POS clutch holding tool from Mike's

DogBunny

DogBunny

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Bought this a couple years ago from MikesXS, probably because I needed to round out an order to enable free shipping. Finally had reason to use it today. Results above.

DSC09450.jpg

So, I went back to my old home-made tool above, made from a couple of friction and steel plates bolted together. Of course, it worked just fine.

DSC09451.jpg

Unfortunately, the damage had already been done.

BONUS QUESTION: Who among you has ever said "eff it," and re-used a basket with one of the teeth broken? You still have 11 good ones. Mathemagically, the friction plate contact area on the basket will be reduced by only 8.33%.
 
Thats a bummer, I would be concerned about balance. However you could break off the other side to keep it in balance.
Here is my XS650 tool from years past. EBC is your friend. To bad every bike is different. I have a fortune in clutch tools it seems.
tool 2.jpeg


clutch tool.jpeg
 
jetmechmarty said:
I have this one. It works great.
View attachment 239675
https://www.rockymountainatvmc.com/parts/tusk-clutch-holding-tool-p
Click to expand...
Yeah that's a nice Universal one. MotionPro sells the same design, MikesXS has it for a little bit more expensive.
There's also a nice dedicated one by EBC on MikesXS, but expensive at $46.60.
cra-z1 said:
Thats a bummer, I would be concerned about balance. However you could break off the other side to keep it in balance.
Here is my XS650 tool from years past. EBC is your friend. To bad every bike is different. I have a fortune in clutch tools it seems.
View attachment 239676

View attachment 239677
Click to expand...
Nice collection. I like the one in your first pic. My home-made one is starting to bend, so I'm going to beef it up more like yours.
 
cra-z1 said:
Thats a bummer, I would be concerned about balance. However you could break off the other side to keep it in balance.
Click to expand...
BTW, I was "sort of" kidding about re-using the broken basket, but surely someone has done it and lived to tell the tale...
Interesting thought on "balance."
 
DogBunny said:
View attachment 239672
Bought this a couple years ago from MikesXS, probably because I needed to round out an order to enable free shipping. Finally had reason to use it today. Results above.

View attachment 239673
So, I went back to my old home-made tool above, made from a couple of friction and steel plates bolted together. Of course, it worked just fine.

View attachment 239674
Unfortunately, the damage had already been done.

BONUS QUESTION: Who among you has ever said "eff it," and re-used a basket with one of the teeth broken? You still have 11 good ones. Mathemagically, the friction plate contact area on the basket will be reduced by only 8.33%.
Click to expand...
That’s too bad. Pay good money and get a crap product that also damages your bike. I bought an EBC holder for the XS and s ViceGrip type for general use.
 
Buy one new steel plate then take the old one and grab your welder .....

Clutch Holder.jpg


What makes this so much better than the one from Mike's is the loop handle - it engages two slots in the clutch hub, not just one. I've made these for many different bikes over the years, all it takes is one extra steel clutch plate.
 
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DogBunny said:
BTW, I was "sort of" kidding about re-using the broken basket, but surely someone has done it and lived to tell the tale...
Interesting thought on "balance."
Click to expand...
A little off track here....
On JT8-D's (jet engines) you were allowed to remove C1 disk, blade damage by cutting off the blade all the way in to the mid-span support. That was literally about 50% of the blade. :yikes:
When you did that, you went to the blade opposite and cut off the same amount to maintain disc balance.
I recall how I felt the first time I had to cut off half of a perfectly good $10,000 blade and then send the airplane on it's way like nothing happened. :sick: :doh:
 
The mikes XS tool is rubbish but if you cut a piece off the handle and weld it on opposite the handle so that is fits under the pinion wheel nut it works ok.
Had a clutch basket lose a tooth during a sidecar race. The only clue was the clutch started slipping.
The debri went quite a way in the motor and took forever to flush out, best avoided.
I would get another basket as the remaining others are 40 years old and are now working overtime.
 
Thanks for everyone's DIY tool suggestions and improvements.
Jim said:
A little off track here....
On JT8-D's (jet engines) you were allowed to remove C1 disk, blade damage by cutting off the blade all the way in to the mid-span support. That was literally about 50% of the blade. :yikes:
When you did that, you went to the blade opposite and cut off the same amount to maintain disc balance.
I recall how I felt the first time I had to cut off half of a perfectly good $10,000 blade and then send the airplane on it's way like nothing happened. :sick: :doh:
Click to expand...
Great story!
Signal said:
The mikes XS tool is rubbish but if you cut a piece off the handle and weld it on opposite the handle so that is fits under the pinion wheel nut it works ok.
Had a clutch basket lose a tooth during a sidecar race. The only clue was the clutch started slipping.
The debri went quite a way in the motor and took forever to flush out, best avoided.
I would get another basket as the remaining others are 40 years old and are now working overtime.
Click to expand...
Another good story. Hard to believe that one missing tooth would cause slippage.
Let me assure everyone that I am not going to use the broken basket.
gggGary said:
I've never used a clutch holder? :umm:
Click to expand...
Okay, how do you remove the clutch nut? Big ole rag and a well adjusted air gun?????
 
DogBunny said:
Thanks for everyone's DIY tool suggestions and improvements.

Great story!

Another good story. Hard to believe that one missing tooth would cause slippage.
Let me assure everyone that I am not going to use the broken basket.

Okay, how do you remove the clutch nut? Big ole rag and a well adjusted air gun?????
Click to expand...
Rag???
in gear and a battery impact been working for me :shrug:
1680622278453.jpeg
 
Last edited:
DogBunny said:
Another good story. Hard to believe that one missing tooth would cause slippage.
Let me assure everyone that I am not going to use the broken basket.
Click to expand...
Well in Signal's case, it was a race engine in a race bike. For a normal everyday rider, I suspect that basket would work just fine.... "rebalanced" and edges cleaned up of course. :twocents:
 
Jim said:
Well in Signal's case, it was a race engine in a race bike. For a normal everyday rider, I suspect that basket would work just fine.... "rebalanced" and edges cleaned up of course. :twocents:
Click to expand...
Coming from you, that's a pretty sound endorsement for reusing the broken basket. If it was my own bike, or a bike that I was resurrecting with the intention of selling, I'd seriously consider it. However, this is a bike that I am being paid to repair, so I have to adhere to the old medical adage attributed to Hippocrates "first, do no harm." I harmed the basket, so now I'm going to restore it.

Untitled-1.jpg

This whole s*** show began when the customer complained of missed shifts, describing the classic symptoms of a broken spring #28, which indeed, was the case. But, I also wanted to make sure that the pawl on the shift shaft arm was centered on the star wheel, which necessitated removing the clutch. I found that the pawl was centered, and required no attention. So, all this grief over one little broken spring.
 
DogBunny said:
However, this is a bike that I am being paid to repair, so I have to adhere to the old medical adage attributed to Hippocrates "first, do no harm." I harmed the basket, so now I'm going to restore it.
Click to expand...
Agreed. That's the only ethical way to proceed.
Don't throw it away though, might come in useful in a pinch.
 

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