Worn Surflex clutch plates

dantriumph · Mar 31, 2013

Hi All.

Here´s a photo of one of the Surflex clutch plates from my MKIII. I´ve fitted a Norvil beltdrive a number of years ago, together with new clutch center and 4 new Surflex clutch plates. I guess the kit has less then 50.000 km/30.000 miles.

I´d say a set of clutch plates should last a lot longer. I´ve always run the belt dry and with a clutch rod seal. The clutch is working very well, with no slip or drag.
Does any of you have any ideas what the problem could be?

Dan

pete.v · Mar 31, 2013

Just to be clear, how many friction and how many plain plates? It should be 5 friction, 4 plain and 1 pressure plate. 750's also benefit from the 5 friction system.

It also could be dragging slightly causing this wear when actuated.

Dances with Shrapnel · Mar 31, 2013

Dan,

Not sure if you stated what problem you have or you see. I see the teeth on the plates have been hammered out a bit but if the flat on the cap of the tooth profile is still there they probably have some more life to them.

This is common with Barnett clutch plates and it is a matter of aluminum being hammered up against the steel spline of the clutch hub. I suppose the type of use and abuse have something to do wit it.

pouchy750 · Mar 31, 2013

This is normal Surflex wear on the dogs. The plates really grip well. Maybe the metal backing material could be made of a harder wearing material.

pete.v · Mar 31, 2013

I an still curious on how many friction plates are being used. The added torque of the 850 made the 5th friction plate necessary. 4 on the 850 would promote this type of wear to some extent.

1up3down · Mar 31, 2013

did you say you have 30,000 miles on those clutch plates?

and they are still in there and working fine..

I can't see how you have much to complain about, that's a lot of miles on fairly cheap plates

Hobot · Mar 31, 2013

Spending some extra time holding clutch lever in at stops or feathering it a lot can accelerate pointy teeth. Slack in drive train also accelerates teeth decay. Shaft splines can develop wash board wear pattern that further beats teeth down. Slow low throttle hi gear lugging thumping along might add to the above. As long as enough teeth left to engage no problemo but as teeth decay to points their rate of decay accelerates til no grip at all but on a phone for rescue.

dantriumph · Apr 1, 2013

Hi All. Thanks for your responce. The exact problem is indeed the wear on the teeth. I have 4 friction, 5 plain and 1 extra thick pressure plate. This is what I was recommended by Norvil when I bought it. 5 friction and 4 plain sounds like a good idea to me. But not sure if they´ll fit. I might need to dig out the old thinner pressure plate.
The 50.000 km is an estimate, speedo, cable and speedo drive have all bin broken at some point on owing this bike. So it could be less.
I always put it into neutural at stoplights and never rides at low revs.
Andover Norton has Solid Fiber clutch plates # 061339. I think I´ll try 5 of these, with 4 plain and either the thick or standard pressure plate.
Dan

Keith1069 · Apr 1, 2013

did you say you have 30,000 miles on those clutch plates?
and they are still in there and working fine..
I can't see how you have much to complain about, that's a lot of miles on fairly cheap plates

My Surflex went all pointy at less than that! I've replaced with same because I know my combo works and the 18,000 I got is 5 years.

pete.v · Apr 1, 2013

dantriumph said:
Hi All. Thanks for your responce. The exact problem is indeed the wear on the teeth. I have 4 friction, 5 plain and 1 extra thick pressure plate. This is what I was recommended by Norvil when I bought it. 5 friction and 4 plain sounds like a good idea to me. But not sure if they´ll fit. I might need to dig out the old thinner pressure plate.
The 50.000 km is an estimate, speedo, cable and speedo drive have all bin broken at some point on owing this bike. So it could be less.
I always put it into neutural at stoplights and never rides at low revs.
Andover Norton has Solid Fiber clutch plates # 061339. I think I´ll try 5 of these, with 4 plain and either the thick or standard pressure plate.
Dan

Sure sounds like a little confusion there. Whether bronze surflex or barnet it's 5, 4, 1.
See here,
http://www.nortonmotors.de/ANIL/Norton% ... &Plate=009

bill · Apr 1, 2013

the surflex plates are .145 thick, the bronze and 850 barnett's are .125 thick THAT along with the extra steels that norvil recommended is why he is using 4 surflex plates.

pvisseriii said:
Sure sounds like a little confusion there. Whether bronze surflex or barnet it's 5, 4, 1.
See here,
http://www.nortonmotors.de/ANIL/Norton% ... &Plate=009

I don't put a whole lot of faith in what norvil recommends. I have his belt drive and YES you CAN fit 5 surflex and 4 steel plates but it takes a little fetteling. the new surflex plates are made on a core like the barrnets where as the original ones was a solid fiber. I try to buy up OLD surflex plates for that reason.

dantriumph said:
I have 4 friction, 5 plain and 1 extra thick pressure plate. This is what I was recommended by Norvil when I bought it. 5 friction and 4 plain sounds like a good idea to me. But not sure if they´ll fit. I might need to dig out the old thinner pressure plate.

Worn Surflex clutch plates

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