clutch 81 550 GPz

I have a '81 550 GPz. It had 11,000 miles on it when I got it, 24,000 now. I am doing an engine rebuild and am re-doing the clutch. The manual says 7 friction plates and 6 steel plates. When I opened it up, my clutch has 8 friction plates, 6 steel plates and 1 metal plate that is copper or bronze looking. The cooper plate was the last (outside) metal plate. Do any of you have any idea what is going on? My clutch looks stock. any ideas are welcome.

cpgpz wrote:

I have a '81 550 GPz. It had 11,000 miles on it when I got it, 24,000 now. I am doing an engine rebuild and am re-doing the clutch. The manual says 7 friction plates and 6 steel plates. When I opened it up, my clutch has 8 friction plates, 6 steel plates and 1 metal plate that is copper or bronze looking. The cooper plate was the last (outside) metal plate. Do any of you have any idea what is going on? My clutch looks stock. any ideas are welcome.

Here's the parts diagram from kawasaki.com which is consistent with the 7 friction plates and 6 steel plates noted in your manual.

Good Luck!


[Click on image to enlarge view]






REF NUMBER PART NUMBER DESCRIPTION QUANTITY US CA CN REMARKS


318 318B0800 NUT 8MM 1


550 550D1615 PIN COTTER 1.6X15 1


600 600A1200 BALL STEEL 3/8' 1


13081 13081-1044 CLUTCH-ASSY 1


13087 13087-1052 HUB-CLUTCH 1


13088 13088-040 PLATE,CLUTCH FRICTION 7


13089 13089-026 PLATE,CLUTCH STEEL 6


13095 13095-1030 HOUSING,CLUTCH,65T 1


13102 13102-1008 RELEASE,CLUTCH 1


13116 13116-029 PUSHER,CLTCH SPRG PLT 1


13116A 13116-1007 ROD,CLUTCH PUSH 1


13119 13119-1003 CAM,RELEASE,CLUTCH 1


13187 13187-008 PLATE,CLUTCH SPRING 1


92001 92001-1066 BOLT,CLUTCH SPR FITT 5


92009 92009-1009 SCREW,SLOTTED,8M/M 1


92015 92015-1555 NUT,20MM 1


92022 92125-002 WASHER 1


92026 92026-022 WASHER TH 25.5X47X2.5 1


92026A 92026-116 SPACER,THRUST,T=5.5MM 1


92028 92028-178 BUSHING,CLUTCH 1


92045 92045-1001 BEARING,BALL,CLUTCH 1


92046 92046-028 BEARING,KTV323723 1


92081 92081-069 SPRING-CLUTCH RELEASE 1


92081A 92081-139 SPRING,CLUTCH 5

sounds to me that somebody has put in an extra barrnet plate to take up slack in the clutch pack. measure all you plates and compare them against stock measurements that should tell you what they have done.

Haven't heard any positive feedback from using Barnet Clutches, might jst be hear-say? I've used EBC and Kawasaki Fibers with great success.