Topic: Your choice of clutches.

[Sam Green Racing]

The APE and Barrnett clutch kits have been around for some time and I'm sure some of you must have tried them. Also available for people with clutches that can't or won't handle the power of big tuned motors is the CycleX lock up jobbie.
Most people that have tried the clutch kits claim that they make the leaver heavy and make finding neutral a nightmare.
Has anyone tried the CycleX lock up yet that could give us some feed back and what about the Voxonda DRY clutch that is still in the developement stage, what's the latest on this one Rob?
Let us hear your clutch stories here.

Sam.

[rklystron]

Sam, I have the cycle-x lock-up clutch that I installed on my Rickman CR750 that I raced at BUB. As far as I could tell I had no issues with my clutch slipping. Assembly note: Because I wanted to use the kickstarter and not an electric start, Ken gave me a wrist pin as an extender for the kickstarter. I cut the kickstarter and welded the wrist pin in place. Trimmed the assembly down in a lathe and I was good to go. Several interesting issues came to light. 1) because the kickstarter was extended over time it had a tendency to bind and not return on it's own. The engine is now apart and I will take a closer look at this and tell you my findings if you are interested. 2) The top of the center clutch assembly now has dimples in it where the dogs for the lock-up engage. Since this engine has few miles on it I am sure this would become a problem with extended use. Mike has a post talking about one way to get around this by putting in steel slugs where dogs engage the center clutch assembly. He also recommends removing the bolts at the end of the dogs to relieve some of the pressure on the clutch center assembly. For the life of me I have no idea how you would install steel slugs on a CB750 clutch assembly. Overall I am happy with the result. With Rickman's front fearing installed without the spacer for the lockup clutch it would be a bastard trying to kickstart this engine. To much stuff in the way. Hope this helps.

[Sam Green Racing]

Thanks Scott but as you will have guessed the info is for others to share, deffo not for me.

Sam.

[rklystron]

Cool... Still good info.

[Sam Green Racing]

Yes Scott. There have been a few asking questions about clutches in recent threads so I thought it might be a good idea to hear from the various people that have had experience with the different clutches on offer.
Personaly, I went with new stock parts in the CR and had no problems with slip but I did have Barrnett springs as stand by if I needed them. It stood up to 2 seasons of drag starts with a heavy rider on a highish gear without any adjustment over the 2 years.

Sam.

[rklystron]

Wow, Sam that is very impressive I think that clutch slippage on my engine (748) may be nonexistent as well. Perhaps when you get into the bigger builds clutch slippage may rear it's ugly head. In my case with the lock up clutch spacer installed 37mm , I can kick the engine over with just a tie wrap holding up the right foot peg. This turned out to be a pleasant surprise.
All the best.

[Steven.Burns]

Just bought the Barnett Clutch Kit for my '78 CB750F2 last week. I'll let you know how it runs

[voxonda]

Hi Sammy,

Well since my kind of absence there has been not much development with the clutch. But that will change in the near future. At the moment I am trying, as long as my arm permits, to finish work lying around for some of the guys here on the forum. Great bunch by the way, respect their patience. Thanks for that.
Ran the dry clutch on two occasions on track and it performed very well, dispite a small lekkage which will be solved. One big advantage of the dry clutch is the 'bite' when coming out of corners. It really feels much faster. On a wet one there is always more or less some slippage. Dis-advantage is getaways from stand still, 'cause it is 'grabby' and when braking hard. Then one need a anti-hop setup like mec here.
Run the new APE clutch in one bike and a OEM in the other one. Both work great. The OEM one is in the less powerful engine. No need for heavier springs, even after 2 seasons. Just blasted all the plates and re-assembled it.
APE one has a slightly heavier feel to it.

Rob

[Retro Rocket]

Terry has a lock up clutch Sam, and cycleX are making a Hydraulic clutch actuator, this should make the heavier clutch lighter at the lever....

[lordmoonpie]

I swapped out the standard Honda clutch on my Moriwaki VTR with a Barnett and it was heavy and dead ever after. Went back to standard Honda in the end. We should get KOS to comment too as I believe he uses only standard Honda clutches on all of his 100bhp racers...

[MRieck]

I swapped out the standard Honda clutch on my Moriwaki VTR with a Barnett and it was heavy and dead ever after. Went back to standard Honda in the end. We should get KOS to comment too as I believe he uses only standard Honda clutches on all of his 100bhp racers...

I only use standard fibers and steels. I have had to many problems with stack height using aftermarket kits

[Sam Green Racing]

and I wouldn't mind betting that you went straight to Barrnett springs without giving the OEM springs a testing.

Sam.

[754]

I have had good luck with Barnett.. xtra plate and regular. I would like to try the APE.
 Question for all those that are still using stock fibers. Do you as a rule SLIP the clutch constantly ? or simply let it go?
 MNy experience with the stockers suggests they will not handle the abuse of slipping.
 In bracket racing I slip the clutch with revs up high for 30-60feet off the start.. hundres of times.. on the street as well. In fact on my 836 I often grabbed a hanful or R's and simply slipped the clutch rather than downshift.

 Racing clitches.. you dont get something for nothing. If you want/need more bite, learn to live with it, or stay home.. cant have it both ways..
 Yes my old Barnett groans when you first use it cold, its ignorant at times, neutral is harder to find.. but it dies its job..

[boticki]

Where do you guys buy your stock clutch parts from? I have found a few sites that carry them, but am still curious where you guys go.


John

[Sam Green Racing]

I guess it depends where you live, I got mine from DSS, but clutches are a thing of the past now.

Sam.

[rklystron]

I guess it depends where you live, I got mine from DSS, but clutches are a thing of the past now.

Sam.

Only for you Sam...only for you.

[Steven.Burns]

Just installed a Barnett Clutch kit on my 78 CB750F2 and man does it work amazing. It really grabs when you release the clutch and it is not that hard to squeeze the lever. In the cold it does like to make a little noises but once the oil is warmed up, it is great. Can't go wrong