JimC, I like the Barnett springs, hate their friction plates. I got to like the Barnett 5 spring "pull", let me know I had a real clutch in the bike. I haven't found a better spring than the Barnett for a wet H series clutch.
There used to be a company in Washington state, Metal Frictions, that had GREAT friction plates, but haven't seen them around for a decade. The VESRAH plates are what I use now, they are top notch parts.
"I just bought a ball bearing unit form a board member to see how that feels; I'm assuming the reduction of mechanical resistance might lighten the pull." I NEVER did like the all ball bearing pushers, they just didn't seem as good as the 6 spiral ones, but, they don't break like the nylon spirals do.
What we are dealing with here is the leverage ratios from a variety of different combinations from levers, to releases. A bit of "math and massaging" will get any clutch package working correctly, just have to know what is going on as you go, and adjust from there.
The Sytec, Ralf's and other specialty releases are top notch stuff, but, as with most things, there is more to do, as I said, the leverage ratios might just have to be "modified" for best actuation. Case in point, it was mentioned that some specialty releases have a finer spiral angle than other releases, and don't push as far, but a lot easier. Well, the "fix" would be to carefully select the lever assembly for the handlebar, that allows more cable pull, then, change the cable holder clevis pin location on the release lever, to gain a longer pull. that is basically what I have been outlining. It is all trial and error, readjust, but, once right, the harshest clutch can be tamed right down to work efficiently.
The original design had no room for modification to the wet clutch, the H series racers were specifically different, but designed for the stock leverage ratio releases. They usually worked flawlessly for stock applications, after they were adjusted correctly, but, tht was usually NEVER done at new bike setu, nor at first service, unless the clutch was so off,m it didn't work in the first place. The factory never did adjust much, they simply assembled, made run, packed and shipped, with the task of adjusting correctly given to dealer mechanics that had no clue mostly. I adjusted all the clutches I ever saw when I worked at dealerships, because others previously, DIDN'T.
You guys have a lot of good ideas, go play with 'em, it'll fix 'em.
The hydraulic release setups, when sized right (correcting the leverage ratio of the release push) makes them equally as good as any there are.
We used to adjust the clutches on Chevy race cars by having a helper hold the clutch pedal down, and adjusting the friction plate clearance from pressure plate to flywheel to .055/.060 inch, with a feeler gauge. If we couldn't get that out of the setup, we'd change the release fork, cross shaft, whatever it took to get the setting correct, and the clutches worked fantastic.
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