850 clutch plate.

htown16 · Dec 24, 2021

The 73 850 that I am rebuilding has the bronze clutch plates. l found a set of Barnette friction plates. Can I use the plain plates that are in there with the new friction plates?

Ron L · Dec 24, 2021

As long as they are in good condition, yes.

Torontonian · Dec 24, 2021

Yes .
But I'm considering going back to the original 850 bronze plates clutch.
Fiber plates are sticking a bit too much .

ashman · Dec 25, 2021

46 years of riding with my original clutch plates and over 160k mile on them why would I change now.

Ron Hulton · Dec 25, 2021

Torontonian said:
Yes .
But I'm considering going back to the original 850 bronze plates clutch.
Fiber plates are sticking a bit too much .

On my 1975 850 I was forever taking the bronze clutch plates out to clean as they constantly stuck. I replaced them with Surflex fibre plates and a new clutch center 20 years ago and added a extra steel filler plate . Nice smooth action and no sticking issues .

ashman · Dec 25, 2021

The only reason the bronze plates stuck was in the day motor oil was the reconmended lube for the primary, no wonder they kept slipping and stuck, I learn very quickly using light oil back in the late 70s to stop the clutch slipping and then using ATF F for my primary oil and never had any more problems with slipping or stuck clutch plates even to this day, even ran the bronze plates when I ran a belt drive and dry clutch for a few years, my clutch has always been light never had a heavy clutch from new easy one two finger operation if I wanted to.

Stephen Hill · Dec 25, 2021

Interesting that CNW does not recommend bronze clutch plates on their belt drives.

ashman · Dec 25, 2021

Stephen Hill said:
Interesting that CNW does not recommend bronze clutch plates on their belt drives.

Never had any problems with running the bronze plates with the belt the only problem was they bite a bit quicker, so had to get use to a quick bite of the plates and only had that problem when taking off in first, other than that the clutch worked great, I ran the RGM belt drive unit.

gortnipper · Dec 26, 2021

Stephen Hill said:
Interesting that CNW does not recommend bronze clutch plates on their belt drives.

cNw e-start conversion

The CNW clutch basket and center appear to be made of aluminum. I was wondering how this material stands up? The original material was cast steel. The earlier steel centers were too soft, and were upgraded to a hardened center. The bronze clutch plates should not be used in a CNW clutch. Is...

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htown16 · Dec 30, 2021

I'll give the bronze plates a try. If not satisfied it doesn't require much teardown to replace them.

chaztuna · Dec 31, 2021

htown16 said:
I'll give the bronze plates a try. If not satisfied it doesn't require much teardown to replace them.

Probably the best reason to use the Barnett clutch plates is the weight reduction. According to gortnipper, they weigh approximately 1/3 the bronze plates.

Barnett versus Bronze clutch plates

Anything you can do to reduce the weight hanging off the end of the gearbox main-shaft is a good thing.

850 clutch plate.

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