My VN750 has to take tops for most coffe grinder clutch noise until warm. sometimes still doing it even couple of miles away!(not constantly, but at each takeoff)
the VN700 we have has never made a peep. I have tried different oils, and still grinding away. sounds like a sick dog coughing up the neighbors cat.
but once you out of first and going your good. maybe I should replace the clutch. Hmmm.
anyway, they say it does no harm, so I keep on riding I suppose.
beavis

Wish I could help you Beavis, but I can't....sorry. :(

Mine does the same thing but it also chatters and jerks when it takes of ...once it warms up it is fine ....does your's chatter

Matt

check out these write-ups from the vn750 group at yahoo. Might take care of some of that
http://tinyurl.com/3nctd
http://tinyurl.com/5y56v

links not working, at least not at this time. Dianna, but thanks for the help.
Beavis

Not working for me either..
RB
:confused:
links not working, at least not at this time. Dianna, but thanks for the help.
Beavis

You can't get to the links because we can't get to the yahoo groups. This happens often. Way too often for me.

I don't think so. Tried the links with no success, but was able to get into group with no problem.

Dianna, Another good thing about this forum is that it (as far as I have seen) doesn't break up links. Since tinyurl's are only good for a certain amount of time anyway, we can post the actul URL's here and have them saved for posterity.

I have ordered me a upgrade kevalr plate set and new stronger springs, I hope to get it in before KY lake. will post how the repair goes, so far cost me around 107.00 for the ebc kevlar kit with springs.

I have ordered me a upgrade kevalr plate set and new stronger springs, I hope to get it in before KY lake. will post how the repair goes, so far cost me around 107.00 for the ebc kevlar kit with springs.
Good luck!

I have ordered me a upgrade kevalr plate set and new stronger springs, I hope to get it in before KY lake. will post how the repair goes, so far cost me around 107.00 for the ebc kevlar kit with springs.I've got over 30,000mi and I don't have any real clutch problem other than sometimes missing second from first, but I was thinking abt replacing the the springs & friction disks w/ something from Barnett. Keep us posted, Beav, on the upgrade and what you find when you open that cover...

sure will!
hoping it will come tomorrow, and ill put er in sat morning if not fri night....
thanks for the good luck wish, I usually need it

see the site link in my signature for the photos of the dissasembled components, showing the uneven wear.


beavis

A Barnett or EBC upgrade should do the trick. I have a '96 wih 7K on the clock and a stock clutch. I sometimes get that horrible sound but can modulate the lever such that it is quiet. Oil type and weight don't seem to have much of an impact.

I can now relenquish my crown.
I installed a new EBC Kevalr plate and spring kit, re-used my steel plates.
All working perfectly after a 200 mile ride today through several stop and go situations, cold or hot, it hasnt made a peep.

I think that some have the wrong idea about the noise. I dont think it is so much slippage in the thick oil, as it is actually a "grab". I think this now, because my shifts are so muck smoother now, and dont have that jerk when I let out the clutch like it used to. The old plates looked perfect, but I suspect they were contaminated with improper oil or something that may have made them grabby. (P.S. Rotella T 15W40 -DOES increase this problem!!!, I reccomend not using it now.) also there was the signs of uneven wear noted by others with this trouble, I hope the new springs cure this, but only time will tell.

the wear was so slight on the clutch though, that it was only that the plates were polished a little in areas, and factory honed in others, but nothing I would say was "worn" maybe this uneven clamp down actually encourages this grabbing situation somehow. but so far with the new plates, I am impressed. $107.00 well spent.

reccomended to anybody with this trouble.

Beavis,

Glad to hear your clutch is working well. Is the clutch lever stiffer/harder to pull now that you have the heavy rate EBC clutch springs in there? How long did the job take?

