Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums General Tech Barnett Green Clutch Springs

I have a set on-hand, ready to install, just waiting for a cover plate gasket to arrive from Hermy's. I'll do an oil change at the same time. For those that have BTDT, any tips or anything I should know before starting this job?

Buy some cheap 2-1/2" 6mm bolts (5-6) and hack saw the heads off, thread these in intermittently around the case mating holes and you can have your gasket hanging correctly with no issues and they serve as a guide for sliding your outer case on straight and even. I lightly coat the gasket both sides with non-metallic anti seize and the gasket will have a high probability of re-use, if or when you need to split the case again. No adhesive needed, the dummy studs hang it in place. One more thing, locate and secure the wavy washer (on the starter) first thing after case separation and do not forget to re-install. I have done three spring changes, 3 bikes and have not needed a special tool, just keep on checking for looseness on the center pin as you wind the clutch bolts back in. Final torque after they snug up. Inspect your plates while you have the clutch apart, you can see worn or not, also survey the plates with a mic. if your so inclined. 3 bikes no issues, no leaks.

Great suggestions, Ryk.

I really like the guide bolt/stud idea.

I would not have thought to use ant-sieze as gasket prep...I'm not concerned with reusing a case gasket, as I am far more concerned with the case not leaking than spending another $8 for a replacement gasket. Thoughts on that?

Any reason to cover the shifter shaft spines with tape before pulling the cover?

Well, I believe with the metal mating surfaces clean and the gasket dry you will not be prone to leakage either. Triumph has come a thousand miles with the machining of the engine cases true, as to the old bikes. If you use a strong adhesive such as "Form a Gasket" you stand a good chance of damaging the soft aluminum when it's time to remove it in the future. You should endeavor to not put a scratch on the mating surfaces and it's a very soft alloy. Those guide bolts I mentioned earlier are really handy on the armature (Rt side) case cover, when arguing with the magnet inside and going back on straight and true.. You can use a silicon sealer, but, like I said, I have not needed any. So it's really your call.

What I had in mind was using a soft gasket sealer prep (don't have the name handy), not a hardening material or form-a-gasket.


The more I think through the anti-seize the more I like it.

it's very hard to get the gasket to make a tight seal without a tiny bit of sealer

Correct me IF I'm wrong , but the official Triumph Shop Manual say's NOT to use any form of gasket sealer.


I DO, anyway's!

Permatex Form-a-gasket.

I made the mistake disregarding Triumph's manual, and I put a little gasket sealer on there myself. It leaked like crazy. I pulled it apart again, installed a new gasket, clean & dry, and have had zero issues. Maybe I put too much on Not sure, but dry worked well for me.

Also, be careful not to over-torque the bolts for the cover.

When all else fails, RTFM...

I'll read it before starting this job.

When I did mine it was just the gasket and torque it down per the manual.