I believe I read in my service manual that you're supposed to check the clutch piot bearing every 6k miles.  It also looks like you have to pop off the side of the case to do it.  Does anybody ever really check this thing?  Or do you just wait until it starts causing problems and replace it?  They seem pretty inexpensive, just a pain to get to.

Thanks,
Scott

Quote from: scott_araujo on November 13, 2008, 12:58:14 PM
I believe I read in my service manual that you're supposed to check the clutch piot bearing every 6k miles.  It also looks like you have to pop off the side of the case to do it.  Does anybody ever really check this thing?  Or do you just wait until it starts causing problems and replace it?  They seem pretty inexpensive, just a pain to get to.

Thanks,
Scott

What model/year monster are you referring to?
Wet clutch? or Dry clutch?

I'm going to guess Wet clutch... since it's way too easy to check on a dry. 

Quote from: scott_araujo on November 13, 2008, 12:58:14 PM
Does anybody ever really check this thing? 

Wet clutch - doubtful.  But one on a wet clutch will be coddled a bit more since it's protected from some of the abuse a dry one can suffer at the hands of the atmosphere.  Thos it's not as good as checkig the real thing, you can pull the push rod and look for signs that it's been spinning - that's a sign that that bearing is binding.

Quote from: scott_araujo on November 13, 2008, 12:58:14 PM
Or do you just wait until it starts causing problems and replace it? 

Well you probably really won't know it's not working right until your clutch slave has been thrashed by a spinning push rod acting like a drill.  But like I said, a check now and then of the push rod might help you make a decision about getting in the case and actually testing the bearing.

If you've got a dry clutch... yes!  Check that make the beast with two backser.  It's easy easy.  Cover Off,  Springs out, pull the plate and then grip the ceter of the bearing between thumb and middle fingers.  Give the plate a spin.  If it turns smoothy, yay!  If you feel a grinding or it hangs up at one or more spots - time for a new one.

I just replaced mine last week, it's easy to check but you have to push the rod back after you pull off the pressure plate.

Sorry, should have mentioned that I've got a wet clutch. 

Scott

Quote from: scott_araujo on November 14, 2008, 06:47:44 AM
Sorry, should have mentioned that I've got a wet clutch. 

Scott

For sure, someone is being a little compulsive with that recommendation.  49K miles and seven years on my throw out bearing.

After having a squealing noise coming from the clutch at 14,000k and finding the bearing felt fine but was suffering, I now change it every time I service the bike (10,000k) along with oil/filter etc. 

After all its only a cheap $5 sealed bearing. Better that than chew out clutch slave cylinder et al. 

Good point.  If you're already in there checking it, might as well just replace it.  Just seems a waste to crack open the case and put it back in.

Scott

Quote from: dragonworld on November 15, 2008, 03:09:17 PM
After having a squealing noise coming from the clutch at 14,000k and finding the bearing felt fine but was suffering, I now change it every time I service the bike (10,000k) along with oil/filter etc. 

After all its only a cheap $5 sealed bearing. Better that than chew out clutch slave cylinder et al. 

There will be other tell tale signs that the bearing is on the way out, at least on a dry clutch. The bearing is designed to not allow the push rod to spin in the engine case and slave cylinder. When the bearing starts to go the push rod will start spinning and will generate enough heat to boil the clutch fluid which in turn will induce condensation in the line and cause loss of pressure in the lever. It's easy to diagnose as the lever will feel good when the bike is cold but as it warms up you will lose the pressure at the lever.

When this starts to happen you will ruin the o-rings on the push rod and eventually the bearing seated in the engine case will seize and really create problems. Some of the aftermarket slaves actually come with a bearing inside that the push rod seats into to save the slave in the event of a throwout bearing failure.

Quote from: howie on November 14, 2008, 07:01:26 AM
49K miles and seven years on my throw out bearing.

Ten years and ~130k miles on mine, FWIW...

big

Quote from: bigiain on November 16, 2008, 09:10:26 PM
Ten years and ~130k miles on mine, FWIW...

big

But yours is a wettie aint it Big ??