Hitchcocks Forum

Hi Simon, I wanted to have a crack at the cork clutch that you talked about some time back.

I have the 5 plate conversion in my 2002es iron at the moment and it works well, never slips but its just the old problem of drag after the motors got hot.

Cannot reliably get neutral at a standstill and it tends to deter me from venturing into town traffic..

I can’t remember if you fitted the push through type plates with inserts, or the bonded type (if they are cork)..

I rang MrH and he had inserts but no plates to fit them in.. Can you remind me how many plates and what type are in yours at the moment.. I assume they will fit all the iron barrel clutch baskets even with cush drive clutch centres? Or do i assume wrong??
Grateful for your advice. Cheers gwilly..

A draggy clutch is the nature of the beast, select neutral before stopping from 2nd to neutral using your heel to tap the lever.

Not so Papasmurf. The clutch only gets hot if it is dragging.I use my Bullet round Auckland City believe it or not one of the most congested cities certainly in the southern hemisphere and after a day of stop start motoring the clutch still clears beautifully and I can find neutral from a standing position. H89K's are bonded cork plates 5 quid each. I've only used them on the standard clutch with three friction plates so I cant speak for the modified clutch but can't see why they wouldn't work. Just bought a set for a friend with a 350 who has fitted the case flex mod but still has the old plates. The cork friction plates are noticeably thinner meaning you get more potential clearance on the adjustment. There are a host of neigh-sayers but none to my knowledge have actually given this a go which I find hard to fathom.

Got it, thanks Simon H89K's it is then, got to be worth a try at the price and i can always swap back if its worse, which i doubt somehow.

The five plate is a good clutch for putting down serious bhp or hauling a sidecar, no slip at all with only light standard springs..

I've done all the other mods over the last few years except Norms perch filing, which i may do as well whilst its all apart..

An hours ride in the country and i can still just get neutral, but in town where you move forward 10 feet and stop again more than a few times gets it locked into 1st and then your in trouble.. Not what i call enjoyable..

Will let you know how it goes.. Thanks again. gwilly.

The clutch drags hot or cold, it is the nature of the beast. (Not only on Enfields.)

I don't think you'll need to file the perch as the thinner plates really do add adjustment room. The other thing to install is the cover stiffener because if you don't have that you are loosing a huge amount of pull in the case. I would also check that the driven plates aren't cupped from the heat. The metallurgy isn't terrific with the Indian clutches but I found that a flat wooden surface and a soft hammer allowed be to true them up quite well. It all adds up to more movement and free play when the clutch is pulled.