Barnett clutch plates.

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Peter R

Peter R

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Some time ago I replaced the bronze clutch plates with a set of Barnett plates.
However, I found the clutch action very grabby, (if this is the correct term) it is either ON or OFF, which I find somewhat unplesant.
Does any of you have the same experience ? or a possible solution ?
 
Peter R said:
Some time ago I replaced the bronze clutch plates with a set of Barnett plates.
However, I found the clutch action very grabby, (if this is the correct term) it is either ON or OFF, which I find somewhat unplesant.
Does any of you have the same experience ? or a possible solution ?
Click to expand...
Mine works flawlessly. It does "grab" when I dump the lever quickly but I can still modulate the engagement when necessary.
 
Peter R said:
Some time ago I replaced the bronze clutch plates with a set of Barnett plates.
However, I found the clutch action very grabby, (if this is the correct term) it is either ON or OFF, which I find somewhat unplesant.
Does any of you have the same experience ? or a possible solution ?
Click to expand...
How is you clutch cable? Is it hanging up anywhere? Is it routed properly? Is the clutch pull heavy or light? Is it a 4 plate or 5 plate clutch? (I am guessing 5 if it was a bronze plate clutch) Have you checked your stack height? Is your hub worn from the bronze plates?

Sorry about all the questions, but there are many reasons for the clutch not to operate smoothly.
 
5 plate clutch indeed, cable runs ok and clutch pull is light.
Hub splines were worn, but I replaced the hub with a brand new one when I installed the Barnett plates.
Have not checked the stack height yet.
 
If the pull is light, the stack height is probably good. The only other thing I can think of is maybe a worn cam in the transmission?

Oh - Dry or wet primary?
 
Mine was a bit grabby when new IIRC but after a bit it seemed to settle in. It also squealed a bit on initial engagement when new but that went away too.
 
I found the same thing with a belt drive and Barnett plates. My solution was to put a couple of bronze plates back in. Works a treat now and a very light pull. I recall thinning a steel plate on a large surface grinder to get the stack height right
 
I've had a Barnett clutch since 1985 and it works great. I can use the friction zone and it really grabs when released, no slipping at all. I have a two finger pull so it's nice and light, especially when sitting at stop lights. If your clutch is setup right you should have no problems with it. I use the stock primary setup with 20-50 oil.
 
Hello Peter, also got my 5 clutch plates from Barnett. had similar expirience. maybe i can spot on another possebility for your grabby clutch action:.....
I always adjusted my clutch per feel....searching for the sweet spot where the clutch action feels best.....left hand on the clutch lever blade and right hand on the clutch operating lever....
Last week after service for season start I adjusted my clutch as suggested from Norman White described in his great book. Now my clutch works better.
If you always went the way i described per "feel" searching for sweet spot.....then try to adjust your clutch like it`s described in the book.
 
My Barnett plates worked well for several years but have gotten grabby lately. When I disassembled the clutch I discovered that the teeth that engage the splines have serious wear (a search showed that some others have experienced this too) so I reinstalled the original bronze plates (used but in good condition, teeth and all) and will just deal with cleaning them every year or two when I get slippage.


Barnett clutch plates.
 
bluto said:
My Barnett plates worked well for several years but have gotten grabby lately. When I disassembled the clutch I discovered that the teeth that engage the splines have serious wear (a search showed that some others have experienced this too) so I reinstalled the original bronze plates (used but in good condition, teeth and all) and will just deal with cleaning them every year or two when I get slippage.


Barnett clutch plates.
Click to expand...
Better the clutch plates wear than the hub.
 
Dan1950 said:
Better the clutch plates wear than the hub.
Click to expand...
True, but they wore far too fast and are evidently too soft. My original bronze plates still look good and unless Barnett has made improvements I wouldn't go with them again.
 
Peter R said:
Some time ago I replaced the bronze clutch plates with a set of Barnett plates.
However, I found the clutch action very grabby, (if this is the correct term) it is either ON or OFF, which I find somewhat unplesant.
Does any of you have the same experience ? or a possible solution ?
Click to expand...

In your reply #6, you state dry primary. IIRC, Barnett states their plates are designed to run in oil, or at least be in an oil wet primary. If the primary is wet, oil will in short order wet the plates.

After I installed Barnett clutch plates in my Atlas, I installed them dry, put the spring tension on them, then closed up the primary, and spent a month or two pursuing other issues. When I finally was ready to crank up, I could not free the clutch, had to open the primary and wedge the plates apart with a sharp pointed tool. This illustrates the "grabby" potential of the plate material/design.

After wetting the plates with oil, I can always free up the clutch, but it sometimes takes 5 or 6 kicks.

Try wetting the plates with oil to see if the grabby goes away. Since you are running a dry primary, the effect of a one time wet down will not last, but at least you will know the cause of your problem.

FWIW, I am running ATF in my primary, and my Barnett plates are smooth.

Slick
 
texasSlick said:
In your reply #6, you state dry primary. IIRC, Barnett states their plates are designed to run in oil, or at least be in an oil wet primary. If the primary is wet, oil will in short order wet the plates.

After I installed Barnett clutch plates in my Atlas, I installed them dry, put the spring tension on them, then closed up the primary, and spent a month or two pursuing other issues. When I finally was ready to crank up, I could not free the clutch, had to open the primary and wedge the plates apart with a sharp pointed tool. This illustrates the "grabby" potential of the plate material/design.

After wetting the plates with oil, I can always free up the clutch, but it sometimes takes 5 or 6 kicks.

Try wetting the plates with oil to see if the grabby goes away. Since you are running a dry primary, the effect of a one time wet down will not last, but at least you will know the cause of your problem.

FWIW, I am running ATF in my primary, and my Barnett plates are smooth.

Slick
Click to expand...
I never read instructions so I don't know
But do Barnet state their plates are designed to run in oil or that they can run in oil ?
I have done thousands of miles
with Barnet's running dry in my belt primary without any grabbing
I have a home brewed clutch push rod seal fitted
The clutch sometimes squeaks when I pull away hard but it's always done that since the plates were fitted
 
baz said:
I never read instructions so I don't know
But do Barnet state their plates are designed to run in oil or that they can run in oil ?
I have done thousands of miles
with Barnet's running dry in my belt primary without any grabbing
I have a home brewed clutch push rod seal fitted
The clutch sometimes squeaks when I pull away hard but it's always done that since the plates were fitted
Click to expand...

@ baz: I just went to Barnette.com . Found some info in FAQ. Barnett states all their clutch plates for wet primaries are DESIGNED to run in MOTORCYCLE specific oils. Automotive oils and additives are not recommended. ATF oils are OK. After cleaning and before reassembly, they recommend soaking the plates in oil. I take that to include first assembly.

Slick
 
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Bronze plates will collect a build up of oil if run in motor oil. Clean the plates well and use ATF type F and the plates will last a very long time before they need cleaned or maybe never depends on how much you ride. Alot of bronze plates are discarded for being worn out when all it was is oil build up.
 
hershey said:
Bronze plates will collect a build up of oil if run in motor oil. Clean the plates well and use ATF type F and the plates will last a very long time before they need cleaned or maybe never depends on how much you ride. Alot of bronze plates are discarded for being worn out when all it was is oil build up.
Click to expand...
But the question was about Barnet plates
They are fibre
 
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