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:

Break-in
The first 1 600 km (1 000 mi) that the motorcycle is ridden is designated as the break-in period. If the motorcycle is not used carefully during this period, you may very well end up with a “broken down” instead of a “broken in” motorcycle after a few thousand kilometers. The fol ...

Crankcase Splitting
Remove the engine (see Engine Removal in the Engine Removal/Installation chapter). Set the engine on a clean surface and hold the engine steady while parts are being removed. Remove: Cylinder Head (see Cylinder Head Removal in the Engine Top End chapter) Starter Motor (see Starter M ...

Starting the Engine
Check that the engine stop switch is in the position. A. Engine Stop Switch B. Starter Button Turn the ignition key to “ON”. Make sure the transmission is in neutral. A. Neutral Indicator Light B. Ignition Switch C. “ON” position NOTE The motorcycle is equipped w ...