Ducati Monster Forum

Any idea what is available and what is the average cost?

Rob [thumbsup]

Hey Rob I got a Barnett Clutch pack from Desmo times .
Has been ok the only problem is that the friction material is red colour and with the open cover the red dust makes a bit of a mess  :'( :-[

I also put the procutting basket  [thumbsup]

The other option is surflex clutch pack.

I used Desmo times as they use paypal, convenient [thumbsup]


  Below From Desmo times http://www.desmotimes.com/ (http://www.desmotimes.com/)
  


Above Left - The Surflex Clutch Pack - $235

Above Right - The Barnett Clutch Pack - $185
 

Q/A

1. Why do you carry 2 different brands?

A very small number of Ducati enthusiasts have sworn off Barnett clutch packs after hearing stories about them wearing out. I love the Barnett clutch plates, but perception is reality, so I now have an option for those that insist they won't use Barnett clutch packs.

2. Which one is better?

The material on the Surflex packs APPEARS to be better. I haven't performance tested the Surflex packs to quantify how much longer they last. Besides, there are too many variables to say which clutch pack lasts longer - rider to rider habits, bike weight, type of riding, other clutch system variables, etc. The Surflex packs are new to Desmo Times effective late Feb 2008. It will take years for me to determine how they compare to the Barnett packs, but I'd hazard a guess they will last longer.

3. Why is the Surflex clutch more expensive?

First, they come from Italy, so there are much higher shipping costs. Second, the Euro vs the US Dollar. Need I say more.

4. Which one should I purchase?

That's up to you. If I were on a tight budget and didn't ride tens of thousands of miles each year, I'd purchase the Barnett clutch pack. If I was a racer or a guy/gal who tours in excess of 10,000 miles a year, I'd install the Surflex.

 

 
 

Hi Rob

I have complete sets in stock.. you get your forum discount off this price..

http://www.carbon-imports.com.au/product_info.php?products_id=208 (http://www.carbon-imports.com.au/product_info.php?products_id=208)

not sure which ones ozducati has, so sorry if i step on any toes here, but...........
barnett have given me nothing but grief, stack heights too tall, remove a plate, too low, wear fast, can't get a consistent feel, etc etc, i'm not alone, but it doesn't seem to be a real common issue so who knows.
surflex, i replaced the basket, bearing and plates in my S4R, now, it has an open cover, and when you bear in mind i've been riding these things for coming up to 20 years, i've had a lot of experience with them. my surflex kit persists in sticking together after a wash, i posted up on here some time ago and no one else has had the same issue! i got all sorts of suggestions why, bike wash detergent, not running it after washing, not blowing it out, etc and frankly, i tried everything, including changing the car wash i use and taking it for a ride after, nothing fixed it, so after a whine to bevan at eurotwins (who i bought it from) he's exchanged it, i still haven't ridden it since fitting it but this weekend will reveal all.
in short, next time i'll pay the extra for a genuine plate kit, cause i'm not pulling my clutch apart to un stick it after every wash!

paul.

Surflex have been making clutch friction plates a very long time, for wet and dry clutches.

Wot bit of the word " dry ' is so damm hard for folk to understand ? ?

 

Just fitted the Procutting basket along with the Surflex pack and a Vtwo hub, and have not had any problems (A week and a bit so far commuting) [thumbsup]

The 48 tooth Ergal unit was approx 32,000k old and was getting noisy but operating perfectly well. I reckon I could have gotten quite a few thousand more out of the unit, so considering the cost of the complete unit its pretty good value, with absolutely no problems from the moment I installed it,  [clap]

we don't sell the barnett plates, ours come from europe, one kit is a lightweight with alloy plates, the other is a sintermetallic made by TSS who are very very good at making clutches and parts.. they make a lot of stuff for other "brands" such as yoyodyne etc

Hey Ozduc, hows the enquiries going??  ;D

am getting somewhere i think.. is just the potential outlay for us that could be frightening... am working on it though..

what do you mean by that?
are you saying that you shouldn't run an open cover with the surflex plates? because there's got to be tens of thousands of riders with open covers, and i've never heard of anyone having the same issue of plates sticking together like i have.

paul.

I read that comment as meaning the Surflex plates haves issues turning dry clutches into wet clutches by having the problems you have outlined.

hmm, interesting, cause i haven't heard anyone have the same problem, when i pull it apart cause they've all stuck together it's bone dry, and the stain on the steel plates doesn't look like rust it looks like green residue, maybe glue?
for sure though, if this new kit does it i'll buy a genuine kit and someone with an enclosed dry clutch can have a new kit very cheap!

