The Moto-Guzzi Nuovo Falcone VOC

In my last post I described what had happened, and the decision made for the fix.

The new clutch friction plates and springs duly arrived last week.  There was a delay in shipping as in the first instance my weekly shipment was closed up before the clutch parts could be added, in the 2nd instance they forgot to put the parts in, so it was at the 3rd attempt the parts were included and duly received.

On first glance, everything looked quite normal.  The friction plates are the same thickness as the old ones.  However, the new clutch springs are 50mm long, as opposed to 45mm for the ones removed, and 35mm for the original specification.  This clutch is never going to slip again!. Ever!

Refitting is just the reverse of removing.  However, the new springs take a bit more compressing and my compression tool of 40mm plastic pipe fittings wasn't suitable.  This was mainly because in the centre of the clutch compression plate is a hole that is just under 40mm, with chamfered edges.  As I applied pressure by tightening up the nuts a bit at a time, the plastic was skewing all over the place.

As it happens, I have a special tool for compressing motorcycle suspension springs.  This has a basic cage where the bottom diameter is about 60mm.  This allows the cage to rest directly onto the flat are of the pressure plate.  The pressure applied was more controllable and eventually, with much care, I was able to get the locking circlip back into place.

Now to reassembly of the cover and clutch cable & operating mechanism.  This was quite straightforward, but I wanted to get this done to see haw the clutch felt. It was slightly heavier, but not greatly so. 

The real proof of course is in riding the bike, but first I had to fill the engine with suitable oil, a 20W50 JASO rated oil suitable for a wet clutch.  And of course the ignition needed to be reinstalled and set up.

Next stage was to ride the bike.  Due to time constraints, I have only had a couple of hours each evening to work on this, so the only ride was a brief one up and down the road.  I had put the clutch friction plates in dry as no instructions came with them.  However, having read information elsewhere, it might have been a good idea to soak them in oil overnight, as the new clutch is quite fierce.  I am sure that this will change as the plates bed in and soak up oil, but this clutch will not slip again.

Once I have a chance to really ride the bike again, I will write up my experiences.