I see nothing wrong with using Rotella. It's hugely popular on all the MC forums including the Yamaha V-Star forum and the Suzi Bandit 1200 and those scoots are air cooled! I think you may have had a unique problem because, as you said, at one time the wrong oil may have been used in your scoot and contaminated it. I'm guessing you bought your VN750 used and the previous owner may have run an energy conserving oil like a 10W30. I've run Rotella T and it's shifts and feels every bit as good as the fresh oil I just put in this evening (10oz of Amsoil's MC 10W40 and 2+ qts FormulaShell 10W40).

Yes thge lever feels twice as hard to pull as before, even though im sure it isnt really that much harder, and as for my unique problem, yes it had other factors, but when I used regular castrol 10 40, it would only do it occasionally, when I used the rotella, it did it much more frequently....and somebody told me the zinc in rotella is a friction modifier. so maybe that was the cause? whether it would ever be a problem on a known good clutch is yet to be seen, but somebody posted last week with a fairly new bike starting the same thing, and they said they have been using rotella......so I will err on the side of caution and not plan to use that anymore in mine. but to each his own and good luck to all!!!
Beavis

Well I don't think I'd like a harder clutch pull but if that what's it takes then so be it. As for Rotella, ya probabaly shouldn't use any 15W40 diesel motor oils as I'm sure the formulations aren't that different. I like it because it's made from group II basestocks where as 10W40s are from a vastly inferior group 1 basestocks which do work well and protect our 750 engines if changed every 2500 miles or less (preferably every 1500-2000 miles).

2001 with 15000 miles. I used Rotella-T 15W40 for the first time on my last oil change about 500 miles ago, after using Amsoil 10W40 High Performance synthethic for the previous 3 oil changes. The coffee grind noise is more pronounced, and I am started to get neutral on the 1st to 2nd shift. I will not use it again. I will be going back to the synthetic on the next change, and it will be a lot sooner than I had previously planned.

My $.02

Amsoil's MC 10W40 is the best! Most of our scoots seem to be just fine with plain old 10W40. I'm surprised to hear yours needs the best oil made to shift properly.

I run my winter storage oil (regular .75/qt FormulaShell 10w40) for a few weeks each spring in my Vulcan and Suzuki and they shift just fine with it. They do shift a bit quicker/smoother with 10 oz of Amsoil added or when I use Rotella T.

Just a FYI...

The box my clutch came in said "do not use synthetic motor oils with this clutch"........

maybe it is because it is a kevlar clutch? or could there be an issue with all clutches lurking about....\
beavis

My VN750 has to take tops for most coffe grinder clutch noise until warm.
beavis
I have this same problem, but after reading all the comments, I still don't know what to do.
Can a oil change makes things better, or sould I replace the clutch unit ??
\
Dingo

I have this same problem, but after reading all the comments, I still don't know what to do.
Can a oil change makes things better, or sould I replace the clutch unit ??
\
Dingo Changing the clutch plates worked for me. I had a slight 'grinding' noise late LY, it was getting progressively worse. It wasn't as horrible as some have experienced I think, but it was taking longer for it to go away after warmup.
Oil changes had no effect, and I did not have any debris in my oil screen.
I put in new Barnett Kevlar friction plates, steel plates & new springs over the winter (just over 35000mi), and the improvement all around is noticeable. Installation is easy....
The result is no noise, and a smoother, more positive clutch engagement. I have just about 800mi on the new plates, and I'm very happy.
The Barnetts, like the EBC ones Beavis used, are Kevlar and that makes all the difference I think. Mine had appreciably more friction material than the stockers, so they grip better. Also...the Barnetts are OK to use if you use synth oil, according to their website....

