Time for a Clutch

maylar said:

In the 70's when my bike was new I inquired about Barnett plates at my dealer. The mechanic said they throw them into the woods like Frisbees. He blamed them for broken layshafts.

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Did he explain why ?

I second the broken layshaft

Fast Eddie said:

Did he explain why ?

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No give. A hard whack in 2nd gear and snap goes the shaft. At the time layshafts were very expensive and unobtainium.

So, he was saying that whack it hard in 2nd gear with a stock clutch and it slips (can’t see how else it could provide any ‘give’)?

We have to have a slipping clutch to not break the gearbox?

It’s a new one on me Dave.

Fast Eddie said:

So, he was saying that whack it hard in 2nd gear with a stock clutch and it slips (can’t see how else it could provide any ‘give’)?

We have to have a slipping clutch to not break the gearbox?

It’s a new one on me Dave.

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That's what I was told by the dealer's mechanics. This was about 1977 so things may well be different today. They were also big fans of the "new" bronze plates in the 850s.

FWIW, I'm using a Barnett set in my dry primary belt drive now even though the 45 year old bronze plates are perfectly serviceable. But I don't pop wheelies any more

maylar said:

In the 70's when my bike was new I inquired about Barnett plates at my dealer. The mechanic said they throw them into the woods like Frisbees. He blamed them for broken layshafts.

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That’s the sentiment I recall. Time will tell if it was correct with all these Barnett supporters. The thing about the clutch center notching was more detrimental to 750s as the 850s have hardened centers due to the bronze plates.

illf8ed said:

The thing about the clutch center notching was more detrimental to 750s as the 850s have hardened centers due to the bronze plates.

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Believe me, the 850 centers can get notched too. I was rather brutal on my Norton in my younger days.. popping wheelies and doing burnouts. I actually broke a drive chain once. I went to my dealer for a new clutch center and he said, "What are you doing to that beautiful motorcycle? I've never sold one of these before!".

maylar said:

Believe me, the 850 centers can get notched too. I was rather brutal on my Norton in my younger days.. popping wheelies and doing burnouts. I actually broke a drive chain once. I went to my dealer for a new clutch center and he said, "What are you doing to that beautiful motorcycle? I've never sold one of these before!".

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Buying my 850 Norton new when I was 17 and being young it copped a flogging from burn outs to wheelies but it took 38 years before my clutch centre wore out and only replaced it just over 6 years ago now, I am still running the original clutch with the bronze plates and yes I also spat a rear chain while spinning up the back wheel, I had to walk about 100 yards to retrive my chain but it was shorten by about 6 links so had to be towed home, my clutch has over 160k miles on it now and is still a easy pull, I have used the same clutch when I ran a belt drive dry and it worked the same , just with a quicker grab when taking off but it didn't effect me at all, if fact I liked the quick grab once you get use to it. my Norton was a every day ride till about 6 years ago and now is semi retired just like its owner.

Ashley

It doesn't matter much for notching, both the Barnett's and bronze plates do it.

This was my 74's centre a few years ago after 30+ years running a mixed stack of the two. Three bronze in 1-3-5 and two Barnett's in 2-4.

Fast Eddie said:

OK, short answer is yes, the Bel-Ray sport we are discussing is safe for yellow metals, as for the rest of the range, some are and some aren’t. Here’s the reply I got:

Good Morning Nigel,

Thank you for contacting us. The Bel-Ray V-Twin Sport Transmission Fluid is appropriate for use in transmissions that have soft yellow metals such as brass, bronze, or copper.

The Bel-Ray V-Twin Big Twin Transmission Oil and both of our Bel-Ray Gear Saver Hypoid Gear Oils (80W-90, 85W-140) are GL-5 gear oils.

The Bel-Ray V-Twin Sport Transmission Fluid, Gear Saver Transmission Oils (75W, 80W), and Thumper Gear Saver Transmission Oil 80W-85 are not GL-5 gear oils, and are suitable for use in motorcycle transmissions that have soft yellow metals.

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So..... is there any conclusion as to WHICH of the Bel-Ray non GL-5 oils might be best?

gortnipper said:

It doesn't matter much for notching, both the Barnett's and bronze plates do it.

This was my 74's centre a few years ago after 30+ years running a mixed stack of the two. Three bronze in 1-3-5 and two Barnett's in 2-4.

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Maybe the ancient Barnett’s were steel host?
They’re aluminum now and won’t affect the hib at ALL.

lazyeye6 said:

So..... is there any conclusion as to WHICH of the Bel-Ray non GL-5 oils might be best?

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Dunno, you got three to choose from.

My thinking was the Sportster is gonna be closest to our old fashioned gearbox designs. Seemed to me that if it helps HDs to shift smooth, it must be doing something right! It certainly seems to work well for me, I’ve got it in two bikes currently, soon to be three.

I really don’t know what the difference is between it and the other two...