CNW Clutch Center

swooshdave · Jun 19, 2019

I saw mention of the CNW Clutch Center in this thread: https://www.accessnorton.com/NortonCommando/maney-belt-drive-fitment-question.28000/#post-424133

I hadn't seen that before, probably because I haven't been shopping for a clutch center (although anyone with a stock one with any use has notches they ignore).

Two things caught my eye.

One, it appears to be less expensive than a stock center from AN. I'm not dissing AN for their price, it's just a comparison.

https://coloradonortonworks.net/cnw-clutch-center.html

https://andover-norton.co.uk/en/shop-details/16205/clutch-centre-06-0743-

Secondly, not being an engineer I was wondering how they heat treat and then machine.

After the heat-treat process, the bearing surface is machined to ensure that this surface is perfect

This is just my curiosity. I assume the teeth are machined and the it's heat treated. Do they machine the bearing surface afterwards to mitigate any distortion from the heat treating? Machining a heat treated material can't be kind to the tooling.

But really, another fantastic product from @cNw

Putting that on my wishlist. Somewhere after actually getting my engine together.

kommando · Jun 19, 2019

Once you harden steel then grinding is used to get final sizing and removing distortion.

lcrken · Jun 19, 2019

By bearing surface, I assume they mean the stub where the bearing presses on, as there is no real bearing surface in the center. That can be ground for final finishing, or hard turned using an appropriate grade of inserts. You can get a very good surface finish on hardened steel with the right turning tools, certainly good enough for pressing the bearing on.

Ken

swooshdave · Jun 19, 2019

Has anyone used the CNW one and is it as nice as it seems? Is looks like it’s included with the estart kit.

lazyeye6 · Jun 19, 2019

It seems that early cNw E start kits contained clutch centers sourced from A/N (please correct me if I am wrong).
I had one of these and after less than 2000 miles it was very noticeably notched by the clutch plates. I brought
this to Matt's attention and he immediately sent me a new clutch center which he assured me was of an improved
and hardened material. It has show no symptoms of noticing. The moral of the story is: support vendors who stand
behind their products.

swooshdave · Jun 19, 2019

AN is in a precarious position of meeting the needs of purists who want completely original parts despite the shortcomings and the people who want to improve their bikes.

We are massively fortunate to have access to both kinds of parts.

gortnipper · Jun 19, 2019

swooshdave said:
Has anyone used the CNW one and is it as nice as it seems? Is looks like it’s included with the estart kit.

Brooking 850 said:
Nigel yes they are, John Snead sent me one to test in the race bike.
Due to the way they are treated, it looks like rifle bluing.
After many races and lots of km.s on the one in the road bike, the bluing disappears, but not a hint of notching.
Have convinced a few mates its the way to go.
Regards Mike

John makes the CNW e-start kit as well as the clutch centers.

Too bad I had just bought and installed an AN center when these were announced.

Fast Eddie · Jun 20, 2019

lazyeye6 said:
The moral of the story is: support vendors who stand behind their products.

Absolutely!

The ball is in our court, support them or lose them.

@ swoosh, as already mentioned, the final machining will be grinding, this is very normal on hardened parts. I’m like you swoosh, I never noticed them until Brooking850 mentioned them. I’ve now got one on the way that I’ll be putting in my current 920 build. Clutch operation makes or breaks the riding pleasure of a bike. If this helps prevent notching, and thereby give a better clutch, it’s a bargain IMHO.

DevonNorton · Jun 20, 2019

I was another unaware of the CNW option.

Replaced a much-ridged original(?) clutch centre on my '72 Roadster in late 2017. This along with replacing two bent plain plates improved gear and neutral selection to such an extent it could have been a different gearbox. I know the folks posting here know this but for us relative newbies (in 4th year of Commando ownership) it was a revelation. Before this I was beginning to think a gearbox rebuild was on the cards.

I used the RGM offering (part no 063979) which is priced lower than AN. We'll see how well it performs over time.

Andy

Brooking 850 · Jun 20, 2019

Can't fault these new centres.

swooshdave · Jun 20, 2019

Brooking 850 said:
Can't fault these new centres.

You have one or want one?

blaisestation · Jun 20, 2019

Bugger, I to have just seen these .
Oh well at least it only takes an lazy hour to swap one
out.

The bronze plates seem to be the hardest on clutch centers.

swooshdave · Jun 20, 2019

blaisestation said:
Bugger, I to have just seen these .
Oh well at least it only takes an lazy hour to swap one
out.

The brass plates seem to be the hardest on clutch centers.

Bronze

Fast Eddie · Jun 20, 2019

swooshdave said:
You have one or want one?

He has two !

Brooking 850 · Jun 20, 2019

Yes I do indeed have two, the first one was sent as a test piece by the vendor, the second (and others) I purchased.
I use the standard bronze plates in both the race bike and the Roadster.
Thanks Nigel!
Regards Mike

swooshdave · Jun 21, 2019

Brooking 850 said:
Yes I do indeed have two, the first one was sent as a test piece by the vendor, the second (and others) I purchased.
I use the standard bronze plates in both the race bike and the Roadster.
Thanks Nigel!
Regards Mike

Have you checked the center after a few miles with the bronze plates?

Fast Eddie · Jun 25, 2019

Swoosh, in another post Brooking said “Due to the way they are treated, it looks like rifle bluing. After many races and lots of km.s on the one in the road bike, the bluing disappears, but not a hint of notching”.

Mine arrived via super fast express delivery (thanks Matt), it’s a nice looking bit of metal and fitted nicely. Mine will be being used with alloy Barnet plates, so I’m not expecting to see much notching !

Brooking 850 · Jun 25, 2019

Thanks Nigel, seems not all pay attention !!!
Great purchase.
I give the race bike a hard time on the starts and still no sign of notching and goes to show the standard bronze plates will work under extended loads.It will wheelie if I let it.
Admittedly it is a Maney 40 mm belt drive with a dry clutch.
I also lock wire the clutch centre nut after tightening , drilled nut and twist through those holes you show in your pic.
I do that on the Roadster as well.
Regards Mike

Fast Eddie · Jun 25, 2019

Mike, with no circlip to worry about taking the torque, I assume the clutch nut can be tightened ‘quite tight’?

I don’t recall receiving, and can’t find any such info on that, what torque do you use on the clutch nut?

gortnipper · Jun 25, 2019

40lbs + Blue loctite is where I was at. But, with a circlip.

CNW Clutch Center

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