Is this clutch basket catastrophe typical?

Notice primary gearing jammed with parts of clutch basket. 1981 CR430. Heard a slight ping, then motor stalled a minute after and was locked (obviously).

Don't ask me why the images are upside down. Right way up when I view them on my southern hemisphere computer.

Is this a normal mode of failure for clutch baskets? Engine did suffer the classic kickstart idler failure 35 years ago and has only run a few hours since. Maybe there was an unnoticed crack in basket from then.

All other parts look fine apart from a few dings from broken basket pieces.

Interested to know if there is something else I should check-out before installing replacement.

Yes that is what happens when you never open the clutch cover. Those fingers should be SMOOTH!!! Can't say I've seen one ridden to failure. I wonder how the clutch lever pull felt??? Dang!!! Probably have to disassemble the motor completely to get all the fragments out!! You say only a few hrs runtime?? DANG!!! Your an ANIMAL!!! Here's what my new basket for the 500XC looked like. And the old.

And if you have a plastic bearing for the basket replace it with A steel one. I'll get the pn in the am!!

Keep your hair on DeathFromAbove. It didn't look like that when I put new clutch plates in about 3 running hours beforehand. I wouldn't have use it if that was the case. Perhaps the new plates cut in more or the failure cut the grooves like that.

Plastic bearing cage was replaced when engine was reassembled. In fact new bearings all round.

I notice your clutch basket is the later part. The replacement will be like that.

Hahah NO Worries Leigh!! Usually when you see that much Grooving in the basket fingers, that clutch has been ridden Hard!! Glad yo changed that bearing, (mine is a Suzuki number I got from a member Picklito on Huskyhamm advice) and are getting a new basket. What clutch disc and plates are you using. If the plates are steel, I imagine that would accelerate the wear. As for taking the engine down I would say that is good practice. That aluminum will gave gotten everywhere the oil goes. Great Luck and keep us posted!! I will UNWAD my Panties!!

http://www.cafehusky.com/threads/1983-xc500.87850/page-11
post 205 from Picklito!!

Unfortunately I don't have any experience with this era but this does make me wonder why the damping elements were discontinued in 81.

I think you will find that HVA-Factory in the UK keep new billet baskets with or without cush rubber holes.

Yes, we have ONE New Old Stock one left

You need to watch our HVA Factory Youtube Clutch Videos too!

Although not specifically for that year everything still applies....

Hope this helps, Andy

I just noticed the site is back up. Likely the thread is sort of old.

I notice the fingers on the pictures in post 2 are kind of solid while the ones in post 1 are lightened. The 500 sized bikes in this era had the solid ones. They may be stronger in the way the finger attaches never examined for that. I never thought about the holes being for rubber damping never paid much attention. Those are the most worn fingers I have seen and find it hard to believe that wear happened in a few hours. They went to 6 springs and larger diameter later on maybe 87 or so.

The cushioning went away when the primary kick appeared maybe that has some bearing here.

Perhaps someone used those fingers in some manner to hold the engine or transmission from turning during some repair or maintance procedure.

Those aluminum baskets with the lightened fingers DO fail. My bet is that it got stressed and fatigued when the kicker parts exploded. That's a real problem, especially on an 81. And when it blows, the related parts might "look" fine but they may have hairline cracks or just bad ol' metal fatigue from the bomb.

As for those grooves happening in 3 hours of run time... I don't have an answer for that. But I vote for a complete strip and inspection.