Open primary chirp

big A

Member
I have posted this issue several months ago and got nowhere. Was told the sound was normal but it's hard to believe that my bike sounds so bad. I have a bdl 3in open primary. Decided to tear it apart to make sure everything looked ok. That's funny cause i wouldn't know what looked good or bad. My main goal was to make sure the clutch hub was tight. I got all the way down to the pressure plate( the piece that has the 9 springs). I loosened the small nut and removed the bolt/rod. I get stuck at this point. How do I get the pressure plate out. Tried to pull on a few of the springs with my fingers but there was no slack. Didnt want to pry on anything so I stopped. Btw the primary chirps really loud. If i get in the gas in any gear it gets so loud that people look at me funny. Also in neutral with the clutch out, the primary also chirps really loud. Sounds like crap until I pull the lever in. At this time i can actually hear the belt. Just hears Bobby's utube video and mine sounds nothing think that. Need to get rid of "some" of the chirping. Thanks guys.
 

RCAdd1ct

JAFO
The center bolt is the clutch adjuster.

The nine bolts have springs under them, they give the clutch the clamping force. After you remove the nine bolts the clutch should pull out easy.

Once the clutch is outer will be a large nut with three small button head screws holding down a hardened washer. With the drive belt off grap the basket and look for any movement as you push and pull on it. The only movement you should have is the basket and hub spinning. On mine the heads of the three button heads wore from the hardened washer and I got play and clutch rub.

Get on beltdrives.com and look at the install videos. Once on YouTube hit show all, there will be a clutch tech video about putting the fibers and steels in. Make sure yours are the way he describes.

Also, look for any signs of metal to metal contact in the hub and from the basket to the motor plate/ starter cover.

That should get you started.......

More t
 

big A

Member
Hey Paul. Haven't had time to break into it any further. Going to go thru the entire clutch and replace the cheap stuff for shits and giggles. Read somewhere that a guy put rtv silicone on the dogs and it quieted it down alot for about 1000 miles. That many miles would last me about 6 or 7 months. Don't know if the silicone would melt or frag off and mess anything up. Def Gunna buy a bearing, plates and fibers. Need to call BDL and see what they think. Will post again with results.
 

Brew

Troop Supporter
Could it be that your clutch push rod may be dry and needs greasing? I know others have had that issue before.
 
BDL clutch hubs have been notorious in the past for spline wear. They use pins instead of cut splines. Also have heard they have no hardening on the hubs in older models. Take some pics of your clutch hub without the plates installed. Another issue may be there is nothing wrong at all with the primary since you are getting noise when you hit it. You could have a tore up stator that makes a bunch of racket as well, just went through this last year on 04 chop. Bought new inner bearing thinking that was it only to find out the stator was tore to shit.
 

big A

Member
Since I have no idea what the hell I'm looking at, I will take videos and pics of everything during the break down. I should be able to start on thursday. If I could quieten it down even just a little, that would satisfy me. Thanks and will post again soon.
 
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