I pulled the clutch cover off as a matter of course. I swear the mileage of 3,240 on this thing is correct. There is not even the slightest hint of notching on the basket. Looks brand new. After 'ooohing' and 'aaahing' over that, take a look at the pressure plate bolts. There is definite variation in height of the bolt heads.
I have done several clutches in my time, but no one ever told me how tight those bolts should be. I have always played it by ear. I tighten the bolts till the flanges on the bolts are flush with the pressure plate. From there I may go a half turn or more on each depending on how tight it's starting to feel. My clutches have always worked fine doing it this way. No binding or rotational drag. I have no idea if this is anything like correct. The first one I did worked fine so I just followed suit on future jobs and never had problems. I do check the springs for length. Not so much for in tolerance, but more for similarity. If there is one markedly short, I can compensate by screwing further in by the amount short.
Is there a torque spec to go by? Or should I keep on doing what I do as it has always worked fine? Check this thing out
I was born with nothing and still have most of it left.
I seem to recall the torque spec for those bolts is very low - about 8ft-lb or something like that, because the threads in the clutch basket are easily stripped. However I can't remember where I might have seen that spec ...
1976 GT380 - wounded by me, and sold on
2006 SV650S - killed by a patch of diesel and a kerb in Feb 2019
2017 SV650 AL7 - naked and unashamed
The only thing I've seen elsewhere is 'tighten firmly' which is not too useful Take a look at the torque specifications listed in service bulletin Specification #3 which can be found on this page, and just go by the bolt size:
On most Japanese bikes the clutch bolts are bottomed out and are not very tight - maybe a couple of foot pounds. Because they are bottomed out they should all be the same height. It's worth popping them all off to be sure that everything is OK in there and no broken posts. With so few miles it's highly unlikely that there's anything wrong, but it warrants a quick peek under the cover.
I just swapped my GT550B clutch today and I'd say the biggest risk with those pressure plate bolts is of stripping the threads. Firm but be careful.
Mike
Take a look at the torque specifications listed in service bulletin Specification #3 which can be found on this page, and just go by the bolt size:
