[fzeddmatt]

So little background:
I bought this bike from the dealer with 300 miles on it, it now has about 11.5k. The bike is stock, I ride it almost 98% in STD mode and never in A mode. I did mainly commuting with it, and about 100-200 miles of canyons on the weekends. I changed the oil 4 times since I bought it, but just had the 4th oil change sampled by Black Stone Labs in Jan 2018. Came back with what they considered high aluminum content. They suggested it might be from the transmission or cylinder walls...I just chocked it up to a new engine still breaking in.

Fast forward to now. I am always pretty picky about they way my shifting and clutch feel, so I am now about a 1500-2000 mile oil change interval, always running 20-50 yamalube. Next change in a month or so will be 10-40 yamalube. I will have that sampled too just to see what happens.

But heres my problem, seems like when the bike is warming up and the oil is still cold, if I am even remotely hard on the clutch during a launch from a light, it makes this horrible grinding, screeching metal on metal noise like all the clutch plates just ground against each other the wrong way or something. (it sounds like you scraped the exhaust on a curb or something) Engine sounds fine, runs fine and has normal power and the clutch doesn't slip under full power once its fully out and locked up. Once the oil is warmed up, it seems fine and can launch like normal.

Admittedly, I have done a few burnouts, but only like 5 or 6, nothing that I thought would fully destroy the clutch. And I don't do clutch up wheelies or anything like that.

My 1 year warranty is up on feb 18 2018, so it would be awesome if I could still use that for this issue, but I have a feeling the clutch wouldn't be covered anyway.

I will try and post a video of it when I start and run it tomorrow morning.
I am also contemplating swapping out the stock clutch for an xsr900 slip and grip clutch ($214), so this might be the tipping point because I kinda wanna tear the cover off just to see what the clutch looks like.

What do you guys think? Anybody else have or heard of nasty clutch problems like this?

 

[gsatterw]

If it were me, I'd bring it in under warranty and see if they'll deal with it. Otherwise, pull that cover and see what's trashed. Possible the basket is cracked in which case you'll have to buy a new basket which isn't included in the xsr900 slipper clutch swap kit.

 

[DeepArmourMT09]

Keen to hear your findings on this as my clutch has made this noise a handful of times in the last 2 years, but nowhere near frequently enough for my to warrant tearing it down. Only when taking off from the lights quickly and usually uphill. It's a horrible sound and I can understand why you're concerned if yours is doing it frequently but I've only heard it maybe 4 times from mine.

 

[PhillipHols]

Haven't heard anything like that from mine or any machine I've owned for that matter. I'm curious to see what you or the dealer find.

 

[Spacecoast]

My 1 year warranty is up on feb 18 2018, so it would be awesome if I could still use that for this issue, but I have a feeling the clutch wouldn't be covered anyway.

Really? So a broken part isn't covered? Nonsense. Sure, a worn-out clutch is probably not covered, but a broken plate or basket should be. Parts are not suppose to break.

 

[Cw09]

Sounds like a broken plate or two !

 

[Nimbus]

Is it ever a good idea to perform a "launch" from a stop on a cold engine/oil? I can't imagine that's good for anything in general, but I'd agree that screeching metal is out of the ordinary.

 

[fzeddmatt]

gsatterw: why would you think the basket is cracked? The bike still runs and rides like normal 98% of the time..

DeepArmourMT09: interesting that you have experience the same thing. Mine has done it about 6 or so times. I feel like it has done it more with a 2nd gear low speed clutch release...I have attempted to get the noise on camera but the last 2 days it hasn't made the noise. Once the bike is fully warmed up it def won't make the noise and you can launch super hard without issue. I know these "noise" complaints are worthless without proof.

Spacecoast: only reason I suggested that the dealer wouldn't do anything was because the bikes tail is kinda still covered in rubber bits from burnouts and I kinda feel like a clutch is a wear item so they would just say it isn't covered, but again I didn't want to go to them without a video of the noise.

Cw09: sadly thats the only thing I can think of, but how would broken plates still feel good when the bike is warmed up? if it was a broken plate or plates, wouldn't that feel shitty no matter what?

Nimbus: It wasn't a full on "launch" but I meant like taking off from a light, when the bike is still warming up, but semi aggressive on the clutch release. Happened twice the other day real bad when I was late to an appt. Seems to be an issue in the first 30 mins of a warm up cycle.