Hey I was after a half set for my '95 900. I only need the dry alloy friction plates ala Barnett style or newer alloy stockers like those on the ST4S.
If I can get away with only having to buy a half kit it would help. My tax return was disappointing and I missed out on buying bargain OZ wheels. So it's just the essentials at the moment.

Hey Paul, has LT Snyder got a theory on the problem and the residue?? ???

i haven't asked mate, ian gowanloch (italspares) is the importer here, i bought them from bev at eurotwins and he replaced them for me before he closed up shop. Haven't heard if ian has said anything though, and i have been slack, well, busy at work, too busy to get out for a ride so i'll have to see how this new kit goes, hopefully it was a one off.

paul.
p.s, is yours an open cover dragon?

Hey Paul
What WTSDS is trying to say is it is a dry clutch keep it Dry.
I haven't read what Lt Snyder has to say.
 but at a guess the green residue is friction plate dust mixed with water gumming up the plates.
As could happen with any other brand of plates.
I always try not to get the clutch wet.
I know every one with an open cover doesn't worry about riding in the rain but when the clutch is spinning and hot very little water will get in.

You must have got a dodgy Barrnett clutch pack to have problems.
These Ducati clutches ain't rocket science very agricultural.
Just a few plates, throw them in  the correct order an Viola ;)
Key words correct order.

>>> my surflex kit persists in sticking together after a wash,

Paul, if you have tried " everything " and it happens after a wash, AND you have a residue, maybe try thoroughly cleaning the complete clutch - driven plates, friction plates and pressure plate, and then keep it dry.

" Everything " includes deburring all of the tangs, making sure the pressure plate is lifting off sufficiently and squarely and there's no warped plates, replacing the hub if it's severely grooved, and ensuring the odd plate is facing the right way.

Jeff

Sorta Paul! I use the standard cover with it spaced out from the engine case to stop low flying aircraft,  [thumbsup] [laugh]

But weather proof it aint!  [moto]

yeah +1 dragonworld.  I have a TPO spacer kit that spaces the standard dry clutch cover out about a 1/4 of an inch.  I have ridden through torrential rain - no problems.  I have washed the bike and washed around the clutch area with sponge and hose.  I try not to get soapy water in there, and when I rinse that area I am cautious, but I have seen water get in there.  After washing, drying, I start the bike and let it idle for about 5 mins.  I think that usually spins out any water that may have got in there and gets enough engine temp to dry the plates if there is any water in there.  Mind you these are still the factory original plates - not after market.  Never had the issues you have described though. :)

One question loony - do you wash your bike on a race stand or side stand?

I think you got a bad batch of plates - be interested to hear how you go with the new ones!  [thumbsup]

yeah that's what i figured he was saying too, thing is, i've been riding these things for nearly 20 years, i've replaced maybe 10 clutches and NEVER had an issue, ever. i know how to install one, i know how to clean and maintain one, and i've ALWAYS had an open clutch cover, so why am i having an issue with just this one kit? i hope Mr.S2R is right and it's just a dodgy kit, hope the new one is better. And yes, i KNOW it's a dry clutch, but dry as in not in an oil bath, water shouldn't (according to the importer) and hasn't been an issue, at least for me, until now.

paul.

I've heard the sintered metal in the plates sticking after being wet was possible, they rust together when drying. I think I remember this on Harleys with open belt driven primary cases. Kind of similar to my mates Superlight cast iron discs sticking to the pads when left really wet and then drying. He puts the brakes on,  gives it a shove and it cracks loose.

I'm sure they would be fine after letting it run after washing as has been suggested. A bad batch may have the wrong amount of the metallic component however. A batch like that would stick alot worse than normal.

Think it's possible?

i'd say it would have to be possible, i have cast iron rotors on my monster and it has done the same as you describe, the weight of the bike against it as i give it a push is enough to break them apart and they're fine from there, the clutch is much tougher, i've tried running the motor, blowing out the clutch with compressed air, even riding it around the block (clearly not far enough) with no luck. The green residue it seems is the glue that bonds the friction material to the alloy plate and i'm almost certain that was the issue, rode it yesterday, washed it this morning and after a full day left after a wash it's fine with the new clutch, go figure.....

paul.

Well at least you can rest assured, with Ian (Italspares) if it is a dodgy pack or batch, he will do the right thing by you and sort a replacement .  He is very good like that...