Hi All,

My first post here

I am just starting out racing and this will be 1st season learning everything.

I am running a RS250 1991, but I am having problems I've spent over £300 on 2 trackdays including travel etc and only managed 3 sighting laps

I need a set of new clutch plates but I am finding it difficult to source any.

The RS runs great, it pulls away OK but as soon as the motor hits the powerband the clutch slips and I have no drive.

I tried to solve this problem after my first failed trackday by fitting used plates off another RS which were compatible and thicker but the problem repeated.

Any help appreciated

Cheers,

Skint Novice

There's very little that can go wrong with the dry clutch to be honest, but the RS can wear one out pretty quickly. I would get the steel plates bead blasted (or try "roughing" them a little with some emery cloth) and fit some new clutch springs. The steel plates may however be past their best.

Make sure the steel plates are straight (if they are warped at all, then the clutch will slip) and make sure the fibre plates are free from any contamination. The pressure plate should also be checked to ensure it is straight. The RS clutch is very light, and prone to wear. You may find it's in need of complete replacement... basket, hub, pressure plate, springs, and fibre/steel plates, the lot!

An RS isn't really a bike to run on a tight budget, even an old one. It's still a GP bike, after all. The rings should be replaced after about 50 miles, pistons will need replacing every 200 miles or so, and the crank every 1000. The 1991 is probably the hardest on all the components too, by the nature of the way it makes its power. You'd possibly be better off with a well sorted NSR to begin with, but of course I have no idea of your background or experience so I'm probably talking crap... again!
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Andy.
NSR-WORLD.COM

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[quote="Andy"]The 1991 is probably the hardest on all the components too, by the nature of the way it makes its power.[ quote]

An informative post Andy. When talking to Padgetts recently about RS250's, I was told that NF5 parts are becoming increasingly harder to get hold of, compared to NX5 / NXA.
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Rich
MC21 Track Bike / RS250 NF5 'Spencer', NX5 'Cadalora' & NXA 'Aoyama' / RS500 / Two Brothers Racing RC30

Some NX5 and NXA parts can be interchanged, and a later model is certainly a better proposition for a more ferequently used bike these days in my opinion.

As much as I love the 90° engined bikes for being so similar to the NSR, the 72° motor is undeniably better, and much easier to maintain these days. They also have a greater performance potential, although how the later motors can be capable of 10~15hp more than an NF5 is quite beyond me!
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Andy.
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Thanks for the replies, I am now getting some new plates made up as I simply cannot find any.

I've heard that a complete new clutch kit from another model such as the 93 onwards RS may fit ?

I've also seen a "Barnett" clutch plate kit which says it's for a 91 RS. This is priced @ $150.00.

Has anyone got any feedback on these Barnett clutch kits?

Cheers,

This NF5 complete clutch on Yahoo Auctions seems a good buy at 20,000 Yen / £150.00. 1 day left..................

http://www.okshon.com/v.cgi?YYurl=http://page2.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/b97514975

DMR is a long standing parts shop / seller on this auction site.
If you want to go this way, register with okshon and bid via their website.
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Rich
MC21 Track Bike / RS250 NF5 'Spencer', NX5 'Cadalora' & NXA 'Aoyama' / RS500 / Two Brothers Racing RC30

Cor... looks just like my MC16 clutch!
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Andy.
NSR-WORLD.COM

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Thanks RichG.

Just googled Okshon, there are plenty of unhappy customers out there. If I register I'll have to be careful......

Can you give me a link to DMR's parts shop if he has a site.

if anyone has any info on Barnett clutch kits then I'd like to know if they are any good

Oh I have also read that NSR 300cc uprated clutch kits are available to stop clutch slip @ 9000rpm. Will these clutch kits be compatible for my RS250?

Cheers

The 300 clutch is just an NSR250 clutch, and totally different to the RS250.

As far as I'm aware, Barnett have a respectable enough name. Never used their stuff myself, but have never seen endless threads on forums all over the internerd slating the stuff either.
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Andy.
NSR-WORLD.COM

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Jeff

Barnett plates are very good, use then without a problem.

Jeff is it possible for you to pass onto me the etched number on your 1991 cases? There are located just above the output sprocket LHS of the engine and also behind the ignition unit. If the numbers match then you have a original pair of cases!
Any other 1991 users out there?
Also would appreciate numbers from other NF5 owners

Thanks in advance
Philip