Time for a Clutch

Beach · Jun 10, 2020

Got my bike running better than ever and now it's time for a clutch. Wondering what the general consensus is regarding best friction plates available now.

Fullauto · Jun 10, 2020

Barnett clutch pack. Just replaced mine after 60,000 miles. It never slipped and didn't stick together like standard norton plates.

Fast Eddie · Jun 10, 2020

+1 on the Barnett clutch pack.

It has the added advantage of taking load of weight off of that poor long suffering main shaft too !

Peter R · Jun 11, 2020

I have Barnett clutch plates in use since some time, they work well, but the clutch produces a loud squeak upon engagement . (Belt drive, so primary runs dry)
Do you guys have the same experience ?

Fullauto · Jun 11, 2020

Peter R said:
I have Barnett clutch plates in use since some time, they work well, but the clutch produces a loud squeak upon engagement . (Belt drive, so primary runs dry)
Do you guys have the same experience ?

Yes. The squeak. But it goes away eventually. Like having a pet mouse in your primary.

Bernhard · Jun 11, 2020

Fullauto said:
Yes. The squeak. But it goes away eventually. Like having a pet mouse in your primary.

I would have no problem with a squeaky belt drive, I just turn my hearing aid down

Onder · Jun 11, 2020

What??

gortnipper · Jun 11, 2020

You want a squeak, try a dry clutch Ducati!

I have always run a mixed 2 Barnett/3 bronze plate stack, and I have never found cause to change it. Smooth as, no chirp.

cliffa · Jun 11, 2020

Peter R said:
I have Barnett clutch plates in use since some time, they work well, but the clutch produces a loud squeak upon engagement . (Belt drive, so primary runs dry)
Do you guys have the same experience ?

I have Surflex plates (running dry) and find it embarrassing pulling away, it always sounds like I'm wheelspinning and folks look around at me. Fun at first but three years later...

Craig · Jun 11, 2020

Plates that were in place would stick together often , bike came with new Barnett pack , after several clutch baths , switched plates to the Barnett pack smooth running since with no , “knock on wood”sticking ...

MikeG · Jun 11, 2020

Been running the Barnett clutch for 4 or 5 years now. The chirp on engagement went away after a few months.

Fast Eddie · Jun 11, 2020

MikeG said:
Been running the Barnett clutch for 4 or 5 years now. The chirp on engagement went away after a few months.

Same here. Been running them for 6 years road and track, got them in the current 920 too. I think there might still be a very minor chirp, but can’t really here it over the rest of the racket !

maylar · Jun 11, 2020

When I tried Barnett plates with a wet primary I couldn't keep them from sticking, even with ATF. Finding neutral was impossible and the bike crept at a stop and clunked going into first. Went back to the bronze plates. Now that i have a dry primary, the Barnett's are fine. No chirping that i can notice.

ashman · Jun 12, 2020

Beach said:
Got my bike running better than ever and now it's time for a clutch. Wondering what the general consensus is regarding best friction plates available now.

So what is wrong with your clutch that you need to replace it, I am still running my original clutch after 44 years of ownership and over 160k miles on it and its still light to use, hasn't slipped since I found the right oil to run in the primary, I have only adjusted it when I have the clutch basket apart for maintenance or replacing the chain, I have run them wet as well dry when I had the belt drive for about 5 years and the only thing I have replaced in the clutch in 44 years is the clutch centre about 6 years ago (notchy teeth) and a pressure plate that lost is spring, about 10 years ago, I have never done the clutch stack height.
I am not sure if I just got a freak Norton as I have never had any major problems with my stock clutch except finding the right oil so it didn't slip but I sorted that out after the first few years of ownership from new, I also never pussy foot my Norton as I ride all my bikes hard, but I always keep the maintenance up on all of them, my gear change has always been smooth and I have never had no problems clicking it into neutral when stopped.

Ashley

ashman · Jun 12, 2020

maylar said:
When I tried Barnett plates with a wet primary I couldn't keep them from sticking, even with ATF. Finding neutral was impossible and the bike crept at a stop and clunked going into first. Went back to the bronze plates. Now that i have a dry primary, the Barnett's are fine. No chirping that i can notice.

You can run a dry clutch using the bronze plates and I did for 5 years when I ran a belt, the only thing was they will bite quicker when you let the clutch out when taking off but its not hard to get use to.

Ashley

concours · Jun 12, 2020

maylar said:
When I tried Barnett plates with a wet primary I couldn't keep them from sticking, even with ATF. Finding neutral was impossible and the bike crept at a stop and clunked going into first. Went back to the bronze plates. Now that i have a dry primary, the Barnett's are fine. No chirping that i can notice.

Barnett plates, dynodave’s excellent clutch information allowed me to build the best no slip, no drag, no grab, linear progressive clutch ever. First time around.

ndnsclutch

dynodave Clutch Pack for Norton Commando - Atlantic Green Technical Services - British Motorcycles

Running in a luxurious bath of ATF.
Thanks Dave!

maylar · Jun 12, 2020

ashman said:
You can run a dry clutch using the bronze plates and I did for 5 years when I ran a belt, the only thing was they will bite quicker when you let the clutch out when taking off but its not hard to get use to.

Ashley

Matt at cNw does not recommend bronze plates with his belt drive. It may have to do with the hard anodized aluminum clutch basket.

freddie1105 · Jun 12, 2020

Beach said:
Got my bike running better than ever and now it's time for a clutch. Wondering what the general consensus is regarding best friction plates available now.

Barnett. no question

maylar · Jun 12, 2020

concours said:
Barnett plates, dynodave’s excellent clutch information allowed me to build the best no slip, no drag, no grab, linear progressive clutch ever. First time around.

ndnsclutch

dynodave Clutch Pack for Norton Commando - Atlantic Green Technical Services - British Motorcycles

Running in a luxurious bath of ATF.
Thanks Dave!

I must admit that my problems with the Barnett plates were before I learned about adjusting the plate stack up.

Beach · Jun 12, 2020

ashman said:
So what is wrong with your clutch that you need to replace it, I am still running my original clutch after 44 years of ownership and over 160k miles on it and its still light to use, hasn't slipped since I found the right oil to run in the primary, I have only adjusted it when I have the clutch basket apart for maintenance or replacing the chain, I have run them wet as well dry when I had the belt drive for about 5 years and the only thing I have replaced in the clutch in 44 years is the clutch centre about 6 years ago (notchy teeth) and a pressure plate that lost is spring, about 10 years ago, I have never done the clutch stack height.
I am not sure if I just got a freak Norton as I have never had any major problems with my stock clutch except finding the right oil so it didn't slip but I sorted that out after the first few years of ownership from new, I also never pussy foot my Norton as I ride all my bikes hard, but I always keep the maintenance up on all of them, my gear change has always been smooth and I have never had no problems clicking it into neutral when stopped.

Ashley

My clutch had always worked fine until I pulled primary cover to replace gasket. Put back together and filled with motorcycle oil and it slips pretty bad. Haven't taken back apart yet but assumed it may need plates. Think I'm using same oil but not sure. If plates are OK, what oil do you suggest?

Time for a Clutch

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