BannedCR500Riders.com

Does anyone have any tips on a good replacement material to machine some new clutch cushions out of?

It's for my boy's YZ85. Bought him a new Barnett basket, and when I took the ring gear off of the old basket, the rubber cushions came out in pieces. Yamaha doesn't sell them, and from what I can find, apparently no one else outsources them either.

I would think Barnett would either sell them or you dont need them, they cant expect them to not break when disassembling/re-assembling

Pro-x likely makes them

Negative on both replies. Wiseco, Barnett, ProX doesn't list them. Hinson lists a kit that comes with the ring gear and cushions for $199.99 (no thanks). Yamaha will only sell you a complete, new assembled basket and gear with the cushions for $176 (no thanks). Barnett does sell the cushions for the larger YZ's for $29.99.

It's a little surprising on this bike, because there's only about a jillion of them in circulation. They've been made unchanged from '02-'10. From searching the forums, it's obvious we're not the only YZ85 owners with the same problem.

I say this not knowing what the yz85 cushions look like but could you take something similar and cut to fit? Like a Hinson set for a cr500 maybe ? Just an idea.

That's an idea for sure.

I've got another idea that I think might work though. I am thinking of machining a set out of an ultra-hard, oil impervious wood like ebony or cocobola. I'm afraid of using nylon or urethane because I don't know if they will take the heat that the clutch will make. The cushions are kidney shaped and about a quarter inch thick. I'd machine the wood replacements a little small, and glue a strip of tire rubber around them to restore some of the cushion.

The wood will stand up to the heat and oil of the clutch, and I've got the wood and tools to do it here at the house. Does this sound redneck, or what? I really don't know many other options--and I'm not buying another Yamaha clutch basket.

I will see if a friend of mine has some thay raced those YZ85 for years and he is a yamaha mechanic too.

Thanks Paul