Modern Vespa

My new SIP clutch arrived yesterday. I know I am supposed to soak it in 30w oil (our "gear oil"). Do I need to use a u-clamp or something to open up the clutch plates to allow the oil to get to the surface of the plates, or can I just drop the clutch as is in a bowl of oil and let it sit overnight?

ofc better open your clutch

corks out or you'll regret it

might as well use a pick to get the grooves clean at the same time for better oil flow out

Yeah, take it apart. FWIW, last new clutch I bought arrived pre-oiled wrapped in a slimy plastic bag.

I vote compress it and soak in a bowl. They actually need very little oil in operation so I reckon that's more than enough.

Never thought about compressing the clutch and soaking the whole clutch. I assume that....it would work. Allows a little bit of gap in between the corks for oil to soak in. I have always disassembled the clutch and soaked separately. Next time I will try soaking the whole clutch with the clutch compressed. Scott

Compressing and soaking wastes more oil

It does, but if the clutch is clean there is nothing to stop you re-using the oil. And if you really can't be arsed pulling it apart then it's a not entirely unreasonable comprimise.

Interesting. I hadn't thought of taking it apart. I guess the lazy side of my brain is asking, if it has to be taken apart to be oiled, why do they ship it assembled?

Somehow there's always some grit or spiders in the oil and I end up tossing it

Put the corks in a seal-able sandwich bag, pour in some ND oil, seal it, give it a shake and let it set overnight. Or a month

I've done this for spare plates on long rides, and even had to use them. They had been "soaking" for about 9 months. does not take much oil in the bag and no dust or insects...

Wetting them yes but I'm not sure I'd immerse them overnight. There have been posts about the corks expanding too much and causing adjustment and shifting issues. Because they're vertical, when parked excess oil runs back into the gear case. When running they get oil flung on them and they fling a lot of it back off.

I have had a bunch of wet clutch engines. I have done this both ways. 1. Took the clutch apart and soaked the corks reassembled and road the bike with no issues.
2. Took the clutch out of the package installed it in the engine and have had no issues.
3. I just bought a complete clutch for my p200e...took it out of the package and installed it. I did not soak anything. I ran the engine on the stand for about 10 minuets to sling the oil around, popped it in gear and took off. Clutch works great. Go figure. Scott