Clutchs- too many, too soon

28-06-2010, 07:08 PM

Hi fellow Ducati Monster owners, hope you have some advice;
I have had a 2002 S4 for just over a year now, and am about to install its third clutch, can anyone tell me if this is a common problem ? mostly during commuting miles from outer to inner London, 5 days a week, on average 26 miles a day.

Nickj · 28-06-2010, 07:22 PM

That'll be too much clutch use!!

You want a weekday hack.

28-06-2010, 07:29 PM

when you change up through the gears dont use the clutch, then it'll last twice as long

when you wanna change up just back off the throttle and knock it up a gear

doesnt work going down

rollo22 · 28-06-2010, 07:38 PM

New springs and oil might help the life of the plates.
A 14 tooth front sprocket will make it a lot less violent in town.

28-06-2010, 08:57 PM

The S4 has a dry clutch and if abused can be US in no time at all. Providng the stack is correctly installed i can see no other reason for excessive wear than poor technique.
Try not to slip the clutch as much when setting off and as mentioned fit a 14 tooth front sprocket.

My 748 has the original dry clutch from new with over 21000 miles on it.

28-06-2010, 09:56 PM

Getting an open cover may help by keeping it cooler.

Learning to do it your self will save £££££££

mrm.

Oh and also don't hold the lever in for long at lights, put it neutral when pulling up and release the lever.

28-06-2010, 10:56 PM

Are wet clutches any better or still the same? Just wondering as I do ride in traffic sometimes

Funkatronic · 28-06-2010, 11:09 PM

I think i ride the clutch a bit too much while plodding round town and out in the lanes and on the track

My OEM wet clutch has done nearly 12K and so far on a 14t sprocket and has been pretty trouble free apart from a sticking slave cylinder push rod (that only occured once tbh) so i think the wet clutch is more forgiving of this (and the 800 is nowhere near as heftly as the S4)

that said, I have noticed my clutch fluid going a bit murkey rather quick of late (clutch circuit was only bled about 2k ago) so have just bought a spare clutch pack just in case it fails any time soon as i dont want to be stuck for parts in august wheh the factory is closed

28-06-2010, 11:09 PM

Are the discs actually worn or is it just dust build up that makes it slip?

28-06-2010, 07:08 PM	#1
Frenchy Guest Posts: n/a	Clutchs- too many, too soon Hi fellow Ducati Monster owners, hope you have some advice; I have had a 2002 S4 for just over a year now, and am about to install its third clutch, can anyone tell me if this is a common problem ? mostly during commuting miles from outer to inner London, 5 days a week, on average 26 miles a day.

28-06-2010, 07:22 PM	#2
Nickj Too much time on my hands member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Forest Of Dean Bike: S2r Posts: 3,206	That'll be too much clutch use!! You want a weekday hack. __________________ "The final measure of any rider's skill is the inverse ratio of his preferred Traveling Speed to the number of bad scars on his body." Song of the sausage creature

28-06-2010, 07:38 PM	#4
rollo22 Moderator Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Moreton-in-Marsh Bike: M1100evo Posts: 1,083	New springs and oil might help the life of the plates. A 14 tooth front sprocket will make it a lot less violent in town. __________________ IF ALL ELSE FAILS READ THE INSTRUCTIONS

28-06-2010, 07:29 PM	#3
Blufoot Guest Posts: n/a	when you change up through the gears dont use the clutch, then it'll last twice as long when you wanna change up just back off the throttle and knock it up a gear doesnt work going down

28-06-2010, 08:57 PM	#5
dunlop0_1 Guest Posts: n/a	The S4 has a dry clutch and if abused can be US in no time at all. Providng the stack is correctly installed i can see no other reason for excessive wear than poor technique. Try not to slip the clutch as much when setting off and as mentioned fit a 14 tooth front sprocket. My 748 has the original dry clutch from new with over 21000 miles on it.

28-06-2010, 09:56 PM	#6
mrm Guest Posts: n/a	Getting an open cover may help by keeping it cooler. Learning to do it your self will save £££££££ mrm. Oh and also don't hold the lever in for long at lights, put it neutral when pulling up and release the lever.

28-06-2010, 10:56 PM	#7
rac3r Guest Posts: n/a	Are wet clutches any better or still the same? Just wondering as I do ride in traffic sometimes

28-06-2010, 11:09 PM	#8
Funkatronic another year another bike Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: London Bike: S2r 1000 Posts: 1,597	I think i ride the clutch a bit too much while plodding round town and out in the lanes and on the track My OEM wet clutch has done nearly 12K and so far on a 14t sprocket and has been pretty trouble free apart from a sticking slave cylinder push rod (that only occured once tbh) so i think the wet clutch is more forgiving of this (and the 800 is nowhere near as heftly as the S4) that said, I have noticed my clutch fluid going a bit murkey rather quick of late (clutch circuit was only bled about 2k ago) so have just bought a spare clutch pack just in case it fails any time soon as i dont want to be stuck for parts in august wheh the factory is closed

28-06-2010, 11:09 PM	#9
Pomp1 Guest Posts: n/a	Are the discs actually worn or is it just dust build up that makes it slip?