400 Starting Issues

[fossie]

Normally the 400 clutch basket is quiet ( unlike the 1100) and if applying clutch makes it quiet then yes there is an issue , but if it works ok I'd leave it well alone ( courier speak for it'll end up a can of worms and a project )

[johnD]

Thaks fossie. As I seem to have had everything else apart...... Its not going on the road 'till Feb when my multi bike poliocy is due so, stay posted for tales of clutch woes!

[Smallkat]

You just can't stop yourself fiddling with it, can you?!

I will check clutch basket noise at next fire-up, but from memory it was quiet.

My X7 clutch basket is incredibly noisy, despite spending £300 on an all-new clutch basket, inner, pressure plate, clutch shaft and shims.

[pookie]

Re: the noisy clutch, have you changed the oil? if so, the best oil to use is the oil recommended by the manufacturer when it was new, any semi-synthetic 10w-40 oil will do.

[johnD]

hi pookie. First thing I did. Now its been running for a while it'll get some fresh in, just to flush out, its not run for at least three years, maybe more.
I could put up with the clutch rattle, but I've got the time to take a look.
I might just mention that the gaskets available on the Bay are much thinner than the OE. I'll be ordering in some gasket matirial and making some more substantial ones.
Oh.... And the speedo overlay arrived last week, nice item, if a bit pricey. Be warned, not a job for the faint of heart, the clumsy or the impatient!

[Uncle Bob]

I might just mention that the gaskets available on the Bay are much thinner than the OE. I'll be ordering in some gasket matirial and making some more substantial ones.
Oh.... And the speedo overlay arrived last week, nice item, if a bit pricey. Be warned, not a job for the faint of heart, the clumsy or the impatient!

I did the same with gaskets, bought the Suzuki ones and then 0.5mm Flexiod paper, and no leaks 4 or years later.

I won't be doing an overlay change then!

[Smallkat]

John,

I will have some gaskets if you are making more than 1.

I am impatient and clumsy, so looks like my clocks are staying the way they are.

[johnD]

Lerts see whats involved Smallkat, if its easy enough, no problem. We do seem to have veered off your original thread... sorry!
Clutch apart... Wierd first plate arrangement, two inner 'washers and a tiny, mini friction disk. Trouble is, nothing glaringly obvious. As its all in one piece it goes back together, unless anyone has some decent clutch plates up for grabs....?
Cheers and all the best seasons wishes... There's a nice PC comment for you all.

[johnD]

Hi all and a happy Christmas to anyone else sad enough to be reading this. Looked through the posts but couldn't find an answer. Someone mentioned shimming the clutch basket springs, mine are jangly loose, only thing I can see actually wrong. What did you use, washers, or did you make up some form of slug?
Cheers all.

[Smallkat]

Returning to the original subject, I attempted start up of Smallkat today. So that makes three weeks standing. Followed the same procedure (5 seconds cranking/20 seconds rest). Started second attempt and ran cleanly. At this early stage in the experiment, it looks like ethanol fuel and 400 carbs are not a good combination.

Bear in mind some premium unleaded is ethanol-free. It's just that the fuel companies can't say with certainty which areas get it. They say fuel in the Northwest may contain ethanol.

To return to John's clutch question, my clutch is quiet in both positions.