Hi,
I have a problem with my Domi clutch running out of true and am looking for some advice.
The bike is a 1954 model 88 but is fitted with an AMC clutch. The bike has just been rebuilt but I have an issue with the clutch.
When I first assembled the clutch I had a problem with the clutch being pulled too close the the inner case. After reading some of the posts on this website I realised the problem was due to the spider not having the ridge washer pressed into it and ordered a new spider from one of the main parts suppliers.
The spider arrived and was fitted and it solved the problem with the clearance from the inner case however another problem appeared.
The clutch did not run true. I replaced the spider with one from another supplier but the problem remained. I have since purchased a dial gauge and stand and have checked the shaft runout. The mainshaft appeared to be slightly eccentric so I replaced the shaft with another bought on Ebay. This shaft was checked with the dial gauge and runs true.
I have refitted the clutch onto the new shaft and the clutch still runs out of true. My thinking is that the new clutch spiders which were purchased from two different reputable parts suppliers are not machined correctly.
On checking the spiders both appear to be roughly cast and then machined and look very similar in manufacture. I have since found a photograph of another spider sold by Andover Norton and it appears to be manufactured differently in that it appears to be fully machined. However it is twice the price.
Has anyone had this issue with the spiders being eccentric and is it likely that changing to a better quality spider will resolve my problem?
Regards
Ross
Clutches don't run perfec…
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I think the reason the AN…
I think the reason the AN clutch spider is twice the price is that it is manufactured up to a quality not down to a price. Buy cheap, buy twice. However, I agree with Robert -a clutch will work perfectly well with a degree of out-of-roundness. I recently stripped a Rudge clutchwhich isimpressively out of round, yet it worked perfectly. It will stay that way as 1932 Rudge mainshafts are thin on the ground.
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HI Gordon,If you want to t…
HI Gordon,If you want to talk Rudge ,I had a 35 Bronze head Ulster GP, (sold for the vast sum of £10 !!) and somewhere in my shed is a 35 4valve Radial 250 motor with a couple of spare heads., only been looking for the rest of it for 50 years.
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Previously Gordon Johnston…
Previously Gordon Johnston wrote:
I think the reason the AN clutch spider is twice the price is that it is manufactured up to a quality not down to a price. Buy cheap, buy twice. However, I agree with Robert -a clutch will work perfectly well with a degree of out-of-roundness. I recently stripped a Rudge clutchwhich isimpressively out of round, yet it worked perfectly. It will stay that way as 1932 Rudge mainshafts are thin on the ground.
I agree that buying cheap is not a good move but the spiders were not cheap and were supplied by two of the best know parts suppliers.
The run out is significant and I am sure can be improved, I didnt expect it to be perfect.
Ive just ordered a spider from Andover Norton so Ill let you know how I get on.
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I had a problem last year…
I had a problem last year with a new non original AMC clutch spider. There was not enough room to squeeze the rubbers in. I was fortunate to be given a good original on the cheap.
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Previously ross_macleod wr…
Previously ross_macleod wrote:
Previously Gordon Johnston wrote:
I think the reason the AN clutch spider is twice the price is that it is manufactured up to a quality not down to a price. Buy cheap, buy twice. However, I agree with Robert -a clutch will work perfectly well with a degree of out-of-roundness. I recently stripped a Rudge clutchwhich isimpressively out of round, yet it worked perfectly. It will stay that way as 1932 Rudge mainshafts are thin on the ground.
I agree that buying cheap is not a good move but the spiders were not cheap and were supplied by two of the best know parts suppliers.
The run out is significant and I am sure can be improved, I didnt expect it to be perfect.
Ive just ordered a spider from Andover Norton so Ill let you know how I get on.
Problem now sorted.
It was the clutch spider.
The new spider supplied by Andover Norton is a fully machined part. Once fitted the clutch runs true and releases with no drag from the plates. The two problem spiders were cast and then the centre machined out but have not been correctly aligned before machining.
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Clutches don't run perfectly true, if you can adjust it to lift evenly and free off without slip thats as good as it gets. Ask another classic bike owner to look it over.