How noisy is a heavy duty clutch?

How much noisier does a heavy duty clutch make the gearbox?

It's clutch time for me and read a few threads that mention the gearbox being noisier at idle and read this on the ashcroft website also.

Is it going to drive me nuts?

Where is the best place for a heavy duty clutch fork, don't want that bit to bust.

Also anything else to do. Rear crank oil seal needs to be done so that's on the list.

My heavy duty clutch fork lasted two months then fractured down one of the arms but I can't remember where I got it from, I think it was ebay. I've ended up putting the old one back in as all the shops were shut when I was fixing it. If there's a next time I think I'll buy an OEM one and reinforce it myself.

Thanks. Sounds like a plan.

This was mine after less than 2 thousand miles..

I would also go with reinforcing an OEM one,have thought of modifying one to accept a series 3 nylon pivot point.

Would like to ask how a heavy duty clutch would make a gearbox noisier?

tottot said:

I would also go with reinforcing an OEM one,have thought of modifying one to accept a series 3 nylon pivot point.

Would like to ask how a heavy duty clutch would make a gearbox noisier?

Click to expand...

The springs in the clutch plate are there to dampen vibration and reduce shock loads on power take up or let off (effectively a very basic and crude form of dual mass flywheel type of effect). if you have a clutch plate with heavier springs then it stiffens up the plate and reduces the dampening effect. This means that more torsional vibrations from the crankshaft (caused by the firing impulses) will be transferred to the gearbox. These torsional vibrations will cause the gears etc to chatter on their shafts if there isn't any loads on them (in neutral). How much extra noise I don't know but it was something I was considering the pros/cons of when I need to change mine.

Thanks for that info Kwakerman.

iirc people would stick in a 130 hd clutch, but that's now provided as standard - 242mm i finky

Thanks all. Motor doesn't do 1000s of miles a year, it's an RTV plaything really with a bit of extra when the weathers bad to get around home to work. Still mulling it over.

I fitted a HD clutch to my 90 a couple of years ago, nothing wrong with the old one (until I dropped it on the floor and chipped the friction material) but while I had the bulkhead off for galvanising it made sense to separate the gearbox at the same time.
Original clutch was Valeo so I fitted a Valeo 130 unit, same diameter but eight springs instead of four. Fitted a HD release bearing & arm at the same time. I also mulled over the rear crankshaft oil-seal, it had only done about 30K miles at the time and of course was in perfect condition, I heard horror stories of people replacing them and making a muck-up of it but in the end decided to fit a new one and it went ok.

I think there is definitely more clutch chatter on idle but mine would be an extreme example as I have no sound deadening, carpets or matts fitted. I would be surprised if it was noticeable in a normal vehicle.

Thanks all.

Suppose the question I should be asking is do I really need a heavy duty clutch.