Can I pile on and suggest the Baker bearing? We use them all the time at our shop and in our personal bikes...

 

what's the difference between the 87 and up bearing and the 75-86 bearing?

 

The early bearings were the cone shaped bearings. Like this:

http://www.kandgcycles.com/clutch-th...hoChDEQAvD_BwE

these used the release finger in the kicker cover (or electric start kicker style cover) to engage the push rod. The new wafer bearing did not workwell with the finger setup.
You can however use our larger heavy duty bearing with the finger actuator, you just have to change the push rods over to a 87' 5 speed style setup. We have different length center and throw out rods. just tell me the overall length and I'll figure out a combo that works for you.

 

the throw out bearing on my 5 speed 85 was not the cone type and it uses the the finger set up. the cone type looks to be for 36-75 according to that web page you linked.

 

The early 80's were a hodge podge, some 4 speed , some 5 speed, some cone, some wafer, some EVO some Shovel, some kick, some electric start. Hell in 84 they used two different length mainshafts in the trans.

They used wafers with fingers but they just didn't hold up as well as the old cone bearings.

 

the first "wafer" bearing lasted about 20 years, the second bearing went about 10 years on my 85. i always carry a spare set now. road side repair is very easy with little to no loss of gear oil.

 

That's good life span out of a wafer.

 

i try not to sit at stop lights with the clutch lever pulled in. i usually put it in neutral.

 

Me too.

 

here's my emergency fix the last time the throwout bearing went south. it was washer on washer because the rollers were gone. i couldn't take all the slack out of the cable so i had to come up with something to get the clutch to release so i could get the bike in gear. i had about a 50 mile ride to get home through several small towns. shifted without the clutch and rolled through every stop sign and stop light. the screw clamp held the **** on the end of the cable out farther on the clutch arm and the wire tied the clamp into place so it wouldn't slip. it worked and i got home.