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Barnett clutch
Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2015 7:43 pm
by fatboy
It arrived t''other day,instructions say Never use automotive oils as they do not meet specific and special requirements of motorcycle engines, clutches and transmissions....
Does this mean in Twinkie the kid country they have different oil specifications to us or do kevlar friction plates have special needs ?
Left it too late to ring Opie oils today, any of you guys able to shed light on this one ?
Cheers Paul
Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2015 8:22 pm
by D-Rider
So if you're not supposed to use automotive oils in an automotive application, what are they recommending? Spry Crisp and Dry anyone?

Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2015 9:34 pm
by Firestarter
Car oils aren't suitable for motorbike engines. The stresses in the engine leads to breakdown of car oils, bike oils are specially formulated. Don't think its an international thing they're referring to
Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2015 10:36 pm
by D-Rider
Firestarter wrote:Car oils aren't suitable for motorbike engines. The stresses in the engine leads to breakdown of car oils, bike oils are specially formulated. Don't think its an international thing they're referring to
Sure - car oils aren't suitable for bikes - especially as their friction modifiers often play havoc with clutches ..... but automotive oils include oils for both cars and bikes and I really can't understand why it is suggested that motorcycle oils are unsuitable.
.... now if it said "automobile oils", that would be a completely different kettle of fish ....
Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2015 11:09 pm
by mangocrazy
D-Rider wrote:.... now if it said "automobile oils", that would be a completely different kettle of fish ....
A kettle of fish, presumably fried in 10W50 semi-synthetic oil... ?

Posted: Sat Feb 21, 2015 12:00 am
by D-Rider
mangocrazy wrote:D-Rider wrote:.... now if it said "automobile oils", that would be a completely different kettle of fish ....
A kettle of fish, presumably fried in 10W50 semi-synthetic oil... ?

I thought fish usually came in Olive Oil ....
.... though maybe Kettle cooked fish requires a different oil
Posted: Sat Feb 21, 2015 7:53 pm
by fatboy
I will have a look in the supermarket tomorrow,see if any oils used in tinned fish products are suitable for use with kevlar clutch plates.
I've never cooked fish or clutch plates in a kettle, I've always used the traditional methods like ovens, grills and engines
Posted: Sun Feb 22, 2015 7:12 am
by Falcopops
the clutch is going to be running in whatever oil you have in the bike, so use that to soak it
Posted: Sun Feb 22, 2015 2:40 pm
by MartDude
Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2015 1:55 pm
by Firestarter
D-Rider wrote:.... now if it said "automobile oils", that would be a completely different kettle of fish ....
Fair enough. Would imagine it's more a translation/terminology issue, rather than a "don't use bike oils" issue.
As Falcopops said, I'd always understood it to be "soak it in what the bike runs on". Not sure that Mart's suggestion applies...

Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2015 7:30 pm
by fatboy
Firestarter wrote:D-Rider wrote:.... now if it said "automobile oils", that would be a completely different kettle of fish ....
Fair enough. Would imagine it's more a translation/terminology issue, rather than a "don't use bike oils" issue.
As Falcopops said, I'd always understood it to be "soak it in what the bike runs on". Not sure that Mart's suggestion applies...

Well the advice for soaking the plates makes as little sense as the oil choice
'Soak friction plates for 1 to 3 mins, wipe dry with lint free cloth'
Why dry frictions when they will be living in the bloody stuff ?
Thanks Mart but Opie don't sell that stuff !
Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2015 10:02 am
by spiderwheels
fatboy wrote:Firestarter wrote:D-Rider wrote:.... now if it said "automobile oils", that would be a completely different kettle of fish ....
Well the advice for soaking the plates makes as little sense as the oil choice
'Soak friction plates for 1 to 3 mins, wipe dry with lint free cloth'
Maybe to stop the oil dribbling down your sleeve when you're fitting it? :)
How is the Barnett clutch? If I have to replace my diaphragm I may do the whole clutch while I'm at it...
Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2015 10:14 am
by D-Rider
spiderwheels wrote:
How is the Barnett clutch? If I have to replace my diaphragm I may do the whole clutch while I'm at it...
They used to be a popular mod when Falco ownership was dominated by the earliest models that were more prone to clutch slip.
I have no direct experience of one but what I have picked up is:
- * They tend to be much heavier than standard - some people improve this a bit by fitting half the Barnett springs and half the standard Aprilia springs.
* There have been issues with the Barnett pack not fitting properly - being too thick. People that have taken this up with Barnett have usually been sent a thinner steel to replace one in the pack
IMHO there seems little point in going this way if you have a later bike that is not prone to clutch slip - just fit a standard pack or well known brand aftermarket plates (eg ebc)
Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2015 7:40 pm
by fatboy
With regard to EBC frictions, I have a complete set doing nothing because they don't bloody well fit, the overall plate thickness is to great, the assembled stack sits proud of the clutch hub and you end up with an unusable bike.
This can be remedied by reducing the number of frictions from 9 to 8 and you lose 10% of your clutch efficiency, not what you want.
Look on AF1, I am not alone in having problems with EBC frictions.
I researched the Barnett problems, caused by the steels, they rectified this in 2010 and supplied free of charge new steels to anyone with an earlier set.
Again look on AF1.
I will fit the Barnett next week and report back.
Please note, I'm not anti EBC,'they got their sums wrong and you will simply buy yourself problems