Sintered bronze or fibre clutch plates?

Status
Not open for further replies.
P

pierodn

Joined
Nov 10, 2012
Messages
3,158
Country flag
I should mount the clutch for my 750.
I have a new four Barnet fibre clutch plates with its usable 4+ 1 Thick metal plates, but i have also an almost new five sintered bronze clutch plates with its 4+ 1 thin metal plates that comes from a 850 clutch with its hub.
I would like to receive your advice about what clutch is best to fit.
Thanks.
Ciao.
Piero
 
concours said:
Only drawback to sintered is the steel carrier plates wears the ($$$) clutch hub. Alloy Barnett's will not.
You read this? http://atlanticgreen.com/ndnsclutch.htm

And this? http://atlanticgreen.com/clutchpak.htm
Click to expand...


Dear Concours,

I read but now I know less than before!
Sorry, I'm not a mechanic, not even an engineer, only a lawyer, though passionate, can't claim that understand details as technicians!.
I have:
-a complete 850 clutch with its chain hub, 5 bronze sintered plates, 4 steel plates + 1 thin steel presure plate, etc.;
-a complete 750 clutch with its chain hub, 4 fiber Barnett plates, 4 steel plates + 1 thick steel presure plate.

The question is simple, I hope: which clutch system is better mount, 750 or 850?.

Works better with 4 or 5 clutch plates?
Better sintered or fibre?

Thanks.

Ciao.

Piero
 
concours said:
Only drawback to sintered is the steel carrier plates wears the ($$$) clutch hub.
Click to expand...

"Steel carrier plates"?

The standard Norton 'sintered bronze' friction plates are usually solid bronze, I've never heard of any that had steel carrier plates.
 
Are blondes or brunetts ' better ? :( :? :lol:

Action probly softer with the earlier ones .
for trundling about quietly .

Bronze better grasping .
Releasing clutch holding 2.000 rpm proves this .

:lol: :lol: :oops:

Excessive slideing of either will gum the action with debri .

Theres a later hardened hub for the sintered plates .

If youve Barnett plates , Id use them if as new .
Anything thats not as new isnt going to work like its new , under duress .

Stick a straight edge over them to see if theyre warped .
 
L.A.B. said:
concours said:
Only drawback to sintered is the steel carrier plates wears the ($$$) clutch hub.
Click to expand...

"Steel carrier plates"?

The standard Norton 'sintered bronze' friction plates are usually solid bronze, I've never heard of any that had steel carrier plates.
Click to expand...

I dunno, I just assumed they were standard, because of the offset circular oil groove like others I'd seen. They may be something else.. I do know they are steel plates with the sintered bronze applied to it. The looks are deceiving, the carrier has a bronze color from the sintering process. If you look on the drive spline teeth, the steel color is easily visible.

Sintered bronze or fibre clutch plates?


Sintered bronze or fibre clutch plates?


Sintered bronze or fibre clutch plates?


Sintered bronze or fibre clutch plates?
 
Yes, you are right, they are steel plates (covered with what appears to be a layer of copper plating), my apologies as I had the feeling they were all bronze.
 
I have the fiber plates in my 750 and bronze in my 850. When cold I prefer the bronze as the fiber is "grabby". When hot there is little to distinguish between the two. I clean them both at least once a year and run 200cc of ATF in my primary.... don't have a fouling problem. The clutch hubs on both are a little worn and will need attention at some point. I prefer the bronze but the difference is marginal.
 
Unless you are clutch dump drag racing or trials clutch slipping tippy toeing its very hard to tell any difference performance wise so main road going issue it life of costly components. You can measure stack heights till the cows come home but my down and dirty way is just mix/match steel and friction plates with various pressure plate thickness till the diaphram spring just slips in groove w/o any pressure and nil slack. My stored factory plates have developed a bit of rust pattina hanging on the shed wall. Note the plate teeth stampens have a slight bevel edge which should face insides so spring has less resitance to clamp em as hand lever has more power to open them. A magnet helps me extract plates. Barrnnet says on new surfaced plates to apply some ATF then wipe off excess to allow smooth initial bedding w/o chattering texture.
 
I personally never could get the fiber plates in my 73 850 to work. No amount of stack height tweaking etc. would make it work right. Finally got fed up and spent the money on the bronzed plates (bronze coating on a steel plate). Parts went right in and worked perfectly right off the bat. I know they are heavier etc. but I don't race or abuse it, just ride it. And having a perfectly working clutch on a reliable rider is worth more than anything.

for me, bronze all the way.
 
I am completely freaked out by how much the clutch pack weighs with the bronze plates. If you like the idea of a flywheel in the primary then the weight is good. If it worries you that it is sitting outboard on your transmission shaft while it is providing this service then less weight might help ease your mind.

clutch-pack-weights-t8174.html?hilit=clutch%20weights

Russ
 
Thank you all for the fruitful discussion.
I think I wil use on my 750 the 850 's clutch with 5 Barnet fiber plates, not the sintered, as in pictures.
What do you think about.
Ciao.
Piero

Sintered bronze or fibre clutch plates?


Sintered bronze or fibre clutch plates?
 
pierodn said:
Thank you all for the fruitful discussion.
I think I wil use on my 750 the 850 's clutch with 5 Barnet fiber plates, not the sintered, as in pictures.
What do you think about.
Ciao.
Piero

Sintered bronze or fibre clutch plates?


Sintered bronze or fibre clutch plates?
Click to expand...
I think it is a good choice. They will work fine.
The teeth on the bronze plate look warn.

Now is the time to see if your clutch center is in good condition. Look for grooves. Take a picture of it.
 
pvisseriii said:
Now is the time to see if your clutch center is in good condition. Look for grooves. Take a picture of it.
Click to expand...

I will post tomorrow some pictures.
Ciao.
Piero
 
I believe there are no aftermarket sintered bronze clutch plates available, while there are aftemarket and OEM fiber plates. From that alone it would be wise to remain with or convert to fiber plates for availability reasons. That said clutch plates seem to last a very long time. The splines ware out before the friction portion.
 
illf8ed said:
The splines ware out before the friction portion.
Click to expand...

Hi,
Please, i cannot able to translate this period, could you use a more simply words?.
Ciao.
Piero
 
Piero , the clutch center piece develops slots as the sintered type plates eat into it eventually. The fiber plates won't hurt the clutch center. Post a photo of your clutch center so we can see if it has notches in it from the plates biting into it. This is more important.
 
Torontonian said:
Piero , the clutch center piece develops slots as the sintered type plates eat into it eventually. The fiber plates won't hurt the clutch center. Post a photo of your clutch center so we can see if it has notches in it from the plates biting into it. This is more important.
Click to expand...

Hi Thanks,
I will post the pictures tomorrow, but when i bought the 850 clutch basket with sintered plates, there was complete but there was not the clutch centre!.
I have two clutch centre from 750 with fibre plates.
I think to use one that i have joined with 850's clutch chaiwheel.
Ciao.
Piero
 
Piero , The 850 clutch you bought had no center because it was notched from those plates biting into it ,the seller throwing it away. Show us photos of both of your 750 centers please. Also ,some were softer than others. New ones are hardened better and will ring like a bell when you give it a tap with a wrench. These are the centers you want.
 
A typical example of (hardened) clutch centre spline wear.

Sintered bronze or fibre clutch plates?
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

PM999S
Surflex fibre clutch plates for unhardened Commando clutch basket.
Replies
8
Views
466
cliffa
cliffa
Flatspot
  • Locked
Fibre clutch pack required - 850 mk2
Replies
9
Views
2,275
gortnipper
gortnipper
Back
Top