clutch stuff.....

[psycoreefer]

Ok, long story short I decided to replace my clutch with some alto clutch frictions as recomended by another member, I got the stuff in the mail today and initial inspection results are interesting.

The alto frictions are alto part number 27729/094760-250, they are supposed to be 2.5mm (x9) thick. Combine that with stock steels at 2.6mm (x8) thick and you can run an extra steel and an extra friction for a total height of 43.21. This gives you about 12% more friction area and an extra steel which is supposed to help reduce heat buildup in the clutch.

Stock frictions are 3mm (x8) with stock steels at 2.6 (x7) for a total of 42.2. So alto's would be 1mm taller, which is less then what you add (2.6mm) with the popular extra steel mod.

Anyways thats all theory, what I got in the mail today are alto frictions, with the correct number printed on them, but they only measure 2.4mm thick, however they are dry so maybe they will swell a little bit after I pre-soak them in oil.
More interesting is that I was expecting stock steels, and what I got were barnett steels, they only measure 1.93mm, compared to a stock steel that is supposed to be 2.6mm, that is a big difference. Anyone else notice this with barnett steels? Anyone have problems after installing a barnett clutch with slipping? Anyone know how thick the barnett friction plates are?
Over the whole stack thats a difference of 5.3mm. If the frictions don't swell I could run 10 frictions and 9 steels, and still be slightly less then stock height.

Another interesting thing I found is I measured the stock stack thickness in the replacement basket I got from a member, and it only measures 37.3mm, when according to theory it should be closer to 42.2mm. It doesn't look that worn, but I haven't mic'd the individual plates yet so I suppose it could be.

What do ya'll think?

[petejw]

sounds like you got sent the wrong stuff,
those steel thicknesses are a fair way out,
and the fibre ones should be thicker,
i wouldnt soak them if you want to send them back
for a refund/swap, the fibres wont swell much if at all.
other than the thickness are the plates the same?
i dnt know how it would work if you wanted to add
more plates to make up the thickness, personally i wouldnt do it.

[WMarshy]

... The alto frictions are...supposed to be 2.5mm thick...stock steels at 2.6mm (x8)...for a total height of 43.21.

...stock frictions are 3mm (x8) with stock steels at 2.6 (x7) for a total of 42.2. So alto's would be 1mm taller...all theory...

what I got ...only measure 2.4mm thick...

More interesting...I got...barnett steels, they only measure 1.93mm, compared to a stock steel that is supposed to be 2.6mm...

Over the whole stack thats a difference of 5.3mm. If the frictions don't swell I could run 10 frictions and 9 steels, and still be slightly less then stock height.

Another interesting thing I found is I measured the stock stack thickness in the replacement basket I got from a member, and it only measures 37.3mm, when according to theory it should be closer to 42.2mm. It doesn't look that worn, but I haven't mic'd the individual plates yet so I suppose it could be.

What do ya'll think?

I dont have any experience with the Branett steels but they seem to have a good name... IMO the frictions are acceptable, your only talking 0.1mm so if you decide to re-use OEM steels then your stack height would be 42.4...only 0.2 taller than theroretical stock... Personally, I would try 10 frictions and 9 steels, I dont see how you could hurt anything. I dont see how increasing the friction area would reduce heat build up in the clutch, if anything it will generate more if your slipping it... Maybe the clutch engineers of this era know something we dont, look at the changes in break rotor thickness.

sounds like you got sent the wrong stuff,
those steel thicknesses are a fair way out,
and the fibre ones should be thicker,
i wouldnt soak them if you want to send them back
for a refund/swap, the fibres wont swell much if at all.
other than the thickness are the plates the same?
i dnt know how it would work if you wanted to add
more plates to make up the thickness, personally i wouldnt do it.

I wouldnt expect the frictions to expand much at all either, even 0.25mm would hard to beleive... I think the frictions are the correct parts thought, but I would question the steels. I really dont see any disadvantage of using another steel other than it might increase the chance of warping them. Only ff you get them hot for some reason, they might dissipate the heat quicker b/c they are thiner and induce warpage..?

Any reason you bought aftermarket steels, are your stock steels in bad shape, or did you just think it was a good idea?

[psycoreefer]

I agree the that the frictions are the right parts, I'm not to worried about that. I may try the 9/10 setup. From what I've read extra steels help to reduce heat, i'm not sure how but its a popular setup for the high tourque and "high" horsepower V-twin crowd, as well as mild drag setups so their must be something to it.

I'm going to check the part numbers on the barnett steels today.

I decided to go all new because I had the money from my tax return and I'm sick of playing clutch games, figured if I went all new (I also got new springs) there would be no question about if any of the steels were warped or glazed or ????

Thanks for the input, I'll keep you all posted.

[psycoreefer]

Ok wanted to post for future searchers, this whole issue was in my head. Stock steels are 2mm thick, with the exception of the one that is held to the basket with the little wire retainer, that one is 2.6mm. I can't figure out where I got the 2.6mm spec from, I could swear it was from my manual but I can't find it again and actual measurements seem to prove whatever the source I found wrong. I measured my old stock steels and they are all 2mm +/- .02 so the barnett stuff is fine. I'm going to go ahead with my alto install using the barnett steels.