Primary chain lube brainstorm....

O.k...... so over the summer, I was having horrible clutch drag so I dismantled the clutch and cleaned all the plates, put everything together, used ATF fluid) and it was working perfectly. ( I have the dyno dave seal onboard)

about 500 miles later, it's dragging, hard to get into 1st...... nearly impossible to find neutral while running..... . you know all the symptoms.

So... Ive decided to get new clutch plates. These were the originals from 1971, and I'm guessing that they degrade especially being in the elements more or less for 25 ish years.....

But this got me to thinking: when I put the new plates in (there's still more riding to do here in our nicely mild Cape Cod falls) . I'm considering using NO oil in the primary but lubing the primary chain using teflon infused chain lube which is designed for drive chains on mountain bicycles.....

that stuff resists rain, oil sand, crud etc.... and in the enclosed primary cavity.... why not? I know I'll have to open up the inspection hole and blast the chain every few hundred miles... but that's preferable to pulling apart the clutch every 500 miles IMO.


opinions?

kfh

Chains don't exaclty need lube for lubrication purposes but can sure use thin enough fluid, even water to flush out the metal grit of link on pin metal to metal contact as there is no way to keep oil in that hard pressed slow turning load zone, plus to carry off heat to some degree. On NOC and BI list most a decade ago it was reported that racers had single chain primary failures running engine oil until they got to 20 grade then worked as planned. Clutch plates did not get polluted by ATF as that is what Barnett says to wet with on initial install to prevent chatter ridges on initial bedding in. Call em - I did a long time ago. Suspect tranny or engine oil leak &or trapped oil in old plates or too much primary chain tension when hot. I've never had to clean plates after going to ATF both in factory and Barrnet packs. Before ATF boy howdy freeing clutch got a bit dangerous til sanded dry again and again.

Auto transmissions use clutch packs similar to motorcycle wet multiple plate clutches, & the friction coefficiencies are designed to accomodate various types of oil contact. However , if the dry resilient belt drives manage sans oil bath, you could give it a try.
Dontbe tempted to put ATF in your gearbox, -if you want it to last very long - that is an old racers trick for those with lots of sponsored replacements on hand.

71basketcase said:

about 500 miles later, it's dragging, hard to get into 1st...... nearly impossible to find neutral while running..... . you know all the symptoms.

opinions?

kfh

Click to expand...

Gear box oil migration is the culprit. The centrifigal force of the clutch spining does not allow oil to get into the plates from the primary oil bath. Just a few drops of gearbox oil will cause the drag.

Unless the Dynodave seal is perfectly installed (pushrod polished etc) gearbox oil will get past. (from experience).

Clean the plates, stop the gearbox oil and you will have an excellent clutch.

Cheers

thanks for the feedback: The current plates are pretty cruddy.... can't wait to get the new ones in, get it back together, and get some more sweet, cool fall riding in (in between hurricanes, of course)

kfh



p.s...... and I'm definitely going to check out my dynodave seal AND give the triflow a go at least for the rest of this season.

kfh

Also make sure that the primary drive engine and clutch sprockets are perfectly aligned. Shims go behind the clutch sprocket as needed.

Primary chain tension, checked when hot, will affect the clutch action. A little lose is better than tight.

My '74 was dragging hard when I got it, luckily learned about DD's seal researching here. Replaced the bronze plates with Barnett (I wanted aluminum plates to save the new, precious hub). I filled it with ATF up above the bottom run of chain. 5,000 miles later, no drag, no slip, just smooth, linear engagement and NO LEAKS. Remember, the bearing in your clutch hub need lubrication.

thanks!

kfh