clutch plate grooves

A question about the grooves in the fiber clutch plate of a KZ engine. When
installed properly, the oil grooves at the top of the plate are supposed to
lean counter-clockwise.. aka "\". Can anyone tell me the symptoms that
might manifest if the plate were installed with the grooves leaning in the
opposite direction? Thanks.

Mike


--
Mike W.
96 XR400
99 KZ1000P
70 CT70
71 KG 100 (Hodaka-powered)

 

I'd have thought you'd be hard-pressed to tell the difference.
AFAIK the grooves are just to give the oil a place to escape when the
clutch is engaged. If the clutch spins clockwise, widdershins slots may
help centrifugal force to clear the oil slightly more quickly, so I guess
there's a slightly-enhanced probability of clutch slip if they're the
other way around. Also a slight chance of the "sharp" edge picking up
against the metal plate if that's the wrong way around, I suppose.

However, if it's anything like the bikes I've worked on the clutch
probably spins anticlockwise, so it's all a guess really.

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KotPT -- "for stupidity above and beyond the call of duty".

 

There always will be a 'sharp edge', no matter how
you assemble the plates, either on the outer
rim or the inner rim.

But 'letting oil escape' is my guess too.

Don't think you'll notice much, --if any-- difference.
Rob.

 

Thanks guys... there's a small chance I blew the assembly and I'm seeking
reasons to be lazy and not check. The clutch is working wonderfully until I
have about 15 or 20 minutes of hard low-speed drilling on the bike at which
point it's more sensitive than I'd like. I'll probably just pop the cover
tonight or next Friday and put them the right way round if I did blow it.
Hopefully there are no huge issues to turning the fiber plates around.

Mike


--
Mike W.
96 XR400
99 KZ1000P
70 CT70
71 KG 100 (Hodaka-powered)

 

Mike W. asks:

If they are leaning right instead of left, they'll vote
republican.

The grooves help (a little) manage oil between the plates. A little
scraping towards the ID of the basket in the case of leaning "\"
and spinning anticlockwise, like your KZ. A very minor effect
and won't affect the operation of the clutch.

I don't think.


Go fast. Take chances.
Mike S.