cNw e-start conversion

The CNW clutch basket and center appear to be made of aluminum. I was wondering how this material stands up?
The original material was cast steel. The earlier steel centers were too soft, and were upgraded to a hardened center.

The bronze clutch plates should not be used in a CNW clutch. Is this because they eat into clutch basket?

I understand that an aluminum clutch basket should use aluminum clutch plates. The Barnett clutch plates are aluminum. But the stock plain clutch plates and pressure plate are steel. Won't these eat the basket and center?

Can anybody with significant mileage on their CNW clutch comment on how the the clutch basket and center are holding up?
I am assuming that the only supplier for replacement parts would be CNW?

I’ve got a cnw estart and billet clutch and I’m not too worried.

All I do is recall the aluminium clutch centre, basket and plates I used on my turbo Busa which were easily fit to use at 700bhp+. I was only 525bhp so hardly worth a mention

Anybody else got any direct experience or thoughts on mixing steel and aluminum and longevity?

Stephen Hill said:

Anybody else got any direct experience or thoughts on mixing steel and aluminum and longevity?

Click to expand...

May not be exactly what you are asking...

I ran a mixed stack of bronze and Barnett clutch plates in my 850 since the 80s. Stock steel pressure plates.

The broze plates notched two clutch centers, the original one and an AN replacement four years ago.

No way I would run a bronze plate with an aluminium center or basket. I might not even run them again on a STS/CNW hardened steel center.

Stephen Hill said:

The CNW clutch basket and center appear to be made of aluminum. I was wondering how this material stands up?
The original material was cast steel. The earlier steel centers were too soft, and were upgraded to a hardened center.

The bronze clutch plates should not be used in a CNW clutch. Is this because they eat into clutch basket?

I understand that an aluminum clutch basket should use aluminum clutch plates. The Barnett clutch plates are aluminum. But the stock plain clutch plates and pressure plate are steel. Won't these eat the basket and center?

Can anybody with significant mileage on their CNW clutch comment on how the the clutch basket and center are holding up?
I am assuming that the only supplier for replacement parts would be CNW?

Click to expand...

Stephen,

Clutch basket is aluminum but then hard anodized. This leaves an extremely strong coating that is partly embedded into the alloy as well as on top of it. Take a hard anodized piece and put a file to it and you will see what I mean. The file will not be able to remove any material. Also, consider that all belt drive kits over time have used aluminum clutch baskets.

The center is not aluminum. It is heat treated steel. This being a vacuum heat treat process and rather than surface treating, this goes through the entire part. Strongest clutch center available on the market. The Barnett frictions do use a softer aluminum and that will in fact wear over time. But since the frictions in a clutch are wear items that get replaced every so often, this is done by design.

You want to take advantage of the weight savings to reduce stress on the main shaft by using a Barnett type clutch in the basket. To put very heavy Bronze plates into the basket will then somewhat offset the weight savings going back in the wrong direction, making it heavier again. Its not that they cant be used....I just don't recommend it as the best combination in your belt drive set up

As far as miles on kits, considering that belt drives have used anodized baskets for decades, that has certainly proved the durability and longevity of the materials used

Hope that all makes sense,

Matt

Thanks Matt. Very helpful.
Stephen

gortnipper said:

The cNw e-start kit weighs 24 lbs complete.

Remove the weight of the stock inner primary, front sprocket, chain and clutch basket and your net weight gain is 11 lbs over a stock, chain drive, set up

This does not take in account further weight reduction with the Barnett clutch (over a Bronze stack) and possible battery weight.

Bronze plates weigh 1085g
A motobatt 9ah weighs 3364g
That is 4449g or 9lbs 13oz

Barnett plates weigh 349g
A 18ah Shorai weighs 1073g
That is 1422g or 3lbs 3oz

A savings of 3027g or 6lbs 10oz.

So, if the CNW kit itself adds 11 lbs, less the savings of the Barnett + Shorai, then it is only a total gain of 4lbs 6oz or 1984g.

Just skip a couple pints, a steak and ice cream and have a salad.

Click to expand...

Is your weight for the bronze clutch plates just for the actual bronze plates, or for the bronze and steel plates?

chaztuna said:

Is your weight for the bronze clutch plates just for the actual bronze plates, or for the bronze and steel plates?

Click to expand...

Just the bronze plates.

The steel plates represent a constant.

Happy New Year to everyone !!!

Last weekend to order the e-start kit at current price. Next week it will go up about $ 300.00

Thanks

Matt

Thanx for everything y'all do, Matt.

Happy new Year!

I second that. Thanks Matt & Happy New Year to all ya

Especially take care at the moment the wildfires in Colorado are making our evening news, it looks deadly.

I have used hard anodized pulleys in all my aircraft supercharger kits for almost 20 years .
we have set world speed records , raced in Reno , supplied many kits with many hours on them now .
never replaced a pulley yet , never had one destruct.
I also bought a CNW starter for my 71 commando .
glad I did , nice quality and saves my knee for normal walking .