The new guy again for some stupid question.

I run into some PGM guys and they hear me holding the gear lever for long at stop light and they told me "NO NO NO, you have to learn how to put it in neutral as soon as you stop..or else you could burn the clutch fast."

Seriously, I've been riding dry clutch ducatis for over 10 years and always hold the clutch level in stoplight. (despite some of my old ducs pain in the ass to find neutrals) I never once burn the clutch.


So my Question is:
Is PGM dry clutch different than ducatis?
Is it really true that holding too long of clutch lever will burn the clutch?

Holding any clutch in, wet or dry, single or mulit plate isn't doing it any good but I'd doubt you'll burn the plates on tickover no matter what you did with the clutch lever.

Whether it's doing any real damage is another matter, if it's truely clear and most dry clutchs are, hence they rattle it's not doing much but the plates are still rattling and spinning against the friction material, both wearing and getting hotter and hotter.

Shockingly Tex (Alan Armour's mechanic) reckons the VJ23's are really sensitive to this and once the plates are hot and expanded the clutch doesn't clear enough to hold the bike stationary and in gear which might get a tad annoying on the startline.

You also see this sometimes in BSB/WSB when they hold them on the grid for ages and someone creeps forwards, they haven't let the clutch out, it's just got that hot its started dragging.
_________________
Please do not PM me technical questions, if you can't find it on the Forum start a thread

pploo,

the main concern you have with burning the clutch plate materials is when you letting the clutch out and the plates are coming together. If you are hard on the gas at this time, the plates will have increased friction (as the clutch is not fully released and the plates are not tight against each other and will be slipping).

In racing with hard starts is when you tend to burn the clutch plates out quicker then just holding the clutch in at a dead stop.

You do want to make sure that your clutch it adjusted so then when you have the clutch lever in, the plates are loose enough that they are not "grabbing" causing un-needed wear. Of course you also want to make sure that when the clutch lever is releases, the clutch plates are tight against each other so you don't have any slip on power which will also burn the clutch plates out.

A properly adjusted dry clutch in normal street riding conditions will last just as long as a wet clutch. Riding in stop and go traffic when heavy take offs will of course add additional wear to any clutch.
_________________
Charles Gallant

I hold my lever in at the lights even if it's in neutral, just cos it makes even more noise!

Seriously though, I've never really worried about it. If I come to a stop and see other lights change before it's time for me to go, I'll slip it into neutral, but if I pull up and it looks like I won't be there too long, I'll just hold it in first.
_________________
Andy.
NSR-WORLD.COM

Please keep all responses to Forum posts on the Forum so that others may benefit.

Please DO NOT PM me for technical advice. My time is precious, and you will probably receive a faster response on the Forum anyway.

Check us out on Facebook! Please "like" our page!

I find leaving the clutch pulled in at the lights, makes bogans (australian for wankers, tossors, tools ect) make comments like ' Gee mate, she needs a rebuild, got massive piston slap', or 'Holy sh*t, i think your engine is about to fall out'

So i usually slip it into neutral as well, or on occation, yell back, "I cant hear you" whilst leaving the clutch in and reving it up a little higher.
_________________
Winning isn't everything, but loosing isn't anything

A BMW rider once pointed out, while waiting for the green light, that my brake pads are in need of replacement. The fact that I was completely still didn't seem to concern him.