AJS & Matchless Owners Club

Check you have matching clutch basket (attached to the chain wheel) and boss (through the centre of the plates) as there are four and five plate clutches.

Well, I thought all was ok on the bench, but it's not...
Took it for a run today, new clutch plates, clutch springs and lever working ok, (7/8 distance on levers ) all settings according to manual, pressure plate and clutch plates separating evenly, but almost impossible to change gear, took clutch apart again.
The clutch basket fitted has a steel backplate, and I have other baskets that have the small inserts fitted in the back of the clutch basket, as long as the plates go in the correct order steel then friction, will it make a difference?
Also what about the shock absorber what problem would this cause if it were to be faulty?
So close now engine running really well.

AMC clutches on 57-59 models had loose friction inserts in the backplate. It was redesigned for 1960 with bonded plates and also on the backplate. So the back of your basket should be plain and the back of the clutch should have the bonded friction segments. I know your plates are new but did you check them for flatness? The shock absorber won't affect this, but if the rubbers are soggy it will make a knocking noise.
Dave.

It could be the sleeve gear bushes on the g/box main shaft are a bit tight or not getting any lubrication causing the drag, you seem to have covered all other possibilities.

Clutch all sorted and gears changing as they should,Thanks for everyone's help, just need to sort out a slight scraping noise inside alternator casing when in motion, and bike completed.

Mikey, glad to hear you have sorted it now. It would be great to let us know what the problem was for future reference. How about telling us what you did to sort it please.
Cheers Dave.