know this will raise the ire of some, and shouts of blasphemy will be heard, but I de-clacked my 1100S clutch.
When I put the Speedy Moto clutch cover on the noise was just too much. While I have always liked the ring-ring noise when the clutch is disengaged, the clackity-clack-clack noise was just too much. Idling in traffic on a nice day I felt guilty if there was a car with an open window to my right. One day a painter in his work trucked asked "WHAT is that NOISE?". It sounds just like it is: a motor pounding itself to death. And I knew in the back of my mind that there were a lot more whirring noises that could be heard if the clutch would just shut up.
Starting with the instructions at http://wolfcentral.net/multistrada/quietyerclutch.htm, (http://wolfcentral.net/multistrada/quietyerclutch.htm,) I did a little more research and found a thread on the Seattle DesmoWorks site that I thought was a better solution. After 30 minutes of work, I had successfully de-clacked my clutch.
What I did, after removing the entire clutch pack, was take the outermost friction plate and place it into the clutch basket first, followed by the rest of the clutch pack in normal order. The two outermost steel plates are next to each other, potentially increasing the ring-ring sound, but there is no ill effect because they are both driven. The best part is I did not need to add a plate (per Wolfie's instructions), and the only change was slightly earlier engagement which was corrected with a half-turn on the adjustment knob.
Upside? Oh, yeah... [evil]
1: My Termis have a nice pure basso-profundo bark now. All of the high-frequency "interference" from the clutch is gone.
2: There are lovely hypnotic whirring noises coming from the motor now. I love whirring noises.
3: My clutch used to "gronk" when taking off hard. For whatever reason, no more gronk.
4: The motor is smoother in the dead-throttle range. Before the mod the clack-clack became audible when road speed matched engine speed, particularly in the lower gears, i.e. around town. No longer an issue.
I have not read about any downside, and have not experienced any downside. When I took the bike to my local Ducati shop (Motor Cafe in Sunnyvale) everyone's reaction was the same: a double-take "whoa - that is cool!".
Yes, I know: I am a Philistine, but I am a happy Philistine.
Where are you in the S. Bay? You'll have to show me how to do this!
Quote from: northerncalguy on August 16, 2011, 02:59:46 PM
Where are you in the S. Bay? You'll have to show me how to do this!
I am in Santa Clara, Lawrence Expressway and El Camino if you are familiar with the area. And the mod is really simple, and the only specialized tool you need is a wand magnet to pull the clutch plates off the hub.
SADLY...your mod to attain quiet-ness is somewhat temporary...as the tangs of the basket wear from the plates, you'll get the nice jingle jangle sleigh bell sound back...
Quote from: zooom on August 17, 2011, 05:37:02 AM
SADLY...your mod to attain quiet-ness is somewhat temporary...as the tangs of the basket wear from the plates, you'll get the nice jingle jangle sleigh bell sound back...
I ran my Multistrada for almost 10K miles and the clutch never got any louder.I started with a well worn basket with about 8K miles on it. The mod doesn't get rid of the sleigh bell sound (clutch engaged)...it gets rid of the annoying clack-a-clack sound when the bike is in neutral. It also prevents the plates from beating up the basket so bad.
[I'm guessing the "Seattle Desmoworks" post he's referring to is my desmonorthwest post]
aren't you by modifying the stack height creating constant friction, reducing the clutch life?
Quote from: Raux on August 17, 2011, 12:54:43 PM
aren't you by modifying the stack height creating constant friction, reducing the clutch life?
If you just put the outer most plate in 1st then no.
I couldn't get the add-a-plate solution to work since the stack height was too tall.
Sound clip?
Quote from: Triple J on August 17, 2011, 08:30:12 AM
I ran my Multistrada for almost 10K miles and the clutch never got any louder.I started with a well worn basket with about 8K miles on it. The mod doesn't get rid of the sleigh bell sound (clutch engaged)...it gets rid of the annoying clack-a-clack sound when the bike is in neutral. It also prevents the plates from beating up the basket so bad.
[I'm guessing the "Seattle Desmoworks" post he's referring to is my desmonorthwest post]
Hey, Triple J! You are indeed the reference. Thank you. And yes, I agree with your subsequent response: the stack height does not change appreciably, and makes me wonder by Wolfie (my first reference, and often found at the top of the Google list when a clutch quieting inquiry is made) insists on picking up and installing TWO used friction plates.
Ah, one more benefit: the stack height goes down, if anything, and makes the clutch pull a bit lighter. I have the Speedy Moto pressure place with SS springs, and it was noticeably stiffer than stock. Much nicer now.
JKH
The link in the OP's post doesn't work for me. Can I get a link to the instructions for this. I'd prefer a slightly earlier engagement point so that would be a ++ mod for me.
Quote from: dennisd on August 19, 2011, 06:22:43 AM
The link in the OP's post doesn't work for me. Can I get a link to the instructions for this. I'd prefer a slightly earlier engagement point so that would be a ++ mod for me.
See if this works.
http://www.desmonorthwest.com/forums/showthread.php?7165-The-QUIET-Ducati-Dry-Clutch&highlight=quiet+clutch (http://www.desmonorthwest.com/forums/showthread.php?7165-The-QUIET-Ducati-Dry-Clutch&highlight=quiet+clutch)
Basically, take your clutch pack out, remove the outermost friction plate, then re-install the clutch pack putting the removed outermost friction plate in first. Build the remaining pack in the same order it was taken out.
Gotcha, thanks.