91 KTM EXC clutch problems - will a change in gear oil help?
David E. Wilson
KTM clutches last a very long time...or does it just seem that way!
First, KTM is my favorite brand, but the clutches on bikes from that
time frame drag. Also, when in neutral, the clutch basket rattles around
(this hurts nothing-is normal) and makes a lot of noise. Also, due to
the bike being well muffled you hear the noise and think something is
wrong, nothing is wrong. The clutch is most likley not stuck. The best
thing that I have found is to use Mobil 1 0W-30 automotive oil in the
gear box. Do not try after market clutch plates, they will not fix the
drag problem, the stock KTM plates are better than Barnett (according to
Barnett, no less!) Try the oil then see what happens. My 92 250 EXC
drags some (a little more when cold) but it's not a big problem and I
can start it in gear. My bike has the stock original clutch, I like to
fan the clutch and have about 7,000 miles of tough off road (enduro, MX
tracks, tough Colorado mountain trailriding. If that doesn't fix the
problem, at least to an acceptable amount of drag, then do the
following. Remove the plates and make sure that they are not stuck.
Find a glass bead blaster and blast the metal plates. Try it again with
Mobil 1 0W 30. Part of the problem is the clutch works too good, and the
glass beading helps to keep more oil on the surface of the plates so
that it will slip when you pull in the lever. Mobile 1 10W 30 would be
my next pick, you can also try ATF, any type or brand.
Vintage Dave
pcl...@interphaseintl.com
I rode my friends bike (91 KTM EXC 300) over the weekend and noticed that the
clutch would not fully engage making the bike near impossible to start in
neutral with the clutch pulled in. If you started it in neutral, pulled the
clutch and dropped it in gear the bike would lurch forward. Needless to say,
stalling was also a problem on the tight twisty trails. It may need a new
clutch, but I seem to remember reading a posting or two from RMG riders who
said a particular type of gear oil solved some of their clutch problems with a
KTM EXC 300. Any comments would be appreciated. Please copy any postings to
my email. Thanks.
Peter
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Nick Boutet
It could be just slightly stuck - my KX125 did this when I put it back
together. Here's what I do with a stuck clutch: put the bike on the
stand so the rear wheel is free to spin. THen start the bike, put it in
first, pull in the clutch, and slowly apply the rear brake while giving
enough gas to keep it going. This unstuck my clutch and I've never had
a problem since.
Nick Boutet
SSmyers102
Could it be that the clutch basket itself is grooved so that the plates don't
want to seperate ?
I agree that KTM clutches last a long time- i have never replaced on even on
bikes i have ridden for 4 years or more.
Will Rosenberry
On Tue, 28 Apr 1998 10:04:26 -0600, pcl...@interphaseintl.com wrote:
>I rode my friends bike (91 KTM EXC 300) over the weekend and noticed that the
>clutch would not fully engage making the bike near impossible to start in
>neutral with the clutch pulled in. If you started it in neutral, pulled the
>clutch and dropped it in gear the bike would lurch forward. Needless to say,
>stalling was also a problem on the tight twisty trails. It may need a new
>clutch, but I seem to remember reading a posting or two from RMG riders who
>said a particular type of gear oil solved some of their clutch problems with a
>KTM EXC 300. Any comments would be appreciated. Please copy any postings to
>my email. Thanks.
>
>Peter
>
>-----== Posted via Deja News, The Leader in Internet Discussion ==-----
>http://www.dejanews.com/ Now offering spam-free web-based newsreading
A friend of mine who is older then the hills and has owned KTM's
longer then KTM has, showed me some tricks to stop this.
Use good oil ( I been using Spectro 80w but I am going to try Mobile 1
15-50w on the advice of a resident expert)
Don't get the clutch hot! When you come to a stop on the trail have
it in Nutural before you stop moving. Just sitting in 1st with the
clutch in heats it up. Don't beat the clutch (its a 300, you should
not need to beat the clutch)
It works for Me! My 98 workes fine, until I get the clutch hot and
then it drags just like your 91.
Will Rosenberry
Kenneth Price
I had the same problem with mine. I started using Bel-Ray gear saver per
the dealership recommendation. It made a big difference.
--
Kenneth Price
1995 KTM 440 M/XC
Will Rosenberry <wrose...@chesco.nospam.com> wrote in article
<35491410...@news.chesco.com>...
JIMSKTM250
Try placing the steel plates on a piece of glass and check for warpage.My
ktm125 started dragging,replaced a couple warped stell plates, presto, all
fixed.Definately check the basket for groves, if there not to bad you can
carefully sand them out.