Shovelhead Clutch Basket Repair
They can be repaired, but why? Bet if you go by your local independent shop, you'll find a selection sitting on his shelf.
I used to replace the dogs in the clutch basket with longer ones so I could run more plates. I would then use long reach nuts on the adjusting studs to get into the fiber plates. It was a lot cheaper and worked better than the competition clutches on the market. Your local machine shop can make them fairly easy. The holes to attach the dogs to the basket need to be counter sunk, and run a taper headed bolt and self locking nut.
I used to replace the dogs in the clutch basket with longer ones so I could run more plates. I would then use long reach nuts on the adjusting studs to get into the fiber plates. It was a lot cheaper and worked better than the competition clutches on the market. Your local machine shop can make them fairly easy. The holes to attach the dogs to the basket need to be counter sunk, and run a taper headed bolt and self locking nut.
This is a stock Sturgis basket.
Without wasting a lot of time I can't spare, I checked for replacements & came up empty.
Lots of chain drive, but no 13.8mm belt drives.
Without wasting a lot of time I can't spare, I checked for replacements & came up empty.
Lots of chain drive, but no 13.8mm belt drives.
Club Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 66,106
Likes: 51,387
From: Niles Canyon Ca.
That one's gonna be a factory item if you can find a dealer with a parts book that old still . Good luck man . I've heated the ends of those rivets with a small torch tip and hammered them tight again on the steel baskets before but it takes a bit of skill and 2 sets of hands , you will need to get a little creative with a vice and a heavy bar to support the dog inside while you do it .
4th Gear
Joined: Mar 2024
Posts: 8
Likes: 5
From: surrey bc
New member query
Hi there, been reading a couple of threads on clutch problems, this is the closest thread to my problem, one plate dog broke in half, two questions:
1) can I run the clutch with a half missing.
2) is it possible to find a replacement or have one machined.
the bike is an 84 shovel three prong basket.
1) can I run the clutch with a half missing.
2) is it possible to find a replacement or have one machined.
the bike is an 84 shovel three prong basket.
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Club Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 66,106
Likes: 51,387
From: Niles Canyon Ca.
You can run it but it'll rattle and eventually knock the rest of it loose. There's used clutch baskets for sale regular on ebay & facebook marketplace, only difference was the belt drive units but don't hold me to that been a while since I had one of those open. For what a shop would cost you can get a new repop.
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4th Gear
Joined: Mar 2024
Posts: 8
Likes: 5
From: surrey bc
Thanx
You can run it but it'll rattle and eventually knock the rest of it loose. There's used clutch baskets for sale regular on ebay & facebook marketplace, only difference was the belt drive units but don't hold me to that been a while since I had one of those open. For what a shop would cost you can get a new repop.
4th Gear
Joined: Mar 2024
Posts: 8
Likes: 5
From: surrey bc
Well I dood it........
well I said in March I wasnt in a hurry, and it paid off, found a brand new basket, its an offshore brand but who cares, Taiwan not China, it might be an old Chevy I had 50 years ago, tax in 680.00, in one way I dont care as the eBay ones just didnt feel right, should be running by the weekend, take care guys and thanx for help.
