CLUTCH PLATES.

[reed]

There seems to be a shortage of clutch plates for the Bridgestone 350 GTR.
I can get them made in the UK is there anywere in the states that can
Make them!
Let me know Thanks.
Reed.

[Puchman66]

I would be interested in a set or two also.  I wonder we could convince someone to make a run of them if we could get a minimum order to justify the set-up costs?

[reed]

Puchman66
I will talk to Richard it would be better off going through him they might want 25 sets to start
And he could sell more!
Thanks.
Reed.

[Puchman66]

Right on-

[reed]

Puchman66
I will post the part no for the clutch tool tonight!
Thanks.
Reed.

[reed]

Puchman66
The clutch holding tool is on e bay no 230507778095
And the cost is 19.95
Thanks.
Reed.

[Richard Clark BS parts]

BS Friends

I will be happy to develop/market/invest in a 350 clutch plate project. Please contact me if you guys are interested.

As a side note: I have contacted BARNETT Clutch in the USA, after a promising first start, they informed me they were not interested in doing
clutch plates for me, even with me paying tooling cost and purchasing 200 plates at a time. Could not get out of them, why they would not do it??
If it was a simple fiber plate, then no problem.


Questions? or need Bridgestone parts? call:

Richard Clark
812-944-1643  8am-6pm EST Weekdays

[reed]

Richard
I am interested in doing clutch plates for the Bridgestone 350 !
Thanks.
Reed.

[reed]

Richard
Why don't we change to a wet clutch!
Then we can get all the clutch plates in the world.
Let me know.
Thanks.
Reed.

[OldSwartout]

Richard
Why don't we change to a wet clutch!
Then we can get all the clutch plates in the world.
Let me know.
Thanks.
Reed.

They still have to fit the basket and be the right thickness, so unless there just happens to be something that fits, we're no better off.

With the easy availability of laser and water-jet cutting these days, it seems like it would be easy to get cores made.  If cores were available, it would seem like Barnett would be willing to face them. Mavbe they don't have a good dry material.  I talked to those guys at a show once, they are pretty low tech.  I was asking about coefficient of friction of their materials (something a clutch designer would specify and test for quality control, endurance and to compare various materials).  They had no idea!

[bsracer]

I talked with Barnett years ago about making plates when this same question came up.  Sounded like it would be way too expensive for both Barnett as well as the customer for them to make. If you really need them, Brian McDonough in the UK should have them.

paul

[Bridgestone Man]

I have order parts from him, years ago and still waiting for them to arrive.

I think our best bet is to pool orders and have someone make the plates, bite the bullet
and pay the high price

Sam Keys

[rocketman]

 You guys will find this to be do-able,you just haven't hit on the right source yet. I contacted ZF services about this. They re-package Sachs dry clutch components and said the possibility does exist with a minimum of 10,000 sets,but the proccess would be long and excruciatingly expensive! I doubt anyone would ever need that quantity. There are those among us who hold the key. Keep pluggin!  Mark.

[reed]

Karl
I have a set of clutch plates wet to work out on a Bridgestone 350 gtr.
My plan is to buy another Bridgestone 350 gtr to do this work on i know
howto modify the case and i have the seals already!
The gtr i am doing now will be done std.
Thanks.
Reed.

[reed]

Puchman66
Did you get the clutch holding tool.
Thanks.
Reed.

[OldSwartout]

Karl
I have a set of clutch plates wet to work out on a Bridgestone 350 gtr.
My plan is to buy another Bridgestone 350 gtr to do this work on i know
howto modify the case and i have the seals already!
The gtr i am doing now will be done std.
Thanks.
Reed.

What bike are the plates from?

You're right, it doesn't appear to be a major problem to make the clutch wet; a couple cutouts in the side cover behind the clutch, maybe an oil splash diverter, seal up the carb cover and pushrod.  I just didn't figure it would be any easier to find plates.

[reed]

Karl
Thanks Karl i will let you know.
Thanks.
Reed.

[ridered]

I like the wet clutch idea. I could see the dry clutch for racing applications but for a production street bike I think it was a little overkill. I would prefer the smoothness of a wet clutch, it would also quiet the motor noises down. There will be only one downfall I can think of, oil changes would need to be done more often. Example would be a Harley primary the clutch in there can really nasty up the oil. Great idea Steve talking about thinking out of the box!
Hope you pursue your idea.
Mike

[reed]

Mike
You know we don't have a pri chain the drive is on a shaft.
All Kawasaki have wet clutch and i would change the oil
Every 3000 miles the oil would be still clean.When i get my next
GTR i will put on a new type exhaust and a
set of upside down forks on wet clutch mag wheels disc brakes
Mono shock rear end i have a lot of ideas i need to live for
A 150 years or more!
PS your Bridgestone is looking great you doing a good job!
Thanks.
Steve.

[Puchman66]

Reed,
I got the clutch tool.  Thanks a TON!

Puchman