Triumphrat

jacksprat · 09-12-2009, 09:55 PM

Hi all, first post and a few questions about a clutch problem. I have a 70 triumph 500 and the clutch was/is slipping so bad that I couldn't ride the bike. I adjusted and re adjusted the pressure plate at the springs, made sure the plate was true everytime and set the adjuster screw according to the manual, but the darn thing kept slipping. So I decided to just spend the money on new springs and plates, both steel and bonded. I noticed the stack of new plates was an entire steel plate thicker than the old set of plates, but didn't think much of it until I put the clutch together adjusted it again by the manual and put the primary cover back on. The lever would only pull about 3/4 before the pressure plate hit the primary cover. Does anyone have experience with the 500 clutches or new plates. Is there an easy fix? I though about trying one less plate or grinding the rod down, but I don't want to grind too much off and I don't think that is really the answer to the problem. I thought the clutch is essentially the same as the 650's. I have never had this much trouble setting up a clutch and I think my frustration is making me miss something simple.

Thanks,

Jack

SixtySpeedTwin · 09-13-2009, 09:11 AM

there was an early and late clutch basket the later had more plates and a correspondingly different length rod.
I only found this out when i pulled mine and realised it was a bodge between the two, where someone had fitted a late basket but with the original number of plates as they had forgotten to buy a longer push rod.
There is a chance you may have the same, I'll see if i can put a hand on my manuals to illistrate.
cheers Clive

jacksprat · 09-14-2009, 12:35 PM

thanks for the one response Clive. I'm surprised that only one person on a forum this large has info for clutch issues. I'll try a few things myself and figure it out with a little trial and error.

GrandPaulZ · 09-14-2009, 08:11 PM

I would have to study the various 500 manuals to provide an answer, as I've worked on 650s for about 90% of my life, 750s for about 9%, and 500 for the remaining 1%. that stuff doesn't come off the top of my head as easily.

Sounds like you got the ONE person who knew the answer, pretty quickly at that!

P.S. this forum is 90% MODERN Triumph, 10% Classic & Vintage.