 

[Cw09]

No matter how many questions you ask the only way to find out if there is something wrong is to open it up and inspect it. Personally I would rather do it under warranty ?

 

[abe57]

I also bet your basket is cracked and or broken

 

[Rocky_MTN_FZ09]

There is definitely something broken in the clutch assembly, as it shouldn't make a noise like that ever. If you do take it in for warranty, clean up all evidence of doing burnouts and do not say anything like, "It makes this weird noise when I launch the bike". Just say the clutch makes a weird noise when I first start riding the bike. If you are lucky the dealer will fix it under warranty, but like it has been mentioned the clutch is considered a wear item like tires and brakes. Fingers crossed you can get it covered, but you won't know until the dealer gets a look at it.

 

[abe57]

but like it has been mentioned the clutch is considered a wear item like tires and brakes.

Yes the plates and fibers would not be covered but the Clutch basket would !!

 

[Rocky_MTN_FZ09]

Yes the plates and fibers would not be covered but the Clutch basket would !!

It should be covered under warranty unless the dealer feels the failure was caused by abuse. If you check the warranty in your Owner's Manual, there is always a few loopholes the dealer can use to not cover warranty repairs. Or as the warranty says "Abnormal strain, neglect, or abuse".

Hopefully he can get it fixed, which is why mentioned to not say anything to help the dealer think the bike has been ridden hard, lol.

 

[Crosshairs]

gsatterw: why would you think the basket is cracked? The bike still runs and rides like normal 98% of the time..

There were quite a few reports of broken baskets on the 2014 models..not sure if any changes were made in 2015. but your description sure fits the bill for a broken basket.
i would get it in quickly and get it looked at as if it is broken, you want to minimize the damage by not riding it until its diagnosed and or fixed.

 

[fzeddmatt]

If you do take it in for warranty, clean up all evidence of doing burnouts and do not say anything like, "It makes this weird noise when I launch the bike". Just say the clutch makes a weird noise when I first start riding the bike. If you are lucky the dealer will fix it under warranty, but like it has been mentioned the clutch is considered a wear item like tires and brakes.

I basically cant remove all the rubber and stuff from a few burnouts I have done, so I have accepted its mine to fix. Im going to pull the cover and see if it is a basket. At least I could bring them the part and say this broke. Then I would think they would give me a new one no questions asked.

 

[fzeddmatt]

I also road it for about 100 miles the last few days without issue or noise.... so strange that it makes a noise that bad and then still continues to work well.

I still have not heard the noise the last few days so I haven't gotten a video of it. I really wanted to record it to post it here and it be a reference to others, along with the end result findings.

 

[DeepArmourMT09]

I basically cant remove all the rubber and stuff from a few burnouts I have done, so I have accepted its mine to fix. Im going to pull the cover and see if it is a basket. At least I could bring them the part and say this broke. Then I would think they would give me a new one no questions asked.

Pro tip for next time: if you apply gaffer tape under the tail before conducting said burnouts it makes it really easy to peel the rubber off afterwards (don't leave it too long or the glue will be a nightmare to remove)

 

[Steve H]

Over many years of riding different machines I have never experienced the clutch breakages reported here. My clutch makes a horribe sound when engaged which I have put down to crap Yamaha clutches....not as bad as my mates Ducati's dry clutch with a slotted cover...but one of the worst I have heard.

If mine breaks...even if out of warrenty I will still push to have it fixed at their cost as there have been too may instances of it happening for it to be anything else but crap design. I wont hold my breath for any reconpense.

 

[abe57]

I basically cant remove all the rubber and stuff from a few burnouts I have done, so I have accepted its mine to fix. Im going to pull the cover and see if it is a basket. At least I could bring them the part and say this broke. Then I would think they would give me a new one no questions asked.

Maybe not they will say that you might have broken it removing it ! so if the whole bike does not go in and they tear it apart and find it broken you are in a win less situation !

 

[Cw09]

I basically cant remove all the rubber and stuff from a few burnouts I have done, so I have accepted its mine to fix. Im going to pull the cover and see if it is a basket. At least I could bring them the part and say this broke. Then I would think they would give me a new one no questions asked.

Wd 40 or kerosene on a rag , rubs right off