Kawasaki Ninja Service Manual: Spring Plate Free Play Measurement

Kawasaki Ninja Service Manual / Clutch / Clutch / Spring Plate Free Play Measurement

Insufficient clutch free play will cause the engine braking effect to be more sudden, resulting in rear wheel hop. On the other hand, if the free play is excessive, the clutch lever may feel “spongy” or pulsate when pulled.

Hold an extra drive shaft in a vise and install the following clutch parts on the shaft (see Clutch Installation).

Collar [A] Needle Bearing [B] Sleeve [C] Clutch Housing [D] Spacer [E] Clutch Hub [F] Sub Clutch Hub [G] Friction Plates (48 Lining Blocks) [H] (#1, #10) Steel Plates (T = 2.9) [I] (#1
#7) Spring Seat [J] Spring [K] Friction Plates (36 Lining Blocks) [L] (#2 #9)
Steel Plates (T = 2.6) [M] (#8, #9) Clutch Spring Plate [N]

Spring Plate Free Play Measurement

Engage the clutch hub with the sub clutch hub.
To measure the free play, set a dial gauge [A] against the raised center [B] of the clutch spring plate.
Move the clutch housing gear back and forth [C]. The difference between the highest and lowest gauge readings is the amount of free play.

Drive Shaft [D]
Measure the spring plate free play.

Spring Plate Free Play Usable Range: 0.05 0.70 mm (0.002
0.028 in.)

Spring Plate Free Play Measurement

If the free play is not within the usable range, change all of the friction plate and measure the free play again.

If the free play is not within the usable range, adjust the free play (see Spring Plate Free Play Adjustment).

Clutch Installation

Apply engine oil to the needle bearing [A] and the sleeve [B]. Install: Needle Bearing Sleeve Install the clutch housing [A]. Fit the holes [B] and projections [C]. Engage the ...

Spring Plate Free Play Adjustment

NOTE The free play adjustment is performed by replacing the steel plate(s). Measure the clutch spring plate free play (see Clutch Spring Plate Free Play Measurement), and then replace the st ...

Other materials:

Clutch Cover Removal
Remove: Right Lower Fairing (see Lower Fairing Removal in the Frame chapter) Clutch Cable Lower End (see Cable Removal) Clutch Cover Bolts [A] Turn the release lever [A] counterclockwise as shown, and remove the clutch cover. About 90° [B] ...

Crankshaft Main Bearing Insert/Journal Wear Inspection
Split the crankcase (see Crankcase Splitting). Cut strips of plastigage to journal width. Place a strip on each journal parallel to the crankshaft installed in the correct position. Tighten the crankcase bolts to the specified torque (see Crankcase Assembly). NOTE Do not turn ...

Front Forks/Rear Shock Absorber Operation Inspection
Pump the forks down and up [A] 4 or 5 times, and inspect the smooth stroke. If the forks do not smoothly or noise is found, inspect the fork oil level or fork clamps (see Front Fork Oil Change in the Suspension chapter). Pump the rear seat down and up [A] 4 or 5 times, and inspec ...