Suspected clutch slipping

[royblackburn1@btinternet.]

Hi all,a short while back I changed the drive plates on my A65L the 3 clutch spring nuts are flush with the pressure plate as per my book I can change gear and find neutral ok but on the road cracking on a bit when I want to go a little faster the engine revs higher but the speed dosnt do you guys in the know think its slipping and what actually does screw in the centre of the pressure do, thanks Roy

[DAVE BRADY]

Good afternoon Roy,

Definitely sounds like slipping when a bit more power is used.  The adjuster in the centre of the pressure plate is just that, an adjuster.  It should be set so that there is a very small amount of clearance between it and the clutch push rod.  The usual way to get this is to slacken off the cable, screw the adjuster in until it just touches the rod and then back it off perhaps 1/2 to 1 turn.  This means that all the spring pressure goes on to the plates and there is a bit of clearance for expansion.  If there is no clearance then in effect the push rod could actually be preventing the full pressure being put on the plates.  After this has been set then adjust the cable to give about 1/8" slack.  This ensures that the cable is not putting pressure on the rod which will then in turn push/lift the pressure plate.
A short cut to check this could be to just undo the centre screw a bit and go for ride.  When screwing the adjuster in you just go until a bit of resistance is felt and then back it off a bit as mentioned above.

Dave.

[Ian C]

I spent many an unhappy hour pi**ing around with the 3 spring clutch on my 1971 A65L. Straw that broke the camels back was problems with it on ride to Denmark in 2015.. I then bought a Bob Newby clutch/belt drive kit and have never looked back.. Best £500 I've ever spent... Now to the doom mongers of how much!!! If you totted up what you spent on parts for the BSA clutch plus costed time taken plus riding time lost it'd come to much more.. My 2 cents FWIW..

[DAVE BRADY]

Hi,

Not the best design but it is worth sticking with the 3 spring with BN clutch or new clutch from SRM as a last resort.  I have done quite a big mileage and only once had a problem with the the clutch centre bolts coming loose. 
As the clutch has new plates and has been disturbed it probably just needs setting up again so a bit patience will prevail.

Dave.

[royblackburn1@btinternet.]

Thanks Dave and Ian for advice,Roy