snakebitten said:
Quote from Yamaha Canada Website:
Revised, heavy duty clutch uses 9 friction and 8 steel plates. The damper system has been changed from springs to a rubber type to reduce noise and vibration.
Not sure it's any better, but they are making a change to the basket. Somebody is listening.
They certainly have the right words in that latest marketing speak to address the concerns in this thread. Be interesting to see what actually materialises as an engineering fix. This is the Suzuki VStrom scenario all over again but their fixes proved to have made no difference over time. Hoping you do better Yamaha if listening.
The clutch already has
9 friction and 8 steel plates so make of that what we like. There's already a big
chunk of rubber type material they call a damper in the clutch housing. Puzzle for me having proved the cure is the thing in the clutch currently making
the noise and vibration is not the springs. It's the parts they work against. See the video. Skip to 5 min's to avoid the pre-amble and see the actual loose bits.
ST Clutch torsion damper faults and deterioration
Koinz said:
I wonder if the serviceable part # will be updated for the 2012 models.
I think what ever it will be backwards compatible
if they actually have come up with a new basket. Only something the same dimensions and using the same size clutch plates is going to fit the current space. The cost and scale of the job to change these out round the world say's it's unlikely to be offered free of charge or under warranty for older bike's. Does not fail, break or get dangerous so no arm up their back so to speak. Just extremely annoying to some when they know it's there and once the engine is warm you can't ride through without feeling it.
Current basket is expensive to buy and I guess any new item will cost the same or more when/if they get it out the door. If "they are listening" and a new basket is going into production, they will have pulled production of the old unit for certain and likely pulled back all in the distribution system to return to their supplier before they fall on their swords. After all would you buy a new basket having seen the video? We have much older bikes on the road here in Europe that are long out of warranty. All this suggesting demand for my re-design of the current baskets internals and stiffeners will continue at a price worth doing. And dare I say they should have a longer service life than anything with a "rubber type material".
Later edit - forgot to mention. Have made a set of instructions for remove and refit of the clutch basket. Pictures and diagrams to help owners considering having the basket fixed decide if they can do that part themselves. It's an easy job - don't even drain the oil. Will be available on request to my email address until I get them loaded somewhere for owners to download.