What is a clutch basket and why does it cost so much?

[0ni]

Just called up the servicing folk to see if there was any progress made on the bike. Got a wee surprise...

Story to date, broke my clutch doing a less than sober twirly burnout in my mates garden. Got it recovered last week. In the garage getting looked at - was under the impression it was just new plates.

Need new everything apparently - the guy was like "Err how did you manage it, its all scored". The rest of the parts are on order from Suzuki and should be rebuilt by the end of the week. To the tune of £300 (plus 2 hours labour)

Ouch.

So what is a clutch basket?
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Its a lovely day, just wait until some bastard spoils it.

[Barry_M2]

Clutch basket is what holds all the clutch plates, only reason I can see that needing to be replaced is if its broken!?

Did the clutch plates explode / break up?

[0ni]

I wore down through them. Like I said... less than sober
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Its a lovely day, just wait until some bastard spoils it.

[Barry_M2]

So if all the plates are still in one piece, I cant see how any damage can occur to the basket!?

Ask them what is scored!

[Ste]

The clutch basket is the bit which the clutch plates and metal plates slot into...

https://www.onthepiperacing.com/uploads/gallery/garage/2003_04_KX125_basket.thumb.jpg

£300 plus two hours labour sounds a bit steep, I'd be looking for one from a breaker and fitting it myself. If bits of the clutch basket have broken then won't they be in the oil around the engine somewhere?

[G]

The clutch basket is the bit that holds the clutch friction and metal plates. It is usually in two halves, so that it can be pulled apart and pushed together as you pull the clutch lever.

I'm sure google pictures will turn up some pictures of some sort.

[Barry_M2]

First pic of clutch basket on its own, second is with plates in place with it on the bike.

[ciaronr6]

The clutch basket will suffer from wear and tear just like the plates. I'm guessing they reckon its sufficiently fcucked to warrant replacing at the same time as the plates. Not much point putting a brand new clutch in if the baskets hammered...

Although, with a job like that, I'd be asking to see the old parts just to make sure you're not getting screwed (although I've never had any probs with Ride On - bought umpteen bikes from them and used regularly for servicing etc)

Ciaron

[0ni]

The guy was fairly frank with my on the phone about it - said I should have received a call about it not just being the plates and apologised and asked if I still wanted to go through with it.

It was more than just a clutch basket he names, a couple of other things at the same time. Will get the old bits as well.

Cheers all
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Its a lovely day, just wait until some bastard spoils it.

[Ste]

Food for thought... change your engine for one from a breakers.

The clutch basket on my ZX6R decided to break into several pieces, needed a new clutch basket assembly and cleaning the bits of metal out from around the engine. Found for £500 a second hand engine which hadn't finished being run in yet and managed to sell the fucked one for £250 I think it was (being honest about what was wrong with it as well ) and it was needing a servicing including valve clearances which would have been likely to be in the region of £500 anyway.

Taking old engine out the bike was done in an evening and the replacement one put in the next day with two people, engine all worked fine when put in and everything attached. Put details of broken one on forums like BCF and put it on eBay. Sold to someone who saw it on eBay and came to buy it before auction ended.

[0ni]

Cheers Ste have taken that on board. I really need the bike for commuting and getting about as its now my only form of transport so the work is going to get done asap.

HOWEVER with the valve clearances needing done in a couple thousand miles time AND the fact that the engine may have more hidden gremlins on the way im going to have a good look for a nearly new engine. The lazy mans service
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Its a lovely day, just wait until some bastard spoils it.

[stinkwheel]

Changing out a clutch isn't all that big a job.

The basket probably needs replacing because the edges of it (where those tags stick through from the plastic plates) will likley have been notched after repeatedly being hit by the clutch plates.

I have certainly seen this happen before.

Part of the starter gearing is often an integral part of the clutch basket too, which adds to the price.
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[epz]

what type of bike is it, ebay has loads of choice

also who are fitting it, some glasgow dealers are halfwits.

[loply]

The outside surface of the tabs on my basket are all scored, I dont know how on earth this happened (or when it happened) but the clutch still works fine (even with one of the springs missing!)
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[Kickstart]

Hi

Wear from the plates puts dents on the edges of the tabs.

From what you describe (damage to the outside of the basket) I would suspect that a spring has managed to come out and done the damage. I hope that the remains of the spring / bolt have been removed already and that they have now done any other real damage. If this is the case I would expect to find some matching damage in the crankcases or on the clutch cover.

Sounds like someone has really bodged it up in the past.

All the best

Keith
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[flat spot]

The "tabs" will wear where the plates constantly chatter. Unless the wear is exceptionally heavy to the point the clutch doesn't engage/disengage it will be fine and there is no reason to change it. Unless it's broken a tab off it, it seems they are being a bit scummy saying it need replacement. A few minutes with a smooth file will bring most back to life for a while.

[0ni]