How to Replace the Clutch & Oil Pump in a Honda Grom
Welcome to the sixth part of our project to enhance the performance of our 2018 Honda Grom: installing a clutch kit and a high-flow oil pump.
Follow the steps below and watch our Honda Grom clutch and oil pump replacement video above to make upgrades that squeeze an extra bit of performance out of a Grom.
Tools and Parts Needed – Honda Grom Clutch and Oil Pump Upgrades
Tools
NOTE: For this project you’ll need regular tools, including a ratchet, socket set, wrenches, torque wrench, etc., plus the special tools listed above.
Part 1: Removing the Honda Grom Clutch
Step 1. Soak the new clutch friction plates (included in the Grom clutch kit) in engine oil for at least an hour.
Step 2. Position a drain pan beneath the Grom, then remove the 17mm oil drain bolt from the bottom of the engine, and let the old oil drain out before reinstalling the drain bolt.
Step 3. Remove the rear brake pedal pivot bolt so the pedal can be moved out of the way of the right-side crankcase cover. Next, remove the bracket holding the clutch cable, and release the cable from the clutch arm.
Step 4. Remove the dipstick, then the crankcase cover bolts in a diagonal pattern. Next, remove the crankcase cover, followed by the old crankcase cover gasket.
PRO TIP: Have shop towels or rags ready to catch the oil that will drip out of the cover as it’s removed.
Step 5. Hold the gears in place with a gear holder tool and remove the oil filter cover. Next, remove the oil filter bolt using a lock nut wrench, followed by the oil filter rotor.
Step 6. Remove the two oil separator plate bolts, followed by the radial ball bearing from the center of the clutch. Next, use a lock nut wrench to remove the central clutch nut.
Step 7. Remove the three clutch bolts and the clutch lifter plate. Loosen the bolts a couple of turns at a time to keep the pressure even on the clutch assembly. Then, remove the five clutch springs.
Step 8. Mark the clutch pressure plate and the clutch center plate so you can reinstall them in the same orientation, then remove the clutch assembly from the Grom.
Watch the clip below to see the clutch removal segment of our Honda Grom clutch and oil pump video.
Part 2: Replacing the Honda Grom Clutch
Step 1. Remove the old clutch friction plates and drive plates from the clutch basket.
Step 2. Install the new clutch friction plates and drive plates (all included in the Grom clutch kit) into the clutch basket in the following order:
1. Friction plate
2. Drive plate
3. Friction plate
4. Drive plate
5. Friction plate
6. Drive plate
7. Friction plate
8. Drive plate
9. Friction plate
Step 3. Reinstall the clutch assembly back onto the Grom, then install the new clutch springs (included in the Grom clutch kit) and the new clutch lifter plate. Tighten the three clutch bolts a couple of turns at a time to keep the pressure even on the clutch assembly. Torque the clutch bolts to 9 foot-pounds, then reinstall the two oil separator plate bolts.
Watch the clip below to see the clutch replacement segment of our Honda Grom clutch and oil pump video.
Part 3: Replacing the Honda Grom Oil Pump
Step 1. Remove the three oil pump bolts, followed by the old oil pump assembly. Make sure the two dowel pins remain in the crankcase.
Step 2. Remove the circlip from the front of the old oil pump, and the gear and plate from the back of the old oil pump housing.
Step 3. Install the new oil pump rotor set into the new oil pump housing (all included in the high-flow oil pump kit), and attach the existing plate, gear and circlip to the new pump housing. Use threadlocker on the two bolts holding the plate.
Step 4. Install the new oil pump assembly onto the Grom. Use threadlocker on the three oil pump bolts and torque them to 9 foot-pounds.
Step 5. Remove and clean the oil filter screen at the bottom of the crankcase, then reinstall the oil filter screen.
Watch the clip below to see the oil pump replacement segment of our Honda Grom clutch and oil pump video.
Part 4: Reassembling the Honda Grom
Step 1. Hold the gears in place with a gear holder tool, then torque the central clutch nut to 47 foot-pounds and install the new radial ball bearing.
Step 2. Clean the oil filter rotor with contact/brake cleaner, then reinstall the oil filter rotor and torque the rotor bolt to 47 foot-pounds.
Step 3. Remove the gear holder tool.
Step 4. Install a new oil filter cover gasket, then reinstall the oil filter cover, and use threadlocker on the cover bolts before torquing them to 9 foot-pounds.
Step 5. Install a new crankcase cover gasket, then reinstall the crankcase cover and torque the cover bolts to 9 foot-pounds.
Step 6. Reattach the clutch cable, then reinstall the rear brake pedal pivot bolt, refill the engine with oil and reinstall the dipstick.
Watch the clip below to see the reassembly segment of our Honda Grom clutch and oil pump video.
Watch the video below to see the next and final upgrade in our Honda Grom project, in which we install some suspension mods, and an Ohlin’s fork kit and shock.
