barnett extra plate clutch kit

[Joe Nardy]

I remember doing my Barnett kit many years ago. I found a writeup somewhere that said it is okay to file the grooves on the basket away if they're not too deep. I filed mine and installed the extra plate kit and HD springs. I lived with the stiff clutch and drag because it was worth it to have the clutch engage hard enough to loft the front wheel in third gear! Both the stiffness and drag decrease with age. Mine is quite livable now, probably 15,000 to 18,000 miles on it. It still engages very positively.

Joe

[jonr]

You guys are scaring me here. Ryan, I just put Vesrah Fibers and Barnett plates in my 750 and have yet to take it for a spin. I am waiting to bleed my new front stainless brake lines. I had to completely readjust the rod that pushes out the pressure plate because even though I used the same number of plates and fibers, the whole set was thicker than what I took out.

I'm hoping there are no surprises in the next few days when I try a test drive... let me know how yours comes out!

-Jon

PS. Vesrah fibers, $25 - ebay. Barnett plates, $45 - MAW.

[first timer]

while you have your clutch cable off clean and oil it good, this will help tons and will save your hand.

-ryan

[Robert Corrie]

Took my 1150 to the Honda (cringe) shop for jetting in 86 and they told me I needed a new clutch and cable. I asked why. They said that the cable pull was too hard and the clutch draged. After I stopped laughing at them, I just said "BARNETT". They had no clue. Haven't gone back. Still drags a little when cold. Lever pull has never bothered me.

[Anonymous]

clutch

Have an extra plate and spring barrnett set up in my mod-ed out 650 BSA cause I have to, but would not do it on a bike unless it needed it, way to stiff and on a bike that lacks low end grunt is miserable

[Anonymous]

I got my barnett kit from a bike shop whose owner raced superbike katanas for Suzuki back in the early eighties. He suggested I use 3 stock springs and 3 HD springs. It drags a little when cold but frees up once warm and the feel is just nice.

[Anonymous]

Excellent ideas - all.

Use the kit with the extra plate and stock springs. The extra plate will automatically increase the "grab" surface area and therefore reduce slipping.

Playing with the springs is an excellent idea as well, alternating with HD and stock springs, 3 and 3. Use the lightest springs that work.

Also, the wear grooves on the clutch splines from the plates DO cause disengagement problems, and can make neutral hard to get. If not too deep, smooth them.

Be sure your clutch cable is adjusted properly (just enough freeplay to feel) AND suggest using a brass adjustment insert that goes into the handlever assy. The stock steel one chafed more on the cable and wore out my cables. The brass one wore until it mated nicely with the cable, reduced some of the pull force, and my cables stopped failing.

[Joe Nardy]

Excellent ideas - all.

AND suggest using a brass adjustment insert that goes into the handlever assy. The stock steel one chafed more on the cable and wore out my cables. The brass one wore until it mated nicely with the cable, reduced some of the pull force, and my cables stopped failing.

Where did you find this brass adjustment insert? Could you please post a picture?

Thanks,
Joe