Katana Owners Club U.K.

Hi Chaps,

Some of you may have read my mindless ramblings about the new clutch kit not biting on the 650.

After much wailing and gnashing of teeth (I wasn't bald, but I am now!), and downloading of various manuals, I suspect that our kat has a 550 clutch unit, as opposed to the 650 that it should have!.

I'm just waiting for EBC to check my findings against their specs for the 550 and come back to me. What we have is the same pattern as the 650 clutch, but the plates are much thicker, and the claw width is the same. GS-1000 is out of the window, as the claw width is 15mm according to the manual.

My question is:

If it is indeed a 550 clutch unit, would it be able to handle the extra power of the 650?

If it's the same diameter, then surely the thicker plates would be a bonus when coupled with new HD springs?

Or does it not work like that?

Cheers,

J

PS, anybody want to buy a brand new EBC 650 plate kit? Pre soaked in oil, to save you the hassle!

cant you just get a complete 650 clutch, basket and all?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SUZUKI-GS650- ... 334ed679f9" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Dealt with these people many times if you phone him he will offer advice freely and if bought over the phone will wave postage cost. Seems easiest option to me.

It looks like the way we will have to go....

Having spoken to EBC, I would say it has 750 plates in.

The 550 has 7x 3.1mm plates and the 750 has 8x 3.1mm plates, whereas the 650 has 8x 2.8mm plates.

I'm suspecting that the basket or whatever has gone buggerup in the past, and whoever has swapped it with the first thing they could get their mitts on...

J

Just an update:

Complete clutch unit bought from Blackpool Motorcycle Breakers (ebay user ID ibldiy). £44 including P&P and in bloody good nick too!

Banged the new friction plates in, and it works fine.

It's a tad draggy, but i'll see if I can adjust it out.

Incidentally, I'm using Rock Oil Gamma 10w40 mineral in it.

J