Is the clutch in a Commando a wet clutch?

If the Commando clutch is wet, what body of oil provides the wet? If it is the primary case oil, is it still a wet clutch when a belt drive for the primary drive is used? I use an engine oil additive (MaxiMizer) in all of my older (50s - 70s) vehicle and was told by the producer of MaxiMizer that the product is too slippery to be in the oil used with a wet clutch.

Yellow_Cad said:

If the Commando clutch is wet, what body of oil provides the wet?

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As the clutch is contained within the primary case, logic must dictate that the body of oil will be the primary case oil?

Yellow_Cad said:

If it is the primary case oil, is it still a wet clutch when a belt drive for the primary drive is used?

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That would depend on whether the belt is run 'wet' or 'dry'?

Norton clutch is a dry clutch. the oil in the primary case is for the CHAIN, not the clutch.

Easy way to prove it: add about 4 ounces more oil to the primary chaincase than what is called for in the specs. If you can get the bike home with the furiously slipping clutch, you'll be doing well.

Yellow_Cad,

I suggest you search and read what 'beltdriveman' has to say about the Commando clutch over on the BritBike Norton forum?

Thanks for the good info. So by what has been said here, I assume that there is no problem adding a slippery agent to the engine oil since the clutch should never see it. Is there any other reason that such an engine oil additive wouldn't work.

Don't put some slick snake oil in the primary. Oil does get on the clutch plates. If you do you will have to take them out and clean them. My brother once added a touch of STP to his primary. I have pictures of him taking it apart to clean it all out of there. Slipped like crazy.

Wet Clutch

I run a belt drive and thus no oil in the chaincase. I also fitted the RGM kit to prevent gearbox oil running along the clutch pushrod. The clutch is as 'sweet as a nut'. Ref oil in the chaincase - many recommend ATF (automatic transmission fluid) as it's thin and tends not to contaminate the clutch too much. Don't use additives in the chaincase as the clutch will slip like hell. Perceived wisdom is that the oil level plug in the chaincase is too high and thus if you fill to this level it will add to problems - it's better to measure the correct amount of oil and pour it into an emptied chaincase.