I was installing new plates today, and after I opened the package containing the new clutch plates, I found a note saying "soak plates in oil for 5 hours before use".
Is this common or needed? This is my first clutch job so I want to be sure of what I'm doing. BTW I didn't order a new gasket beforehand, so what do I need? A new gasket!!![:@]

 

I have never ever soaked clutch plates in oil before installing m8 and my clutches have been just fine on my previous bikes (Suzuki, Kawasaki and Honda). For the clutch case you can apply a thin layer of gasket paste, bought from any Auto Store for next to nothing which does the trick. I normally do this on my bikes only temporarily when I cant get the part, but my mate hasn't bothered replacing his and it has been on for years now. Auto gasket paste is normally high temperature tolerant for cylinder heads and is meant to do exactly the same as normal gaskets.

Just get the bike to operating temperature afterwards and check for leaks (as you would with any gasket renewal).

P.S. Apply very thin.

 

Some clutch packs will need to be soaked in oil. I read about it on my buddy's quad when we changed the clutch in it. Something to do with the materials that they are made out of. Some are made of some sort of fibers, and some are made of a metallic based substance. It depends on if your clutch is a dry clutch or a wet clutch also. But as longs as it's a cbr1000f. I'm pretty sure that they're all a wet clutch.
I would soak them to be safe. If the instructions say it needs it. It needs it for a reason.

 

I lucked out, my local Honda shop had my gasket in stock! I asked the mechanic about soaking the clutch and he said I should soak it overnight if I want it to last and not stick.

 

As Chuck said, it wouldnt be in the instructions if it wasnt deemed necessary. I have changed the clutch on all of my bikes since I was 18 and can honestly say I have never had any issue with installing them without pre-soaking. Maybe I am riding my luck

 

I'm fitting a new clutch tomorrow, and the plates are soaking in new oil right now. If you use a really clean container and cover it up overnight, you can use the oil anyway, so no big deal. The plates will last longer if you soak them first.
Dave.

 

When I was working for a little HONDA motorcycle shop in Tokyo back in `70s. The grumpy shop owner always told me soak clutch plates in motor oil. I have never heard 5 hours, but that is very common at any motorcycle shop in Japan.

 

Well, nice to know that is the norm..... If I kept a bike longer than 15k miles, maybe I wouldve seen the wear

 

Thats good to know as I will be replacing the clutch plates on the rebuild. Cheers




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