changing clutches? how hard

[s10nova]

how hard is it? i've got the cluthches, springs and steel plates...how hard is it? heard it's a  good time to change oil so i'll do that too, clutch instructions say no need to soak in oil but i might anyways...use regular 10w40? 10w40 synthetic automotive oil ok?

[sveach]

Use whatever oil you want, synthetic is fine, but make sure there are NO friction modifiers. That will make your clutch slip.

[T1z3R]

clutch is easy. even easier if you have a manual to reference.

[sledge]

I would avoid car oils, they are not all formulated to work with the wet clutches the majority of modern bikes have or cope with the conditions imposed on it by the bikes gearbox. Car clutches are dry and you dont generaly put car engine oil in car gearbox.........so why put it in bike gearbox??

The GS5 engine was designed way back in the midst of time, must be over 40 years now, to run on what was then considered the optimum oil available ie: 10w40 mineral. Oils have without question improved in this time but the question as to if the latest all singing, all dancing brew will be be of any real benefit in a 40 year old air-cooled naturaly-aspirated non-cat mill that left the factory with Titanic clearances by design and is unlikely to see much more than about 30k over its lifespan is an objective one that in my opinion has yet to be proven.

The subject of oil generates more controvesy in here than anything else. People will say I use this oil and blah blah blah but you wont get a definative answer, just information overload My advice is to use a cheap 10w40 bike formula oil you can find and change it twice as often but at the end of the day its your bike and your choice and it all depends on how much hype you want to believe and how much you want to pay  

BTW.......When you pull the clutch you will find there is a tiny little roller bearing in there, be careful not to damage or loose it  

[Shaddow]

Car clutches are dry and you dont generaly put car engine oil in car gearbox.........so why put it in bike gearbox??

Yes there are instances when putting engine oil in a car gearbox is appropriate. Old worn gearboxes have a whole host of little problems due to wear, from balking shift, hard to shift, loose etc. Using a mix of engine oil to gearbox oil actually helps chatty gearboxes and hard shifting boxes. Do it all the time in T5 boxes. Don't get me started on your 40 year old design line. The machines building the engines aren't the same ones from 40 years ago.... I'll stop there.

But yes agree with you sledge in essence. Its better to use the oil designed for the unit. So a 10W40 motorbike oil.

[sledge]

Car clutches are dry and you dont generaly put car engine oil in car gearbox.........so why put it in bike gearbox??

Yes there are instances when putting engine oil in a car gearbox is appropriate............. The machines building the engines aren't the same ones from 40 years ago..

2 questions.......Forgeting about cars that have the gearbox in the sump do any car MANUFACTURERS actually recommend the use of a multigrade engine oil in a seperate gearbox?

As for your "machines" comment...well surely its the improvements in design techniques and material technology over the last 40 years that matters, not the age of the machinery the various components are manufactured with? Correct me if I am wrong but a GS5 built last week will be manufactured to the same tolerances as the first one was back in 1988 regardless of the age of the actual machinery used.

[gregvhen]

i've got the cluthches

friction dics* 

[mister]

About the "machines"...

How Suzuki was started http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kuK37fKDCyY

How The Engines etc., are put together http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEEDmCDsXG0

Michael

[black and silver twin]

i've got the cluthches

friction dics* 

Friction disks

I corrected the corrector!!   

[Shaddow]

Car clutches are dry and you dont generaly put car engine oil in car gearbox.........so why put it in bike gearbox??

Yes there are instances when putting engine oil in a car gearbox is appropriate............. The machines building the engines aren't the same ones from 40 years ago..

2 questions.......Forgetting about cars that have the gearbox in the sump do any car MANUFACTURERS actually recommend the use of a multigrade engine oil in a separate gearbox?

As for your "machines" comment...well surely its the improvements in design techniques and material technology over the last 40 years that matters, not the age of the machinery the various components are manufactured with? Correct me if I am wrong but a GS5 built last week will be manufactured to the same tolerances as the first one was back in 1988 regardless of the age of the actual machinery used.

Answer one, do manufacturers ever recommend putting anything but OEM back on?  PS I've read of cars that use a single grade engine oil recommended but your right I'd be dam if I can think of any that use multigrade.

Answer two OH HELL YES!!! if I put an engine together with same valve and cylinder etc tolerance but use a machine that is better built I'm going to get a better product. No two ifs or buts about that. Easy example to explain my thinking. I drill a hole by hand with a cordless drill. I drill the same hole with a drill press with the object perfectly aligned in a clamp or jig. Same size drill bit used. How much better is the second hole going to be? There will be no slope in the hole from the drill moving around because my arms aren't rock steady, it will be true to its orientation etc. Its over simplified I know but now apply that to a milling machine that mass produces.

[gregvhen]

i've got the cluthches

friction dics* 

Friction disks

I corrected the corrector!!   

NOICE!