4 or 6 spring clutch

[jhg1958]

My somewhat mistaken purchase of a 1961 A10’s has a 6 spring clutch loosely fitted.  Obviously thrown in to make it a nearly complete bike.  I understand that the 4 spring clutch is better.  Can anybody tell me why it is better and is it worth me looking for a 4 spring clutch?
John

[ellis]

4 Spring clutch every time and most of your troubles will disappear.

ELLIS 

[muskrat]

G'day JHG.
" has a 6 spring clutch loosely fitted" Ha, that's how I remember them, wobble wobble.
A lot of members retain the original 6 spring and with judicious assembly report success. I hate them (the clutch).
The 4 spring being a much later design is far superior and will last decades longer.
 If money isn't a factor I'd go for a Pearson clutch or as in my Cafe a belt drive and Notrun Commode diaphragm clutch.
Cheers

[morris]

I have no experience with the 6-spring but there are some advocates of that type on this forum so it can’t be that bad. I understood that it needs a bit of fettling to get it working right but well set up it’s doing the job.
I run a 4 spring setup on the SA and happy with it but a big improvement on that type is the SRM pressure plate kit with needle bearing pusher.
Doing with the 6-spring or changing to a 4-spring depends on how much you want to spend I guess.
BTW, an A10 never is a mistake purchase... 

[Greybeard]

The 6 spring clutch fitted to the Plunger model is very good. Apparently the 6 spring clutch on the SA models is not.

[Bsareg]

I've never quite understood the need for a needle roller on the end of the push rod, a mushroom to even the lift maybe,  but why the need for a bearing ? Surely the pressure plate turns with the gearbox mainshaft
and the pushrod so they all rotate together ? Anyone have an explanation?

[chaterlea25]

Hi Reg
The "pressure" is on the bearing /mushroom or push rod end when the clutch is being released or pulled in when there is relative motion between the driving and driven parts

John

[Seabee]

I have a 6 spring in my 57 Road Rocket. It is hard to pull in. I have a 4 spring in my 61 Super Rocket and it is buttery smooth and easy to pull in.

[Bsareg]

I may be thick but still can't se where the relative motion is. Surely pressure plate and clutch centre are all on the driven side and,  even when the clutch is slipped, still locked together. Also the push rod is allowed to turn with the mainshaft by the bearing ball on the operating arm. I must be missing something somewhere. 

[ironhead]

No your not thick, the only relative motion will be a slight bit as pressure is first applied to the pushrod ( spinning shaft , stationary ball in the r/h adjuster) I have found ( after making a few) that the main advantage of the alloy plate is the fact it is a snug fit over the clutch centre thereby centralizing it, whereas the standard pressure plate
sits on the first plain plate in the middle & only has the spring studs to centralize it.

ps    if the alloy plate is not a snug fit over the centre it is no better than the original.
Hope this makes sense.

[duTch]

 

..... Also the push rod is allowed to turn with the mainshaft by the bearing ball on the operating arm...........

 In addition to ironheads comment who jumped in while I was tapping;
 Exactly- that's a small area to carry such a load, especially if sitting/standing still in gear. The tophat/mushroom bearing alleviates the load and allows the clutch to spin without necessarily spinning the pushrod (fwiw, the ball in my activating arm has a flat worn on it so I match it up with the pushrod so there's more surface area to take the load- works for me ).
 Gutzzis also have a radial roller bearing behind the actuating arm (not a standard size though so have to go 'special' )

[ironhead]

  G'day Dutch .  That is the side a proper bearing would be an advantage. Not much room though

[mikeb]

like greybeard says, my recall (from reading other threads, not real life is) is there were two types of 6 spring. The earlier plunger semi unit 6 spring was well regarded but the later pressed steel centre S/A version is not much liked.  So maybe check which type you have?

The 4 spring on my a10 is reliable whereas the later pressed tin 6 spring on my b33 is wobbly and unpleasant. I'd love a pearson / belt drive setup but pockets aren't that deep.

[Bsareg]

Thanks for the explanation chaps. It would seem that a flat mushroom would do the same job except for the  slight movement on the spring studs.

[jhg1958]

Thanks for all this. And whoever moved the thread to the right section. 

Money is not a big problem but at £400 the Pearson clutch will make me think twice.  Still it sounds a good investment.

My last A10’s thirty years ago had a triumph clutch with a conversion spindle. I have not heard this anywhere else so I am wondering if anyone else has heard of this or if I was mistaken. Good light clutch.

Maybe keep an eye for my 6 spring clutch for sale.  First I will get the rest of the bike together and see how the piggy bank looks.

John