Having a clutch that required less effort might make my S4Rs a little easier at stoplights. Jerry Finley at Pirate's Lair is advertising a new product. It's a replacement clutch slave cylinder that supposedly reduces the effort required to operate the clutch lever.

The ad at Pirate's Lair reads, " This replacement Ducati Clutch Slave Cylinder (from Oberon Engineering in the UK) has been designed to improve the performance and the looks of the original Ducati cylinder. Substantially reducing the heaviness of the original clutch action. Aching arms and clunky gear changes are a thing of the past. The internal piston design, seals and breather hole have been drastically enhanced to stop leaks and leave a smoother clutch action. CNC machined from billet for lightness, strength and precision looks. Six fantastic colors to choose from. Everything you need is included in the kit, plus a conversion shaft for earlier bikes. Chimp-easy install. Fits current Ducati’s including the 1098, 848 696, & Hypermotard."

Presumably, it would also work on the S4Rs. Or would it?

Is anyone familiar with Oberon Engineering, this particular product, and does it work and really make the clutch easier?

Perhaps a tech explanation of how and why it works if it does?

Here's Finley's site:

http://piratesk12site.net/Ducaticlutchslave.htm

Oberon Engineering's site:

http://www.oberon-performance.co.uk/acatalog/ducatiSpecials.html

It should work - double check.  But as far as I know, it should bolt right on.

Oberon has been in the game for quite some time.  They have long made items like bar ends w/ turn signals, bar end mirror, billet foot pegs, billet gas caps and some more.  Their work is top notch, but they don't get huge play in the US.  They are UK based which puts a little bit a price premium on their goods for us 'Mericuns.

No FHE with their slaves, but I would expect it to follow suit of their other products and be high quality.

And yes, an aftermarket clutch slave can make the clutch pull easier.  It's just simple physics.  Evo and presumably Oberon use larger bore pistons in their clutch slaves.  The larger piston face reduces the amount of pressure needed to move the spring stack.  The trade off is, the piston doesn't move as far in the bore.  In some instances this means adjustments are needed to get the proper stack clearance when the lever is fully pulled.  But most folks won't have that issue

I have a substancial amount of hardware in my left hand and the evo slave made my bike alot more tollerable for it.  The difference is amazing imo

Yuu and Atomic410,

Thank you for your responses and input. I am making an inquiry directly with Oberon about whether or not their slave cylinder will fit my S4Rs, and, if so, I will order one from Finley. Thankfully, it's not carbon fiber and the price is marginally reasonable ($145) for a Ducati part.

Mike

P.S. Geoff, sorry about the injuries and best of luck for your personal best in the season!

Further reading and research reveals the availability of Yoyodyne, Evoluzione, and STM Clutch Slave Cylinders that all supposedly address the issue of the pressure needed to operate the clutch. The Oberon still appears to be a good buy at the $145 price while the others are a little higher. I'm enthused about a partial fix for tough clutch.

I have now double checked and the Oberon Clutch Slave Cylinder will fit my S4Rs or any other Ducati with an external clutch slave cylinder.  See below:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thank-you for your e-mail and interest in our products. Please be
advised that if your current Ducati has an external clutch slave
cylinder then the Oberon Slave Cylinder will be a direct replacement. I
trust this is the information you require and is to your satisfaction.
Should you require any further assistance then please do not hesitate to
contact me at your earliest convenience.

Regards,

David Goodyear
Sales Support Manager
Oberon Performance Ltd

Quote from: Carstarphen on January 07, 2009, 08:43:15 PM
Further reading and research reveals the availability of Yoyodyne, Evoluzione, and STM Clutch Slave Cylinders that all supposedly address the issue of the pressure needed to operate the clutch. The Oberon still appears to be a good buy at the $145 price while the others are a little higher. I'm enthused about a partial fix for tough clutch.

Some folds have experimented with using 4 clutch springs as opposed to 6.  Most bikes it's fine, but they power on the S4R might be a bit much.  But it's really easy to try.  Also - the factory springs are not as stiff as the aftermarket stainless ones that are most commonly available.  Not sure what springs you have at the mo' though.  But if you have stockers in, one experiment might be to pick up some aftermarket ones and try using 4 stainless springs.

Quote from: Carstarphen on January 07, 2009, 09:47:22 AM
Yuu and Atomic410,

Thank you for your responses and input. I am making an inquiry directly with Oberon about whether or not their slave cylinder will fit my S4Rs, and, if so, I will order one from Finley. Thankfully, it's not carbon fiber and the price is marginally reasonable ($145) for a Ducati part.

Mike

P.S. Geoff, sorry about the injuries and best of luck for your personal best in the season!

Thanks, wait until you guys see my 09 racebike.  If It ever gets above freezing here (MN) it should start coming together soon, good luck-410

Check the Parts for Sale. I have an STM clutch slave thats new in the box for $140.

Quote from: Roscoe on January 08, 2009, 07:14:00 AM
Check the Parts for Sale. I have an STM clutch slave thats new in the box for $140.

Roscoe, I failed to pick up on that ad and have already ordered from and communicated with Jerry Finley at Pirate's Lair.  I have chosen the red Oberon unit. Maybe this thread will help you sell your STM and thanks for the thought.

For anyone else looking, check what kind of warranties the clutch slaves come with since most of them are about the same price, a life time warranty could be the deal maker for you.

I know Yoyodyne offers life time warranty. If it ever leaks on it's own from dirt they'll replace it for free. If it leaks because your push rod drilled through it they'll replace it at half cost.

well please let us know how the slave works for you.  If it arrives with the piston out, please post pics for comparison's sake. 

I personally have an Evo, and a PI unit (Paulymoto I think) awaiting a new piston, and the original.  Having an aftermarket slave is nice!  But sooner or later I'll negate the thing by upgrading my master to a radial unit.  I could be wrong, but going to a larger bore radial unit should negate the esier pull created by putting on the Evo unit in the first place.
W

Mike the quality of Oberon is 1st class so take alook at their web site as they make some really nice stuff. 
Thanks for your concern 
Geoff

The Oberon clutch slave cylinder I purchased from Jerry Finley was received and installed yesterday. I took the S4Rs out for a two hundred mile ride today and there is a substantial difference in the pressure required to operate and hold in the clutch. I no longer feel the need to go to neutral at stop lights. FWIW and IMHO, this is a good mod that improves the bike. See posts above for several other manufacturers of this aftermarket item.

As an after thought, I should mention that installation really was chimp easy as Jerry claimed and the product had good instructions.