As you may know I have been building up a KTM RC8 as my latest race / track bike project. I intend to race this one in the BEARS 'Thunderbikes' at some stage hopefully this year possibly in the support races before the 8 hour at Phillip Island. I completed the build up as per my other bikes and it went together perfectly, the only thing that was bothering me about this model was it not having a slipper clutch. For riding around the street it would be no problems, but for track / race use it is just too dangerous downshifting from high speed into slow speed corners, and with the big V-twin the risk of locking up the rear wheel is all too great, so I knew I had to add a slipper clutch to this bike to finsh the project properly.
I did research this a fair bit before going ahead with it, and see that KTM did try to use the ECU to control engine braking for the next model, but this wasn't really successful, so in the end they have decided that the best way to do it was to add the slipper clutch, and so by doing this my model officially becomes the 'RC8-R' version !!
So I have now fitted the 'Yoyodyne' slipper clutch and have also learnt a lot about clutches along the way. It was a very simple job really. The clutch comes complete, pre-assembled and set up so the ball bearings in the ramp section do not fall out. They are all seated and the 3 small springs already fitted take care of that problem so it is a simple task to fit.
It is just a matter of draining the oil, removing the clutch cover, removing the pressure plate, removing all the clutch plates and steels (slight change in order when you put them back), then removing the stock clutch basket, replace with the new slipper clutch basket, torque the main centre nut up to 120 Nm, then replace the clutch pack (friction plates and steels) fit the new pressure plate, fit the new clutch springs and buckles (all supplied in the kit) and torque these up to 10Nm. Replace the cover, re-fill oil, start the bike and check for any leaks.
The KTM cover has an 'O' ring as the gasket which looked fine, so I did not replace it, but it is not leaking anyway.So I took the bike for a quick ride, clutch feeling is the same feeling as it was before as far as taking off (which it should be) but I was unable to test the 'slipper' part of the clutch as I could not get up to a high speed, but still I know the clutch is working as it should be. First track test is at Phillip Island on the 20th of August. This kit is set up with the correct springs and so is designed to work on the track, so I have no concerns about it not working correctly, it is a professional racing part. But I will do a track report after the test day anyway... Here are the pics in order, I hope it helps anyone doing a similar performance mod.
Macca...
