clutch review

[herbvfr705f]

I just installed a Barnett performance race clutch in my vfr and wow. This things grips. I mean i can pop the clutch and the bike just launch. I am one happy camper and for a little over a hundred buck i am way impressed. I am so excited to see what this will do when i head to the track in a couple weeks.

[KC-10 FE]

Did you do the install yourself? Could the average wrench pull it off?

On a scale of 1-10, 1 being a chimp with a stick & 10 being a NASA engineer tweaking the space shuttle, how hard is the install?

KC-10 FE out...

[herbvfr705f]

the install was very easy i would say a 1. It is all self described. When you pull the cover it was difficult not to rip the gasket but it is better to replace it. The installation itself was very simple just make sure you match the first friction plate correctly cause that one is a smaller diameter. The rest is just friction plate steel plate frinction plate steel plate. this also gives you a chance to check out the puilse generator and also your starter reduction gear whick in my case was bad. it was worn on one side pretty bad. So i had a hard time starting my bike. But very very very i repeat very simple. I could do it with my eyes clothes.

[Benmodo]

after a month how is it so far? I think I need a new clutch and sounds like I may just go with this one.

[herbvfr705f]

well after almost a month of having this clutch it is still by far a great asset i strongly recommend. it is still solid giving me solid shift and plenty of grab and go. one thing i wish i did was install new steel plates and springs to go with it. that is next on the list.

[Benmodo]

Originally Posted by herbvfr705f

well after almost a month of having this clutch it is still by far a great asset i strongly recommend. it is still solid giving me solid shift and plenty of grab and go. one thing i wish i did was install new steel plates and springs to go with it. that is next on the list.

Thanks for the info, so you would recommend changing those out as well when changint he clutch?

[Lgn001]

Out of curiosity, did you have to soak the new friction plates in oil before installation? That was the "standard" thing to do, many moons ago, but things change over the years...

[WhiteKnight]

As a matter of preference and experience(from racing mx, which is not even close to being the same as riding on the street) I recommend replacing the friction and steel plates at the same time. The srpings should be ok, but you could also replace them as well. When I replace a clutch, I usually do the whole thing so I don't have to tear into it again in the near future because it starts to slip again or feels weak.

Lgn: As for soaking the friction plates, I do not recall doing so, but I think it would reduce excessive wear on the first start up after the change. However, when you put oil back in the bike, the oil does run over part, but not all, of the clutch basket.

[Benmodo]

Well I talked to a mechanic and he said not to go with Barnett because they put kevlar in their clutches and it will wear off in chunks and fuck up the engine? I dunno if I believe him but he said to go with like SBC or OEM honda clutch.

[masonv45]

Dumb mechanic...

[herbvfr705f]

from what that mechanic said i do not believe him. I know for a fact that alot the race bikes run kevlar clutches. As for soaking in oil i was told to it and even in the intructions it says to soak it for 10 minutes but i soaked it over night. i am very happy with it and will purchase it again

[VT Viffer]

A clutch change on a motorcycle is REALLY simple. Monkey with a stick would have it completed in an hour, tops.

As far as replacing the steels, it's not necessary unless you used ALL of the friction material on the old plates, or they are scorched from abuse. The standard check of "goodness" for the steels is to place them on a pane of glass and make sure they lay flat. If they pass this test, just sand them mildly with some high grit paper (like 1000) to scuff them up prior to re-installation.

Re-install with new friction plates, and preferably new springs, and it'll be like brand new. A new gasket is not always necessary, but good piece of mind.

Oh, and BTW - the "mechanic" who said that Kevlar clutches break apart was talking out his ass. Probably saw it once on a stunt bike that just finished a burnout contest and wouldn't move afterwards...

[whitesmokeyzf]

Originally Posted by herbvfr705f

from what that mechanic said i do not believe him. I know for a fact that alot the race bikes run kevlar clutches. As for soaking in oil i was told to it and even in the intructions it says to soak it for 10 minutes but i soaked it over night. i am very happy with it and will purchase it again

This is truth, Overnight. If you didn't do it and it is working you don't need to pull it apart, The damage happens during the first use, The clutch sits in oil all the time now.