81 Clutch Same as 74 Clutch?

OldBlue

XS650 Member
Messages
21
Reaction score
2
Points
3
Location
Colorado
Afternoon XS Fans,

is the 81 Clutch the same as the 74 Clutch? Im looking at the internals and they seem identical and I am curious as to what is different.
 
The inner hub and the amount of plates is different. But they will swap. I feel the later clutch is better even though it has a few less plates. In place of them, Yamaha installed a spring-loaded, dampened bottom plate. This smooths the engagement and is especially noticeable when taking off in 1st. It obviously smooths the engagement when shifting up through the other gears as well, you just don't notice it much. But, this is all a good thing for those shock absorbing springs on the back of the main hub. They can and do break over time so anything you can do to reduce the wear and tear on them is good. Using the later dampened inner hub is something you can do.
 
Yes, world of difference in the function.
I cut my teeth in the xs650 world on an '83. Next in line was a '77 with the early style clutch setup. I just couldn't get it, so the second upgrade on the '77 was the clutch. Changed it out to an '81. 5twins and peanut have given the forum two pictorials on the sequence of washer, bearing and spacers, great reference material there.
 
I haven’t posted for 10 years but here goes.
I have a XS1 (2 actually) that I’ve had since ‘72 and have always had the clutch slip/shutter issue but just lived with it. I moved on to to other bikes through the years, TDM850, BMW, Moto Guzzi… Now with a renewed interest in the XSes, I want to finally address the clutch issue.

Aside from installing stronger pressure plate springs and possible broken cushion springs, bevel sharp edges, etc, is the ‘70-73 six plate clutch so bad? Mikes lists the friction plates as no longer available and to go to 7 plate set-up. Are good 70-73 friction plates available anywhere, or just go with 7 plate with 1.4 steels?
Will the ‘80 inner hub assembly fit in the ‘70 outer basket? Are there any other remedies or suggestions for the OG clutches? Thanks in advance for any help.
 

Attachments

  • 1E410F20-53A0-4EBC-ABF3-47FDEF8C6AD0.jpeg
    1E410F20-53A0-4EBC-ABF3-47FDEF8C6AD0.jpeg
    309 KB · Views: 24
New and NOS friction plates are available on eBay. Search eBay by parts number. There are two different friction plates, search both numbers.
Why do you think you need to replace yours? Did you measure yours? They last and last...
 
Thanks for the replies. I haven’t measured my plates yet, just trying to map out a plan before I go in to eliminate the shuttering. I like the 8 plate but is it worth it for a street bike ridden by an old dude? So which is the better option assuming my existing isn’t worn or broken?
Keep what I have but with stronger pressure plate springs and/or whatever else helps?
Replace with 7 plate? I have a spare 447 engine.
Convert to 80+?
Convert to 8 plate?

Thanks again.
 
Thanks for the replies. I haven’t measured my plates yet, just trying to map out a plan before I go in to eliminate the shuttering. I like the 8 plate but is it worth it for a street bike ridden by an old dude? So which is the better option assuming my existing isn’t worn or broken?
Keep what I have but with stronger pressure plate springs and/or whatever else helps?
Replace with 7 plate? I have a spare 447 engine.
Convert to 80+?
Convert to 8 plate?

Thanks again.
My advice as a XS2 owner with a 750 kit in it is to use the 447 clutch with the 8 plate conversion and new springs.
Do it and be done. There is a reason they made changes to the clutch basket with the 447 engine.
What year is your 447 motor?
 
Personally, I really like the '80 and later 6 plate set-up with it's spring-loaded bottom damper plate. My '78 stock 7 plate clutch always engaged with a little "clunk" as you finished letting it out in 1st. The later 6 plate inner hub I swapped in cured that and it engages nice and smooth now. I now also have an '83 that came stock with the 6 plate. It engages nice and smooth as well. To cure slipping, both got heavy duty springs. I've found the stock springs on pretty much any old bike need replacing, not just these 650s.
 
I like the 8 plate but is it worth it for a street bike ridden by an old dude?
I converted my ‘83 from 6 plate to 7 plate. I did it because after a top end overhaul the clutch was slipping and I wasn’t having luck fixing it. The additional plates took care of it. I’m now riding an ‘81 with a 6 plate clutch. Since it isn’t broken, I’m probably not going to fix it.
 
Recently swapped the original clutch on a 70 complete, for a late 70's unit, it also got the 8 plate conversion at the same time.
Very straightforward, someone had been in the original clutch and made a mess of it.
I have another 70 I'm riding and have noticed it slipping a time or two, it will also get a full conversion if work is needed.
YMMV
 
Back
Top