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When I replaced the spring plate I also replaced the standard ball bearing throw out bearing with a thrust type bearing. An NSK7200BWG, not cheap but much better suited to the side loads than a standard ball brearing. Just have to make sure it's installed in the correct direction.
So I've had my bike about five months . It had around 16,000 miles on it when I got it and now it's just passed 20,000 miles . From what I've read on this forum , this is the point at which the brass rivets on the clutch spring plate are likely to fail with disastrous consequences . So my question is , is this an inevitability or do some Sportsters never have this issue ? Mine's an 04 XL 1200 R . I'm a competent mechanic but I haven't yet invested in a clutch spring compressor so a quick inspection isn't possible right now . One worry is that I do find myself slipping the clutch more than I ought to during slow speed manoeuvres . It's proving a hard habit to break .
It is not inevitable, but possible. I put 50,000 miles on my 04 1200C without replacing a single part on the drivetrain except oil changes and plugs. Clutch was perfect when I sold it.
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