Clutch balance

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p400

p400

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I am considering balancing a Norton clutch assembly? is there any history on this?
Spins about half the engine speed. Seems a balanced clutch would improve performance.
Clutch balance
 
Can't hurt but bet ya can't tell so suggest balancing the alternator rotor is more worth while.
 
p400 said:
I am considering balancing a Norton clutch assembly? is there any history on this?
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I'll offer a blunt opinion on ths as it is a waste of time. Clutch components masses are all pretty much installed and operate in symetry with the axis of rotation.

Yes you may find some minor imbalance but it is truly a fart in a wind storm when compared to the forces of imbalance inherent in the crankshaft as well as residual imbalances in the wheels.

Having said all this, improving wheel balance has its merits as I suspect the balance on most road going Nortons is so so.
 
Well there ya go what could be better reason than doing it just to spite Dances common sense. Still any basket out of balance would wear more on the poor ole nil lubed sleeve bushes resisting it so only one way to know for sure and guess who'd be the first on the block to find out. How would ya balance a basket as I've tried with a lawnmower cone balance but too ridiculous impossible to me that way. Could remove a layers of fuzzy vibes no one can tell from road texture till its gone. Alloy belt baskets may be light enough not to gain. Steel baskets drummed/sprumed by the chains links so I don't know what matters if this unusual effort.

Clutch balance
 
Triumph had a problem with unbalanced clutches on the 650/750 twin, they solved it by machining it all over to remove the unmachined cast surfaces. As the Commando Clutch is machined all over already the fix is already in place.
 
Hi all, not exactly about balancing it but what do you think about lightening it ??
I think Ludwig had done it ,though it was for a belt , but about a chain ....! by adding the two rows Merc , Andy could supply, plus grinding (lathe work!) the unneccesary teeth, and why not drilling big holes on the back face ! is that silly?
 
Personally I think it's trying to fix something that isn't broken. If you're really worried about the weight switch to a belt drive. The belt and both sprockets are lighter with a belt.

Ian
 
Well personally I think one can't apply normal logic to motorcycles and I include wet sump devices as begging a logical question to solve. I vote test basket balance to see how much it might be off and then balance to see if "sensible" difference. My logic says might be good to drill some holes in the teeth area of basket to let any tranny or primary lube in plates an easier escape route before piling up to gum up plates.
 
Sane mature people all drive cages period end of story throw in the ole towel and go home. So what's logic got to do with discouraging a unique attempt w/o any downside but wasted effort to learn something and maybe find out how much a basket is off and what it might feel like or how well it might preserve chain to sleeve bushes. i'm not in normal common mental states=attitude but ain't fooled by any motorcyclist rationalizations for their dangerous wasteful expensive addiction. I lost track of pilots putting me down for my wild ways riding - now dead as door nails practicing their long seasoned commonly acceptable safe ride advice to heart. Must stay in state of semi rage over cycling or would loose the rest of my mind and only drive cages - as sometimes do when too many dead dudes and my own screams of terror and survival pains get too loud. I would like to know how one would go about balancing a clutch especially filled with plates.
 
hobot said:
I would like to know how one would go about balancing a clutch especially filled with plates.
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Assemble clutch by placing plates on hub inside clutch basket. Install clutch spring with retainer clip and voila! Balanced!

This is too funny.
 
Dances with Shrapnel said:
hobot said:
I would like to know how one would go about balancing a clutch especially filled with plates.
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Assemble clutch by placing plates on hub inside clutch basket. Install clutch spring with retainer clip and voila! Balanced!

This is too funny.
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Then spin clutch assembly to selected rev, activate clutch and the plates will dynamically find the optimum balance within their limited range within the basket.
Repeat for all of rev range to be sure.
 
Ah dances ya so easy to entertain but subject is spin balance not diaphragm spring balancing sheeze.
Being out of balance kid I'm fascinated by spining things better balanced than me. My curiosity killed my cat but my satisfaction was worth it.

polaris basically uses a motorcycle wheel balancer with an old lady sittin next to it spinnin clutches! same goes for the few shops i talked to they are not using any super expensive or highly technical devices, i think the accuracy of the balance has little to do with the equipment used , and more to do with the skill and integrity of the person using the balancer, a standard wheel truing stand.
http://www.snowmobilefanatics.com/forum ... ancer.html


Check this out for spin balancing wheels to clutches. Harley oriented so not good for cool Commandos.
http://balancemasters.com/howtheywork.html

Balance Masters Motorcycle Clutch Components
http://www.jpcycles.com/motorcycle-clut ... ce-masters
 
No thanks hobot. I have made it this far in life without mercury in my clutch assembly although I did laugh like a mad hatter at the thought.
 
although I did laugh like a mad hatter at the thought.
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Ah ha that means you actually thought about it so think about around our flywheels. Still there's lots of clutch balancing onging on w/o us so maybe we don't know what we're missing out on. Poor Harley's isolastics may not isolate unblanced clutches I guess.
 
Hey hobot, while you researching balancing any odd thing have a go at washing machine drums and how they are able to compensate for each load layout. Interesting stuff to file but also not directly related to Commando clutch balancing.
 
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