4th Gen clutch install/oil change

[mofoco]

I finally got my Barnett clutch kit and thought i would share it with you all. My bikes a 97vfr bit of a fixer upper the previous owner obviously just rode it alot and didn't do much in the way of maintenance other than oil and tires maybe a brake pad now and then. U can see just how frigging dirty this thing is but that will all change this season, shes gunna get a lotta love.

First thing i did was warm the bike up, warm oil flows out easier/faster and takes more of the nasties with it.
while it warmed up i took the front fairings off and the lower section.


Next shut the bike off and drain the oil. I use a glove for the drain plug as to not get burned by the hot oil.


while that drained i cut open a clean plastic jug and used it to soak the new friction discs.

then i removed the old oil filter, if u don't have an oil filter wrench then get one. i just used a hose clamp around the filter and locked onto it with vise grips.


Now u can remove engine case cover on the clutch side (right side of bike when sitting on it) Two of the bots are longer than the others there pretty easy to keep track of one is on the starter and the other is just under the dipstick hole.

I needed to tap the case a with rubber mallet to get it loose theres even three places where u can tap from behind, make sure the wire clip at the top doesn't get caught on the case cover on the way out. With the case off remove the five clutch bolts in a star pattern just a little at a time so they loosen evenly.


Now remove all the plates one at a time and notice how the pressure plates have a knife edge to them on one side and slightly rounded edges on the other pay attention to this so when u put the new ones in u get them all facing the same way, it doesn't really matter if there in or out as long as there all the same. also the last disc is different then the others.

Install all the new presoaked discs, the thiner one first followed by a pressure disc then another friction disc they should have some kind of mark so u can orientate them all the same not sure how important that is. Then put the cover on and replaced all the springs with the new ones. Tighten all bolts in a star pattern evenly until they bottom out apparently there is no toque spec for this just tighten securely the springs will do the rest.


I cleaned all the old gasket off, thats the hardest part of this job i used a clean rag to cover all the internals and slowly took it all off with a razor blade and brake clean. The kit came with a new seal i also used a little Honda bond on each side of it just to make sure there was no leaks, cover bolts are 9ftlbs.

I put the drain bolt back in and prefilled the new oil filter then lightly oiled the gasket and put it in. The filter states one turn past contact with engine case.

Next i refilled the oil, owners manual says 3.1 liters. i ran the bike for a minute and let it sit for ten then rechecked oil level. warm it up operating the clutch a few times.

The clutch works just as it should starts to grab very soon and holds on tight no matter how hard i ride it.

[FrankoQ]

Excellent DIY Thanks.

[ewryly]

Nice instructions and pics, Mofoco. Thanks for taking the time to share this.

[Nater]

Thanks so much, I need to do that to mine but have been hesitant because I've never done it before. You have given me the confidence to go ahead.

[schum4]

Thanks for the great write-up.

What did you pay for the parts?

Do you have a favorite on-line supplier or do you just get your stuff from the local dealer?

Cheers!

[mofoco]

I'm in Canada so ebay is the way to go for me, little cheaper then the dealer and actually faster too, they told me a month at the earliest and ebay took 9 days for less money We get bent over up here by the local shops.

[Oz_fingers]

thanks mofoco, just about to order my clutch kit,so is the barnents any better than stock stuff ,@ which ebay suppiler did you use ?,cheers
thanks

[RVFR]

Nice write up, So just curious to the mileage your VFR has? Mine is just about to roll over 40K and the clutch works great. Good to see another VFR owner using Amsoil too.