Clutch assembly question

bsanorton · Apr 30, 2013

it's been awhile since I replaced clutch plates. Do I assembly all plates dry? The instructions with my barnett clutch plates says to soak the friction plates for 15 minutes and also after cleaning the steel plates wipe them in a light oil. Please let me know i'm ready to put them all in now. Also i'd read anywhere from 5-7 ounces? Do i use ATF type F fuild as well? Thanks in advance

concours · Apr 30, 2013

OIL THREAD!!! Like ALL wet clutches, I assemble them with a coating of oil. I use ATF in the case, so I start with that.

pete.v · Apr 30, 2013

concours said:
OIL THREAD!!! Like ALL wet clutches, I assemble them with a coating of oil. I use ATF in the case, so I start with that.

"If" you are running a wet clutch. If you are running a dry clutch then leave them dry. Norton clutches are suppose to be dry, although not many stay that way.

highdesert · Apr 30, 2013

Norton clutches are suppose to be dry

thank you, and also they are meant to STAY dry

the primary lube is there only to lube the chain, only, only

however, yes, wipe some lube on the new barnett plates, just rub it into the friction driven plates

Barnett knows what they are talking about

I once ruined a set of barnett friction plates by NOT lubing them first, they stayed dry, got brittle, and the friction material wore away rapidly

when in doubt, follow the damn instruction, even if not in doubt

concours · Apr 30, 2013

highdesert said:
Norton clutches are suppose to be dry

Click to expand...

thank you, and also they are meant to STAY dry

the primary lube is there only to lube the chain, only, only

however, yes, wipe some lube on the new barnett plates, just rub it into the friction driven plates

Barnett knows what they are talking about

I once ruined a set of barnett friction plates by NOT lubing them first, they stayed dry, got brittle, and the friction material wore away rapidly

when in doubt, follow the damn instruction, even if not in doubt

I know this has been beaten to death a thousand times, but help a dumb ass understand HOW they are to STAY dry, yet in an enclosed case, with "some" oil, yet you ruined them by assembling dry?

highdesert · Apr 30, 2013

I know this has been beaten to death a thousand times, but help a dumb ass understand HOW they are to STAY dry, yet in an enclosed case, with "some" oil, yet you ruined them by assembling dry?

well, one way they STAY dry is by installing a belt primary, which runs in a completely dry primary

I know you are are talking about the stock chain primary, I know guys who keep a little less than the recommended amount of oil in the primary just to lessen the chances that any can get on the plates, reasoning that the chain will still get lubed by the sloshing mix of oil and mist even if a bit low

when I ruined a set of barnett friction plates by not lubing them a little prior to assembly, I bought another set and rubbed some oil into them, no problems and they look good two years later now

honestly, I think the only thing one can do is to take the plates out once a season and clean them all good with brake cleaner spray and the hub splines with Q tips, they will still get a little misted from the primary lube but should not cause clutch slip

concours · Apr 30, 2013

highdesert said:
I know this has been beaten to death a thousand times, but help a dumb ass understand HOW they are to STAY dry, yet in an enclosed case, with "some" oil, yet you ruined them by assembling dry?

Click to expand...

well, one way they STAY dry is by installing a belt primary, which runs in a completely dry primary

I know you are are talking about the stock chain primary, I know guys who keep a little less than the recommended amount of oil in the primary just to lessen the chances that any can get on the plates, reasoning that the chain will still get lubed by the sloshing mix of oil and mist even if a bit low

when I ruined a set of barnett friction plates by not lubing them a little prior to assembly, I bought another set and rubbed some oil into them, no problems and they look good two years later now

honestly, I think the only thing one can do is to take the plates out once a season and clean them all good with brake cleaner spray and the hub splines with Q tips, they will still get a little misted from the primary lube but should not cause clutch slip

I see. But they slip if they get wet?

79x100 · Apr 30, 2013

Not much oil gets into the standard clutch that quickly (certainly not if the oil is measured in rather than poured to whatever level plug was wrongly sited). Once too much oil gets in (5000 miles or so with bronze plates) then they'll start to slip.

Barnett are pattern parts so standard recommendations and common-sense may no longer apply. Especially as they're American.

pete.v · Apr 30, 2013

Barnett's info may be misleading due to the fact that any preparation is for a wet clutch. I could find no information regarding dry clutch preparation.

I put mine in dry and are still excellent into their 4th year, with a belt drive.