Thank you jm1515Because the noise is gone after the engine is warmed up, i wil leave the clutch as it is now. I think this wil not harm the engine but maybe only the clutch-plates.
Later i wil replace the clutch

BTW your president Bush is vissiting tomorow a 2nd world war cementery near by. (Maastricht - Margraten Netherlands) I have been vissiting this enormous graveyard myself and i felt deeply thankful for what you Americans dit for us in 1945
http://www.abmc.gov/

I would not say that it does no harm to have the issue, the "grabbing" the plates are doing may put a shock load on the transmission parts, and cause extra wear, but that is just my opinion. my advise is if it becomes a daily occurance, get it fixed, the job is easy and the results are well worth the money. a grabbing clutch can cause an accident, especially on slick surfaces, or shifting in a turn. be there no doubt, coffe grinder is not a slipping clutch, it is a grabbing clutch, a possible unsafe condition when in the extreme.

hi all ; ok here's the scoop, i bought a 2001 vn 750 i late april of this year with 8300 miles on it. i changed the oil and filter after a few miles not knowing how long and what kind of oil was in there. i used the rotella 15w-40that seems to be out of favor now. after a couple hundred miles i have noticed a chatter in the clutch on first take off. my question is should i change to another oil or is the chatter telling me the clutch springs or discs need replacing. remember only 8600 miles on this machine. another choice would be to warm the bike up more before take off and perhaps pulling clutch lever a few times in neutral while warming up. i find myself becoming paronoid and confused with this machine, so far the bike is running great but have recently noticed the chatter. any opinions welcomed ken in penfield ny

You can try a different oil next time to see if that makes a difference. There was/is a big oil thread on the yahoo board about using Honda Motorcycle oil and other oils for this symtom.

According to Ronny Van Zant who owns an automatic transmission shop, this takes care of the grab/grind syndrome. Email him for more info

----- Original Message -----
From: Ronny Van Zant (darken92vulcan@yahoo.com)
To: VN750 yahoo group
Sent: Wednesday, July 06, 2005 2:12 PM
Subject: [VN750] Friction plates


Hi guys,

Kevlar lined friction plates don't like to slip, you might get a chatter when you take off. When you feather your clutch on take off you want it to slip if it can't slip it will grip and chatter. I can get Alto racing frictions plates for around $50.00 for the set.
I own a Transmission shop in Portland Oregon, I can get the clutches @ cost from my vendor. I strongly urge you to think about the application before you buy Kevlar friction plates.
The friction plates from Alto are of the highest quality for longevity. I have used Alto frictions in my KX500 for years not to mention all the times I've used their product in the shop on the transmissions here. Excellent product.

email me if you want to order any product.
RonnyV

From: Ronny Van Zant <darken92vulcan@...>
Date: Wed Jul 6, 2005 4:11 pm
Subject: RE: clutch disks
To: Mike Hebert darken92vulcan@...

These frictions are not Kevlar they are Red racing frictions. I don't recommend Kevlar. Kevlar is a very harsh material and it will not slip even when you want it to, and it will destroy your steel plates, you want a friction that has greater holding power but will allow minor slippage when you want it. The Red frictions dissipate heat alot better then Kevlar as well. You know the walrus noise that alot of people have taking off first thing, well thats because the friction plates are not slipping and allowing a smooth engagement. There are many people who complain of a no slipping engagement after installing Kevlar lined frictions.

1986 - 2003
Alto Red Racing frictions
.098 thick/per friction @ 8 frictions
$54.48 kit

1986 - 2003
Alto Red Racing frictions
.118 thick/per friction @ 8 frictions
$55.76 kit


My vendor is finding out if 2005 will use the same friction plates



I have this same problem, but after reading all the comments, I still don't know what to do.
Can a oil change makes things better, or should I replace the clutch unit ??
\
Dingo

Here is my humble suggestion, try Royal Purple MaxCycle 20W-50. This oil alone reudced my coffee grinder 80% or more.

Just something you can try cheap.

im sure those plates are great, not knocking them, but i just wanted to chime in and say, about 7,000 miles later on the kevlar paltes and absolutely no grinding grabbing, ever..i am satisfied.
but your plates are half the price, so i would be willing to go for them on my wifes bike when i get ready to do hers..yes same grinding grabbing problem, stock clutch still in.
:)