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Clutch engagement length gt550
Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2009 11:29 am
by durgam
1974 GT550.
ive noticed that when shifting the revs dont always drop when I pull the cklutch in. I pulled the cover off and the ramp assembly off as well. I noticed that the rubber pads between the ramps keep the ramp from closing all the way, thus making it difficult to adjust.(imnot getting the true amount of travel in the rod)
The manual says to line up the groove on the cable pull with the notch in the casting. When I do, I dont have the pull to disengage the clutch. can I remove these rubber pads from between the ramps?
Posted: Thu Dec 10, 2009 6:57 am
by Coyote
I AM confused. Rubber pads?? Must be a PO's bright idea. There ain't no rubber in there. Can you tell used exactly where these 'pads' are?

Posted: Thu Dec 10, 2009 7:10 am
by durgam
Part 23. The outer circles are the balls, and the circles in between them are rubber pads. the pads are so thick , that my ramps dont touch the balls. I lose clutch throw, because the ramp turns 10-20 degrees, before the other ramp touches the balls. (stop laughing) Make sense??? Its hard to explain.
Posted: Thu Dec 10, 2009 8:21 am
by Suzsmokeyallan
Can you post a photo of the part so we can see the rubber pads?? as far as i know the ramps are always in contact with ball plate, just back on the slope where it allows free travel space at rest.
If the ball plate on your bike actually has rubbers as a stock design its possible from age the rubbers have swollen up and gotten taller.
However i suspect a PO was trying to fix something that was not a problem.
Posted: Thu Dec 10, 2009 11:11 am
by durgam
I may be able to get a pic tonight. My son has an early floor hockey game tonight.
Posted: Thu Dec 10, 2009 11:55 am
by Coyote
Here's a pic of the one found on the GT750. It is the same part nomber as the one on the 550. 23250-31003. As you can see. there ARE NO rubbers. It is possible I suppose that you have a incorrect part - possibly from some other bike.
The part is still available from Suzuki. Around 20 bucks. Or maybe someone here has a spare they can offer.

Posted: Thu Dec 10, 2009 12:29 pm
by Suzsmokeyallan
Same part as the Buffalo?? thanks for the confirmation Chris as i dont have a 550 parts book.
So that confirms there are NO rubbers in the ball plate on the 550. That means someone ( P.O ) got creative because it was probably rattling.
Why didnt they grease the mechanism and adjust the lock nut/set screw to take up the required free play,,DUHHH.
Posted: Thu Dec 10, 2009 1:57 pm
by durgam
Looks like im cutting these ones off than. Thanks for the information guys.
Posted: Thu Dec 10, 2009 2:29 pm
by Suzsmokeyallan
Before you cut them off can we see what it looks like, im curious..
Posted: Thu Dec 10, 2009 3:32 pm
by durgam
sure thing.
Posted: Thu Dec 10, 2009 3:42 pm
by Coyote
Posted: Thu Dec 10, 2009 11:35 pm
by tz375
Hmm,
That's odd. I just ran out to the garage where it's about 14 degrees F and pulled off a side cover. It appears to have rubber pads molded into both sides of the ball plate.
I didn't stay out there long enough to be 200% sure, but it looks like they land when the balls are in the pockets.
edit..
Call me stupid if you will but I just pulled that cover apart and the plastic/rubber pads touch down at the same moment that the balls bottom in the pockets. I'll try to post a picture later, but can't do it from this laptop.
It sounds as if your pads have swollen and are in need of a trim.
It's so cold out there that the lights are just a dim glow and several of the tubes won't fire at all. And January and February are ahead of us...
Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 2:52 am
by pjmcburney
tz375 wrote:That's odd. I just ran out to the garage where it's about 14 degrees F and pulled off a side cover
It's so cold out there that the lights are just a dim glow and several of the tubes won't fire at all. And January and February are ahead of us...
Luxury...
As I type this it's ten-to-seven in the evening and the temp gauge in the kitchen says 31.6 deg C which is 88.9 deg F!
It got to the mid 30's today, Ipswich was 40... Summer has only just officially
started.
Can't wait 'til April
Cheers
Paul
Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 7:02 am
by durgam
15 degrees here in michigan.
Call me a big ol' wuss, compared to TZ, Cuz im in the house.
I think that may be the case, though. Because I can squeeze the assembly and they touch, maybe ill get a new one. What year is the one you checked?
Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 8:27 am
by tz375
What year? I have no idea. Probably 74, 5 or 6. The two motors I stripped were 74 but I have some other parts off fleabay and I have no idea what year the part was that I looked at. I don't think it matters though.
That part didn't change did it?