Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums Performance Mods Stiffer clutch springs

Installed Barnett clutch springs last night. Made a big difference. No longer slips on highway when hitting full throttle.

surprised it would slip with a unmodified motor

Frank

where'd you get them from? I need to order some. Cost?

thanks! Did you have to replace the side cover gasket as well, or did you reinstall the old gasket?

Me too. Maybe I've been too hard on it. Surely our clutches aren't that undersized. Never would slip at low speeds, only if I was going around someone; maybe 70 mph or so. Also, before I could only get 105 or maybe 108 mph. Today, zipped up to 112 before I backed off, no problem. Didn't change the plates.
Sweat- I ordered the clutch plates and springs from newbonneville.com some months ago, can't remember the cost. Opted to try the springs only after reading a few threads on the subject here and delphi. The gasket is not re-useable. I got it on ebay for $5 + shipping.

I just want to buy the springs. I've heard that the stock plates are ok.

Did you install a new side-cover gasket?

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The gasket is not re-useable. I got it on ebay for $5 + shipping.

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Sweat, I got just the springs themselves, for $16 flat, through a suzuki dealership. Any dealer that orders from a Parts Unlimited Catalog can get them, refer to this link
for the right part number.

thanks guys! I'm filling stiffer already...uh, did I say that?

My clutched slip on the freeway last week for the first time when I downshifted and twisted the wrist. I'll have to look into some stiffer springs.

If you do it yourself, a few tips. Don't just remove cover bolts and yank cover off like I did. Disconnect breather hose at top behind cover. After bolts off, push breather pipe to pop cover off. The internal aluminum pipe assembly fits in socket on backside of cover and is easily bent.
The starter driven gear is held in place with a pin through middle that fits in hole in backside of cover. If it comes out of block (comes out easily), make sure it is back in place before re-assembly. The starter driven gear moves out of place without that pin.
Lastly, I installed throwout plate backwards, it fit perfectly. This allowed too much travel in lifter arm/bullet pin assembly and the thing would come apart when I worked the clutch lever. Look at BikerThug's pics in tech vault in addition to manual.

How is the clutch pull with the Barnett springs or for that matter the Barnett clutch set up.I seen one on www.newspeedmaster.com . When mine goes I was thinking along those lines instead of stock. I do like the lite pull on the stock set up. I don't have any slippage yet,thankfully.

I didn't notice any difference in lever pull. The lever action/lifter arm movement translates into a very small movement of bullet pin that moves the clutch plates. Others say it is a little harder, but I don't see it, and I don't have Popeye-esque forearms.

How many miles on your machine before your clutch started slipping?

Didn't slip off the line, only if at highway speed, downshifted, and hit WOT. Think it was 16,500, or maybe 17,000 miles. If I never rode it hard, never would have been an issue.
Actually, the bullet pin doesn't even move the clutch itself, like an automobile clutch, it just relieves pressure on clutch pack. Thats why you get that "clunk" when you put it in gear. No pressure on it, but the plates are stuck together.