Pre-war narrow clutch

[silentgreyfello]

Does anyone know if the narrow clutch is being reproduced? My clutch in my '39 is about shot... I have considered putting a later clutch on it, but then I would have to go to the later primary covers as well. I would rather retain the original as much as possible.
Thanks!

[Jerry Wieland]

If your bike isn't a hotrod, take out one steel and one disc and shorten the studs. Then a late model one will fit in their. Done it a couple of times.

Jerry

[silentgreyfello]

Thanks Jerry, I may have to go that route.

[Lonnie]

Jerry's right, I have also seen that done and it works great!

[Carl Olsen]

We put on BDL belt drives with a modified Competitor Clutch. Never any maintenance and the belts last forever, plus you can turn your chain oiler off and no spots in the garage. I have numerous setups like this on my early bikes, with over 16,000 miles on my 39, I love the system. We also have a special belt drive made exclusively for us that gears up the motor and the clutch so you can run the stock 22 tooth trans sprocket for a proper reading speedometer and more adjustment on your transmission so you can run your belt at the proper tension.
Carl

[silentgreyfello]

We put on BDL belt drives with a modified Competitor Clutch.
Carl

I love the reliability (and quiet) of a belt drive, but wouldn't I have to go to a later primary cover for the wider width?

[Rubone]

The later cover is only wider in the clutch area, the rest is the same!
Robbie

[silentgreyfello]

The later cover is only wider in the clutch area, the rest is the same!
Robbie

I have a later cover. Problem is that purist can spot the later cover 50 feet away. If I could find a belt drive that could fit under the early cover, I'd run it.

[koanes]

If you shorten the studs as Jerry suggested you can use any 1 1/2 wide belt drive. Carl is using the pre41 covers with his set up. The competitor clutch is a little spendy but works well.

[knu3]

I'm running a 1½" belt in my narrow cover too, but had to cut down the clutch basket aswell, i'm i doing anything wrong?? Villy

[Rubone]

knu3,
It actually sounds about right. If you have no clearance problems and your clutch functions well you are good!
Robbie

[Lonnie]

Rub,

A friend of mine cut down his clutch basket and shortened the studs to use on his '40 with the narrow primary cover with 1-1/2 belt drive. He ended converting it back to chain drive at the buyer's request and gave me the shortened clutch basket. I installed in on my '50, installed the correct clutches and plates and ran it - it is still on the bike.

Lonnie C.

[Holeshotbob]

I ran across this old thread while looking for posts about the early narrow primary covers and it got me thinking about going with a 1-1/2” BDL belt drive and later clutch for my 39 project. I too want to run the narrow primary cover. It’s mentioned in the prior posts that cutting down the clutch basket may be required. Would that be the outside edge of the basket (in yellow on my attached pic)? If so, how would that be done, on a lathe? And what about the fingers on the inside (in red)? I’d much appreciate a further explanation of this surgery. Bob

[bobphd]

Yep, I’ve done that on 2 of my bikes and it works well. Turn the outer edge you have taped in yellow back to the outer edge of the fingers you have taped in red and cut the 3 clutch hub studs back to the edge of the nuts with 1 plate removed. On 1 of my bikes I even cut the outer edge of the fingers you have taped in red back to the rivet heads to give a little more clearance.
Bob Patza

[Chris Haynes]

Gary Bang used to reproduce all of the narrow clutch plates and fibers. I haven't heard if anyone else took that over when he retired from the business.