HaulinAshe
Well-known member
There are other threads about the geometry changes between 05 and 06-07 clutches. Most everyone that has ridden both pre-06 and later models, quickly notices the "catchy" and stiff feel of the 06-07 clutch. Apparently Yamaha changed the slave cylinder diameter on the 06-07 to better match what was needed for the AE model. That resulted in a stiffer feel to the manual clutch and a more difficult clutch to finesse.
After reading the other posts dealing with simply swapping the new slave cylinder for an 05, I had a few concerns and wish to share them and my findings with the masses.
The 2005 part number is: 5JW-16381-00-00, and it's called "PUSH LEVER COMP".
Current retail price is $69.99.
I could not believe that Yamaha would actually sell a complete slave cylinder for less than $200, but they do!
There is NO gasket required. The slave cylinder seats into a cavity in the engine case which has a weep hole/notch cut in the mounting surface. So no gasket or sealant is required, nor should any be used.
Like most everything else in life, there is a trade off for the smoother and easier clutch operation. Most clutches, especially brand new ones, require full deflection of the clutch lever/master cylinder to fully disengage the clutch. If you are like me and use oversize grips or grip puppies, and have wide hands with short fingers, you probably run your levers in position-4 or position-5. Since the 05 slave cylinder is a larger diameter, it requires more travel of the master cylinder to produce the same distance/movement at the slave/clutch.
In the simplest of terms, you have to move the clutch lever farther to completely disengage the clutch. Yamaha may have recognized a need for greater slave cylinder travel and decided to make the change. Whatever!
If you have oversize grips and typically run your 06-07 clutch lever in position-5, then you should understand BEFORE ordering an 05 slave cylinder, that you probably won't be able to use a setting closer than position-4. There simply is not enough travel with the clutch lever pulled all the way against oversize grips to fully release the clutch. Finding neutral with the brakes locked can become a real challenge.
If you can live with lever position-4 and don't mind occasionally having to fully pull the clutch lever, then you will like the slave cylinder change. It smooths the clutch operation significantly and greatly reduces the pull force required.
After reading the other posts dealing with simply swapping the new slave cylinder for an 05, I had a few concerns and wish to share them and my findings with the masses.
The 2005 part number is: 5JW-16381-00-00, and it's called "PUSH LEVER COMP".
Current retail price is $69.99.
I could not believe that Yamaha would actually sell a complete slave cylinder for less than $200, but they do!
There is NO gasket required. The slave cylinder seats into a cavity in the engine case which has a weep hole/notch cut in the mounting surface. So no gasket or sealant is required, nor should any be used.
Like most everything else in life, there is a trade off for the smoother and easier clutch operation. Most clutches, especially brand new ones, require full deflection of the clutch lever/master cylinder to fully disengage the clutch. If you are like me and use oversize grips or grip puppies, and have wide hands with short fingers, you probably run your levers in position-4 or position-5. Since the 05 slave cylinder is a larger diameter, it requires more travel of the master cylinder to produce the same distance/movement at the slave/clutch.
In the simplest of terms, you have to move the clutch lever farther to completely disengage the clutch. Yamaha may have recognized a need for greater slave cylinder travel and decided to make the change. Whatever!
If you have oversize grips and typically run your 06-07 clutch lever in position-5, then you should understand BEFORE ordering an 05 slave cylinder, that you probably won't be able to use a setting closer than position-4. There simply is not enough travel with the clutch lever pulled all the way against oversize grips to fully release the clutch. Finding neutral with the brakes locked can become a real challenge.
If you can live with lever position-4 and don't mind occasionally having to fully pull the clutch lever, then you will like the slave cylinder change. It smooths the clutch operation significantly and greatly reduces the pull force required.
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