are barnett clutches good

franc01 · 12-01-2005, 10:14 AM

Hi,

This is my first post on this site. I have an '03 954 and my stock clutch just started slipping. I've only done a few drag strip passes (mid 11s, still sorting out the launch) and was actually practicing some launches when the clutch started to slip with a little over 5K on the odo. I don't know what sort of life the clutch had with the previous owner, as I bought the bike with 4K on it. I was about to order the Barnett carbon fiber kit until I searched these archives and found most folks recommended stock plates/discs with the Barnett springs. Has anyone used this setup recently? I want to put in something that's going to last.

On my F4, I changed to a Barnett Kevlar clutch at approx. 10K miles when that started to slip. On that bike, the stock clutch held up to numerous passes at the track but I never raced with the Barnett setup. I've put 1K miles on the F4 since the clutch change last year and it feels great on the street.

Any replies are appreciated!
-Franc

ConqSoft · 12-01-2005, 10:16 AM

There is a little info in the first two Similar Threads down below, but others may have some updated information to post...

MACI4LIFE · 12-01-2005, 11:37 AM

It was recommended to me ( from this board) to use the stock clutch with the barnett springs. They seem to put more pressure on the plates, but i haven't noticed a difference in the lever tension ( which is a good thing).

abtech · 12-01-2005, 12:28 PM

The biggest problem with the Barnett units is they don't use the exact cut dimensions as the OEM plates so there is always some slop between the fingers and the basket slots. After several hard launches, the fingers wear grooves into the basket and then the plates start to hang up rather than slide through their normal travel. Barnett also uses an assortment of materials for their plates and none of it is as heavy duty as the OEM product.

I have seen several clutch baskets ruined from using Barnett plates and believe me, you don't want to pay to replace a basket every 2000 miles.

rrblade · 12-03-2005, 12:56 PM

for dragracing anyway!i have just over 7000 miles on my 03 954 which spends most of it's time at the dragstrip.the stock clutches are without question better.i once bought a set of barnett's carbon fiber junk,they lasted about 200 miles. abtech is also correct,to much clearence between clutch teeth and basket teeth.do yourself a favor and stick with honda factory replacement parts.i must also say i've gotten better clutch life using the honda oil in the gold container vs using amsoil synthetic for motorcycles!

unclepaulieSTL · 12-04-2005, 1:19 AM

I don't do dragstrips, but I do alot of trackdays. I have over 27,000 miles on my 954 and I still have the stock clutch with no signs of slipping yet. A friend of mine told me when it is time to replace it the best thing to do is get stock everything except replace the clutch basket with a good aftermarket titanium one.

abtech · 12-04-2005, 7:24 AM

Originally Posted by unclepaulieSTL

I don't do dragstrips, but I do alot of trackdays. I have over 27,000 miles on my 954 and I still have the stock clutch with no signs of slipping yet. A friend of mine told me when it is time to replace it the best thing to do is get stock everything except replace the clutch basket with a good aftermarket titanium one.

I'm not certain that's really necessary, although it it's made properly it probably wouldn't hurt. It won't be as light as the aluminum and would add to reciprocating flywheel mass, so you may not like the effect it has on the engine response.

At any rate, I don't see the clutch basket as a weak link on the Blade or RC at even 30% to 40% more power than stock.

luvtolean · 12-04-2005, 1:43 PM

If it's not nitrided the fingers of the clutch plates will probably gall on a Ti basket too.

I'm wondering if he was mistaken? I've never seen a Ti clutch basket...

unclepaulieSTL · 12-04-2005, 6:58 PM

I could be qouting him wrong on the titanium part, but anyhow he did say a good aftermarket clutch basket would be better. He really didn't give me a reason, can you think of any?

SilverBullet · 12-04-2005, 10:21 PM

I went through 2 sets of clutches using stock springs to one set using Barnett springs. Stick with the OEM plates/fibers and get the springs from Barnett. I drag race every weekend from March-Nov.

luvtolean · 12-05-2005, 1:39 AM

Originally Posted by unclepaulieSTL

I could be qouting him wrong on the titanium part, but anyhow he did say a good aftermarket clutch basket would be better. He really didn't give me a reason, can you think of any?

Not really. If it isn't breaking anyways.

On dirtbikes it's real popular to goto a billet aluminum Hinson or other aftermarket forged job, but I think as you see here the stock basket is not a weak point of these bikes.

RSheffi649 · 12-12-2005, 7:14 PM

hey bullet, since you are a dragracer i was wondering if you could shed some light on a subject for me. is conventional oil better than synthetic for clutch life? we always have discussions about the subject, my brother dragraces and he is adamant that synthetic will cause clutches to slip sooner than conventional and i've got friends who argue that it doesn't and thats all they use in they're bikes....

abtech · 12-12-2005, 8:31 PM

Molybdenum Disulphide is a common additive in several synthetic (and a few dino based) oils and is extremely slippery. If the oil mentions friction reducers, chances are it has moly in it and your clutch may slip. There are several synthetic oils that don't use moly and as such don't cause clutch slipping (any more than any dino oil would).

SilverBullet · 12-13-2005, 7:18 AM

Originally Posted by RSheffi649

hey bullet, since you are a dragracer i was wondering if you could shed some light on a subject for me. is conventional oil better than synthetic for clutch life? we always have discussions about the subject, my brother dragraces and he is adamant that synthetic will cause clutches to slip sooner than conventional and i've got friends who argue that it doesn't and thats all they use in they're bikes....

As Abtech said! He knows alot more about it than I do...afterall, he's the one who got me to switch to Motul 1-1/2 years ago. Nothing but impressed with the product. There is really only 2 other choices that I "might" would put in my bike, but Motul has been everything I was told it would be and NO slipping at all!

As far as clutch life goes......if you change the oil often, it doesn't matter if you are using a good synthetic or dino based oil, the clutches won't slip based off oil being used; unless using a moly based synthetic like Abtech mentioned.