Clutch Adjustment

The clutch on most classic bikes is fairly standard technology for it's time and is still in use on some motorcycles today. The drive is taken through the Primary Drive Chain to the Clutch Chain Wheel. Inside the chain wheel are the four Driving Plates and five Driven Plates which are compressed together by four springs acting on the Clutch Pressure Plate. There is a rod that goes through the main gearbox shaft and this lifts the pressure plate when the clutch lever is pulled in, therefore removing the pressure on the Driving & Driven plates which in turn are now able to slip. In the centre of the clutch assembly, is the Cush Drive Unit, which uses eight rubber buttons to damp out the initial shock of the transmission taking the power.

Adjustment

Tighten each nut down until the underside of the head is 1/8" away from the top of the spring cup. The final adjustment of individual spring pressure is best done with the engine back in the bike and with the clutch cable attached, as the pressure plate has to be lifted and the engine turned over to view the edge of the pressure plate.

Turn the engine over with the clutch lifted and look at the edge of the pressure plate to see if it wobbles as it rotates.

Tighten down the nut nearest to where it is highest by half a turn at a time and after each adjustment release and lift the pressure plate before rotating it again. Continue until the pressure plate lifts evenly.

Next check if the is any clutch slip when turning the engine over against compression. Tighten each of the four nuts by half a turn at a time until the slippage is stopped.