Clutch basket repair

 My 8 year old GasGas has slight grooves in the basket.  In
combination, the bike has always had a fair amount of clutch drag
which is easy to overcome as it only is noticable when trying to start
the bike in gear or bump/push starting the bike.  Anyway, this place:

Stormin Norman Racing , RR#2, P.O. Box 471, Ruffsdale, PA 15679.
724-722-3630

was modifying baskets with steel inserts.  Are there any other places
that do this mod?

Mike Baxter

 
Not that I've heard of.  Incidentally, I filed the grooves out of the
basket on my GasGas and it pretty much completely eliminated the
clutch drag, that the bike apparently had forever.

How much is it?  A new steel-fingered CR after-market basket is an
option - probably around $200.  I'd file it, then get a new one if it
started dragging again.

JayC

 wrote:


I did file it about 2 years ago.  It did nothing to fix dragging.  I
plan on trying a couple Honda CR fiber plates to see if it fixes the
problem.  It doesn't bother me, but my friend Pete is willing to pay
for the repair because it drives him nuts and riding my old GasGas is
way cheaper than buying a bike at this time.  

Mike Baxter

 

warped or worn steel plates could also cause dragging?

-- Tiago

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Tiago,
  The GasGas clutch drag tendency stems from having closer tolerances
in the clutch stack, with 7 steel plates and 8 fiber plates in the
clutch pack, instead of like the Japanese offerings with 6/7 plates in
the stack. They are thinner and generally have less freeplay to
accommodate the light pull hydraulic clutch.
  One must bleed the hydraulic system about once per month and replace
the oil at least every six months to have optimum feel and reduce drag
to absolute minimum.  Even then, the clutch will drag enough to
diminish rpms just a bit when idling in gear with the clutch pulled
in. Maybe not enough to cause a stall during extended idling, but it
makes a difference in idle speed and when trying to start in gear
(with the clutch lever pulled in).
  
Mike,
   Try the Amsoil 0w40 synthetic 4-stroke engine oil.  I've been
testing it (every weekend) since before Christmas.  The last four
weekends riding have while been working trail, with lots of idling in
gear while tying flagging on trees and figuring where to go next.
    Once my engine warms to operating temperature, there is no clutch
drag. (not just diminished, but none).  It is starting in gear just as
easily as it does in neutral.

  This isn't cheap oil ($9 quart), but I had to try it after reading
Eric Kangas's oil test on GasGasRider.org.  For my test, I have been
running the same oil for the last four weekends, gathering data on the
oil's "wear" characteristics while watching the color and quality of
the oil through the sight glass window in the side cover, to make sure
it doesn't degrade enough to lose engine protection.

 So far, I'm amazed with the oil. (It was a pain in the ass to get.
 I have no local Amsoil dealer, so I bought a case from friend in
Houston, who is set up as a dealer. Since I was ordering, and Mobil
quit making their 2-stroke racing premix oil, I ordered a case of the
Amsoil "Dominator" premix oil at the same time. This is their racing
oil, not the "100/1" stuff. )

  It was to be my last test before changing back from the Rekluse to
the standard clutch set-up.    Now, I'm not so sure I'm going to
convert back.     I have to explore this oil and the Rekluse further.
 I'll next be putting the trials tire back on, if not this morning,
very soon, because it changes the demands on the clutch. (It has more
grip at very light throttle situations.)
  
  Jack and I have been exploring getting someone to build these
inserts for the clutch fingers.  I'll check out your link.  Thanks.
  We picked him up at the airport yesterday.  We're going to the horse
races today, and roosting in the mountains tomorrow.

Good Riding to You!

Jim


  
         Wudsracer/Jim Cook
          Smackover Racing
         '06 Gas Gas DE300
        '82 Husqvarna XC250
           Team LAGNAF