Could use some help fixing up a Yammie auto clutch

[sxyryan]

Hey all, I'm mostly a lurker... but I love a lot of the stuff on here. I have an 84 225DX I have been working on for a while and the site has been incredibly helpful.

Anyway, I've working on this on and off for about 6 months. This is my first foray into heavy wrenching so I am learning a bit. When I got the bike, it was a basket case. I've got it running really strong and starting easy, but I'm having clutch (I assume) issues. Not much power on takeoff, but if you pop the clutch or get it moving, it runs and hooks up decently (but seems to be getting worse). I've tried a bunch of different weight oils, and none seem to make much of a difference. It handles flat ground ok, but come to a hill and it slips a lot. Would this be the centrifugal clutch or the secondary? I've got a rebuild kit for the secondary clutch on the way, but I'm wondering if my centrifugal might be too worn? Below are some pictures. I appreciate it if someone could shove me in the right direction. I love this bike so much, and getting it going strong has been an obsession, especially now that I have it running strong.

Here's my work in progress.
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And pictures of the clutches. I have a rebuild kit with the new disks (should be here tomorrow or the next day). Really hoping it isn't the centrifugal clutch... those seem pretty pricey, although I've seen it posted that the Timberwolf clutch works in there, and they are fairly reasonable.
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If y'all do the facebook thing, I'm doing something of a photo journal over there, and that's where these pictures are from.
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150948401367911.434443.782147910&type=1

Thanks for looking! I'm hoping to be around more... I think I've been bitten by the bug, all I can think about is getting this old girl trail ready, and then finding another neglected trike to rebuild (Tri Z maybe?)

[atc007]

It was time for plates alright! See how deep the grooves are in your drum,,that will give you a good look into what's going on w your centrifugal. Smooth,is new,deep grooves ,is shot.

[sxyryan]

The centrifugal isn't flat, but appears to have a healthy amount of meat on it and the grooves are there but aren't deep, although I don't really know what a wore out centrifugal looks like.

At least I'm halfway there, ordering clutch disks. Thanks!

[sxyryan]

Meh. Didn't seem to make much of a difference. I'm going to tear it down again tomorrow and double check everything. I missread the service manual and overtightened the clutch spring screws a bit. I don't think that is my issue.

The centrifugal looked like it had plenty of meat, but I'll post some pictures. Anyone ever hear of the shoes on the clutch getting glazed over or anything? Maybe from a previous owner not using the right oil or something?

[atc007]

If it's doing the same thing as before,,slightly better. You have a worn out centrifugal. Ebay will probably be your best avenue.. i can get you all new stuff,but not cheap enough.

[sxyryan]

Aww well. I got to buy a new torque wrench for this project, so that's a plus.

At least I'll know the internals are all good by the time I'm done.

Thanks for your help, by the way.

[muthey]

you are supposed to have a grove depth of about 1/16 of an inch on the centrifugal clutch , and smooth in the housing where it rides, you have material, but I didn't see much for grooves. here is one, but I would ask the seller to measure groove depth before buying. http://www.ebay.com/itm/84-yamaha-dx-ytm-225-200-yfm-tri-moto-4-centrifugal-clutch-/140787988160?pt=Motors_ATV_Parts_Accessories&hash=item20c79e36c0&vxp=mtr

[sxyryan]

The pads look healthy, but the inside of the housing is very worn. I didn't measure, but the grooves on the pads look very shallow and uniform, with at least twice that depth on the actual thickness of the pad. I know the guy who had it before me Frankenstein'd the motor a bit, I'm thinking he through together non matching pieces. He had three 225's, and a ytm200, along with a Grizzly, so I assume he had a couple floating around.

I haven't fixed the front brakes yet, so it's probably for the best any ways.

[muthey]

then the centrifugal clutch is totally worn out I have seen a couple on ebay for pretty cheap lately I recommend snatching one of them up before it's too late.

[Frankencelery]

This conversation sure is familiar! We went through this on my 225DX exactly a year ago, and I ended up buying a centrifugal clutch from Muthey. I don't remember the exact specs, but it turned the amount of groove needed on the shoe material was less than spec, but it worked fine, and is still going strong. This is a common problem with this machine. Mine had nothing on takeoff, but if you really got on it, you'd end up on your back. It was hooking up too late because of the worn centrifugal clutch.

[sxyryan]

Well at least it is reassuring that I know the issue. I'll order another centrifugal with my next paycheck.

This gives me a chance to figure out some electrical gremlins that have been plaguing the bike. I'm excited, getting closer and closer to getting her ready to go. Thanks, everyone!

[muthey]

just make sure you ask the seller how much depth you have on the grove on the shoes, and the wear of the drum for it before buying, I do know there is a timberwolf conversion kit that comes as the stock unit from babbitts, here is the link but it's pretty spendy. http://www.hondapartshouse.net/pages/OemParts?aribrand=HOM#/Yamaha/TRI-MOTO_-_YTM225DXN_-_1985/CLUTCH/YTM225DXN_%281985_ALL_TERRAIN_VEHICLE%29/CLUTCH_%28YTM225DXN_-_1985%29

[leevarnado]

I have a used centrifugal clutch with drum.clutch shoes have very litttle wear and drum has normal wear.$100 shipped.

[sxyryan]

^^Much appreciated.

I have to build up some play money and I might shoot you a PM. I spent most of the day after I got off work prepping a load of scrap. That should boost my funds up a good bit.

I was running the 225 around the yard, doing some minor carb adjustments and such. This thing is so much fun, even with the slip. I can't wait to get her going strong... then maybe hunt down a Tri Z to rebuild :twisted:. I was going to do a bobber build of a 69 Yamaha DS6 that was given to me, but it's looking like titling it is going to be a bigger pain in the but than anything else, so I may need a new winter project.

Thanks again, all!