LCGB Forums

I had issues with clutch drag that started suddenly and then has become intermittent. I’ve stripped it down and found some play in the crown wheel/basket while still attached. Everything was fairly new and had only covered about 500 miles when it started to happen but had had new cluster bearing, endplate layshaft bearing, plates, springs, bronze rear sprocket bearing and new oil. I’ve decided to buy new springs and clutch plates and whilst I’m at it I’m swapping the gearbox to an SX instead of GP.

What’s the maximum amount of play/slack in the fitting of the clutch to the gear cluster. I understand there needs to be some slack to allow everything to run freely but am concerned that the clutch drag might have been caused by too much play in the clutch to cluster ferment, causing an inconsistent gap between the plates and not allowing it to compress properly.

I know the ideal float between the end plate and gear shim but wondered if there is a max amount on between the clutch and cluster. Any thoughts on the cause of the drag and amounts of play?

When you say you fitted a new "bronze" clutch bush......... Was it a Bronze one or was it actually a brass one? Brass ones often have an oil channel machined in on the inner face. These ones are crap and wear out real quick.

Hhhmm not 100% sure but it certainly looked Bronze and not good coloure?

It can be difficult to tell what is sold as bronze, but then looks brass when it arrives. I imagine parts dealers have the same issue from their suppliers
In my own engine the recent heavy wear as a result of a brass bush caused so much clutch wobble there's scrape marks across the gearbox end plate from the crown wheel

I've now resorted having a hardened crown wheel and spider go to 'old school' roller bearings and do away with the 'is it brass, is it a bronze bush' conundrum

Eadmr04... if trying to rebuild a standard 4-plate, swap out your 1.5mm steels for 1.2km, which has become the common way to resolve drag problems with Surflex plates.

Fast n Furious wrote:When you say you fitted a new "bronze" clutch bush......... Was it a Bronze one or was it actually a brass one? Brass ones often have an oil channel machined in on the inner face. These ones are crap and wear out real quick.

Amen to that.... 1000 miles, drained gb oil and it was like panning for gold... So opened up and the sproket was a rocking and a rolling... Changed to bronze from SR... Why i changed from my usual route to the super brass type ill never know.. But now know never again.
A stock of bronze in...