harleyKmodel

So given I'm a new guy, one more question for today. In cleaning my shelves, I found an NOS HD wet clutch kit part # 37984-57. I've seen these installed in clutches I've taken apart over the years, but have no actual experience with them. I'm thinking of using it in my '59 XLCH build. Does anyone have any actual experience with these? How do they compare with a stock dry (LOL) clutch?
Thanks.

You can read my response to an earlier questioner posing a similar question, as well as others input on same at the link below.

http://www.harleykmodel.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=634&p=4490&hilit=clutch#p4490

WZ507,
Appreciate the response. I had already looked at that thread, and it was unclear to me if you (and others) were talking about the Factory wet clutch kit or an aftermarket one. (Pretty sure Barnett made one back in the day.) Is your experience with the Factory clutch I have?
Thanks.

Yes.

The problem with running a clutch that was designed as a dry clutch as a wet clutch is you need more clamping force to achieve the same result.I have never looked at a NOS wet clutch kit but if it has stronger springs in there you may just run into another problem.
Barnett and others make stronger clutch springs for these clutches.. once you start making more torque than a stock engine youu can have clutch problems
This has to do with the actuator mechanism in the sprocket cover. If you look at the worm assembly the two arms made out of thin steel which hold the end of the clutch cable your looking at the problem.
When you put stronger springs in there those two arms twist and bend. There are fixes (of course0 but you also need arms like Popey to pull in the clutch.
A well set up ironhead dry clutch is a very good clutch.

The stiffer clutch springs over time can cause cracks to develop in the sprocket cover.

I heard that racers would put 3 of the 53R springs in with the rest being stock springs, rather than replace all of them. Anyone with racing experience care to comment?

I run the series K Kevlar Barnett wet set with stock springs. Works fine. Just don't use Castrol GTX! Too slippery... makes my XR500 clutch slip also.

Ferrous_Head, look at a pic of a Harley XR750 right side clutch cable release arm. It is like the old 45 release arm. It's mounted on a plate that bolts to the right side of the trans in place of the old cover and that tin ramp release mechanism. The arm is about 6 inches long. Works great. XR riders have used these since the 80's. You have to look at a latter XR. I could maybe post a pic if someone needed it. I have parts not on a bike yet. They work great.

I already use them Spannerman. Thanks for that anyway. They make it a bit easier for me to pull the clutch in. I have to make around 60 gear changes in a race. And I'm old. It's not strictly Kosher for my class but I have permission to use it otherwise I couldn't race the bike. I buy them from Weiss Racing. $150.

If you run sintered iron plates it doesn't even matter if you get some oil in there. They will still work once they get hot. I have the second best gearbox and clutch in Period 3 racing. All stock parts except for the plates and that clutch arm.