961 Clutch ?

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Apr 12, 2020
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It seems recently that the clutch issue has gone quite, but has it really gone away ?

If a completly re-engineered clutch basket to solve its issues was available, how many would be required ?
A realistic quantity would be appreciated. This is a very costly undertaking and must be based upon genuine purchase quantities.
I'm not aware of the cost for a clutch from Norton, but I can't imagine it would be cheap?
 
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Hi Nikoli, I think currently there is one member on here with sheared ring gear screws and one guy on FB whose rivets have let go and ruined the basket casting, so I don't think the issues are over.


The clutch seems to be one of the major (and potentially dangerous) failings, so I would be interested.
 
How can you say no one is interested when you haven't shown a solution, assuming you planned to offer one.
 
It seems recently that the clutch issue has gone quite, but has it really gone away ?

If a completly re-engineered clutch basket to solve its issues was available, how many would be required ?
A realistic quantity would be appreciated. This is a very costly undertaking and must be based upon genuine purchase quantities.
I'm not aware of the cost for a clutch from Norton, but I can't imagine it would be cheap?
2 years ago a new clutch basket was £800, Geer box £1200
 
I am one of the lucky ones with a good clutch basket. There were signs that one rivet had been ground off and re-made so that day at least there seemed to be some quality control!

Yes it may not be the greatest design but there are 961 owners who have clocked up way more miles than most bikes will ever reach so it is possible to make it work with good riveting and springs and I'm sure it could be less than £800.
 
If I wasnt happy with a rivet, I'd remove it and put another in. Phil who I worked alongside was of the same mentality. Ive not seen a failed SB or PH signed one yet...
 
2 years ago a new clutch basket was £800, Geer box £1200
Thanks for the info Blighty.
I'm a little surprised it took around five days to start getting responses from people and only after I kicked the nest with my comment. I'm not trying to rattle people, but I need to gauge the response to get a genuine idea if this is going to be financially worth while.
As every one is no doubt aware a handful of orders won't come any where near the tooling costs etc. I would be gratefull if anyone out there has a better idea of quantity, may be some 961 dealers might be able to assist here? I need to find out whether I pursue this or not. Sorry to come over the wrong way but I've been down this road many times in the past with vintage bikes were I get approached by people wanting stuff manufacturing then when it comes down to it, it turns out to be a squib.
 
Why not approach CNW and instead of doing it yourself let them pay you a licence fee per sale, if there is a real market they will sell it easily, you get a share.
 
NikolI, you’ll sell 3 or 4 if you’re lucky.

You’re just gonna cause yourself a ton of stress and aggravation for naught IMHO.
 
Thanks for the info Blighty.
I'm a little surprised it took around five days to start getting responses from people and only after I kicked the nest with my comment. I'm not trying to rattle people, but I need to gauge the response to get a genuine idea if this is going to be financially worth while.
As every one is no doubt aware a handful of orders won't come any where near the tooling costs etc. I would be gratefull if anyone out there has a better idea of quantity, may be some 961 dealers might be able to assist here? I need to find out whether I pursue this or not. Sorry to come over the wrong way but I've been down this road many times in the past with vintage bikes were I get approached by people wanting stuff manufacturing then when it comes down to it, it turns out to be a squib.
Your first "Im interested" came 12 minutes after your post, with the second "Im interested" coming the following day.
Considering you've given no ball park figure on pricing, lead time, development, warranty or any details....I think you've done pretty well to get those sort of responses that quickly tbh.

Has anyone gone down the route of tig welding the original rivets? Its quite a popular mod with some other brands. The zx10r for example only has three steel rivets....so its not uncommon to see them being tig welded.
 
If I wasnt happy with a rivet, I'd remove it and put another in. Phil who I worked alongside was of the same mentality. Ive not seen a failed SB or PH signed one yet...

My clutch failed at the rivets, and was signed VR and MM. Anyone else want to post the initials on their failed clutches?

961 Clutch ?


Ken
 
The only negative I can think of about welding the rivets at one end is that it wouldn't provide the compressive force that rivets or bolts do, and might allow the rivet to wobble enough at the other end to loosen the fit. Then again, maybe it would work. I think someone would have to try it to find out.

Ken
 
The only negative I can think of about welding the rivets at one end is that it wouldn't provide the compressive force that rivets or bolts do, and might allow the rivet to wobble enough at the other end to loosen the fit. Then again, maybe it would work. I think someone would have to try it to find out.

Ken
I meant tig a clutch that was found to have sound rivets....more of a preventative measure
 
Later on there was two initials...one for the rivets and the basket assembly, and a second to show who was responsible for the ring gear.
The assembly of clutch basket was a bit too vague for my liking. The whole lot was sat in a jig with the head of the rivet supported by a stub (I suppose thats the best description). The other end of the rivet was peen over by a bloke/boy with a hammer and a setting tool. If the assembly wasnt fully secured, not enough of the rivet would protrude to give a satisfactory peening over. Or some just werent peened enough. Sub assemblies were generally done by apprentices, and then checked by the guy building the engine up...that person would also initial on the left hand crankcase half. If work was quiet, then an engine builder would also do some sub-assembly work. I used to like building an engine up using all my own sub-assemblies.
 
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