TLr Clutch experts, Please Read!!!

[thenotch88]

Ok, i've been having an intermittant problem. at fist i thought the clutch was going but its very strange. every once in a while if im on the huighway ill whack it to full throttle and it slips up about 2-3k rpms. now normaly i would assume that it was just the clutch slipping. but heres the funny part. Instead of it gradually grabbing again, it grabs very hard and all of a sudden. if it happens in lower gears it grabs enough to lift the wheel. im just curious if the slipper clutch could be malfunctioning. anyone ever have this problem before or have any ideas?
Thanks Guys
Matt

[BigTLR]

I didn't know the TLR had a slipper clutch.

[Ogre1231]

My bike is doing the exact same thing right now. I don't think it has anything to do with the slipper clutch do to the fact it is mostly used on hard downshifting, but I am not certain. I think it may be the springs going.

[Rupes]

S's and R's both have slippers but they only work in the other direction.

[TLRMAN]

When you take it in I am 99% sure you will find it is the slipper clutch.
I have also heard of this problem and had buddies go around and around with dealers till they finally found out it was the slipper clutch all along. I have not had to fix one because I do not have the tools but I would recomend you get them looked at by your best Suzuki dealer.
Lance Seattle, WA.

[yeller_twin]

Mine is also doing the same thing. I have new Barnett Springs on the way. I will post when I get them in. Hopfully they will be here this weekend. I think its the springs, because the short slip adds heat to the clutch materials. Warm things react quicker and more friction is availiable. Reason they take a warm up lap before a race, so the tires stick better. After the heat is added, clutch engages. Barnett springs are 20% stiffer and would apply more force to the pack, which creates more force due to fricton. Atleast this is what I remember from Physics 1001.

[SDTLR]

Barnett springs

[Steve TLS]

I know all about it, have battled with that problem on my "S" for a long time. http://home.iprimus.com.au/stevebm/clutch.htm check the link, there are pics of the slipper mech / cam set.

It is definitely the slipper mech not engainging when it should. The way the clutch works is there is minimal pressure on the springs when idling or just cruising and of course backing off, so by default the clutch is already in its low torque state. When you accelerate, the forward torque causes the cam set to pull back the plate that the springs are mounted on, this gives more pressure on the plates for acceleration. If the cam set is worn, or a can stick, then the clutch will slip until there is enough torque to pull the plate back.

So it is a slipper clutch, but doesn't do any thing on down shifts or deacceleration, it just pulls the springs tight on acceleration.

This is why you get the sudden "grab" and not a gradual one, all of a sudden the cam set pulls the plate back and the clutch can lock solid again.

I used to get it a lot when cruising for a while and then giving it a whack, it rarely caused me any grief when riding hard in the twisties, I think because of the on / off throttle transitions don't give the cam set much of a chance to play up. Shimming the springs on mine only worked for a few 1000km before I had to do more work on it.

It is not a lot harder changing the "cam set" than changeing the plates, all you have to do is get the big nut undone on the shaft.

The TLR and 6 spring TLS ones are cheaper to replace than the 5 spring "S" clutch. With the 5 spring "S" clutch you have to get a new hub as well, you don't with the 6 spring unit.

[yeller_twin]

I think I am going to give up on posting, you guys are Gods. I shall check into the slipper mech. when I change the springs that I didn't need.

[Ogre1231]

well i'll be damned. sounds good to me. guess years of riding experience probably helps. thanks

[Steve TLS]

Originally posted by Ogre1231
well i'll be damned. sounds good to me. guess years of riding experience probably helps. thanks

Hours of this with my clutch taught me how it is suppose to work.

[kevh]

steve

you know how a dealer would've charged him to tell him the same thing (and that is if they got it right in 1 try)

u da man

[tlfreek]

it feels warm in here

[Steve TLS]

Originally posted by yeller_twin
I shall check into the slipper mech. when I change the springs that I didn't need.

Put the springs in first, it might be good enough in your case, the hd springs I got were crap in IMHO. Don't lash out on a cam set just yet.

The Barnett springs cure the problem most of the time.

Here's the difference between Barnett and OEM, the aftermarket ones I got had exactly the same free length.

[Davcruz]

WOW! Steve to the rescue. I never realized what a varitable cornucopia of knowlegde you were Steve.

I'll tell you, I was really impressed when you mentioned the 5 vs 6 spring S clutch packs. You definately know your shit bud!