Slipping clutch = trans saver?

Okay, here is a chance to tell me how dumb I was (am?).
73 commando a couple years old, 20 something rider (me).
Ridden hard all the time.
Developed slipping clutch when hitting 3rd gear.
This is I think is the point of most load on clutch.
Remedy was full set Barnett plates.
No slip.
Tore up transmission within a few days.
My conclusion was to use the correct amount of Barnetts and stock plates to tune in just a little slip as a trans saver.
Anyone else do this.
Am I the only genius (or crazy guy).

By the way, back when I rode my Commando hard every day I am pretty sure that I could have reassemled the transmission in total darkness.

When I brought my Norton new when I was 17 years old I learned very quickly that motor oil in the primary was to bad for clutch slipage and changed a few things to try and stop it as slipping clutch in all gears was a big problem as I rode my Norton very hard in them early days, I changed clutch plates etc to no avail till I started to experment with oils, running lighter oils in and less oil around 5 Fl oz I ended up going back to my orginal clutch plates and now run the old Ford tranny oil and my clutch has never slipped since and I am still using the orginal plates with lots of miles on them and my gear box has only been rebuilt once when I replaced the lay shaft bearing in 79 but have replaced the kick pawl 4 times and a new kick start shaft and the gear that it sits in, not bad for 43 years.
So run light oil and do not over fill the primary with oil 5 to 7 fl oz only is all that is needed.

Ashley

this has been rehashed numerous times. the old black barnetts were VERY aggressive and known to break gearbox's. the common fix was to run a mixture of the 2. the stock clutch slipping is cause by several things and one of them is gearbox oil contamination or to much and or wrong primary oil. the green barnetts are a lot better as they are not as agressive but they will wear the splines rather quickly but that is better than a center hub with the bronze plates beating it to death. we need more info as what you were using when you were breaking gearbox's.

Sorry if I sounded like I was asking for advice. I was really was just relaying story from 43 years ago and wondering if anyone else had the same experience. I appologize if I brought up something that has been discussed to death. It was enlightening to hear that there are Barnett plates that aren't as aggressive. Thanks.

XTINCT said:

Sorry if I sounded like I was asking for advice. I was really was just relaying story from 43 years ago and wondering if anyone else had the same experience. I appologize if I brought up something that has been discussed to death. It was enlightening to hear that there are Barnett plates that aren't as aggressive. Thanks.

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No need to appolgize we all learn from mistakes and each person's bike is different, some are reliable other have problems, some are easy fixes others cost big money and time, its all about owning old bikes, who cares if its been discussed to death isn't this what forums are all about, learning what others have done to over come things, helping others out and friendships made world wide, so no need to appolgize at all, some people might get upset over little things but everyone is different and have their own opinions, thats life just enjoy it and your bikes.

Ashley

been there done that with the black barnett plates back in 72. i broke more trans parts than i care to remember. the first one i broke the main case, 6 gears, both shafts, both forks, 2 bearings in one fell swoop.

You are more than a hundred miles from home and you realize that you just shredded something in the gearbox.
You pull into a parking lot and figure out that it's 3rd gear on the mainshaft and you can drive it home.
Then when you get home and take it apart, you were right.
You are way too familiar with the inside of your transmission.
(I think it was 3rd gear on the mainshaft, it was a long time ago)

Every time I read an evaluation of a modern bike in a publication, I can't help wonder what weeknesses and flaws they know and aren't telling us. I would bet that back then they knew the Norton's gears were made of hard candy, but they liked selling those full page ads with the Norton girls as much as we like seeing them.

I am amazed that the AMC box stands up as well as it does, Commandos have got a lot more grunt than AJS or Matchless singles. There is another aspect - normally the AMC box is wide ratio - the loads on the gears are greater than with close ratios.