Rattlers or no rattlers?

Transmission, clutch, chains and belts
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mcraeav
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Rattlers or no rattlers?

#1

Post by mcraeav »

Looks like I need new steel plates in my 62 clutch; the old ones have pretty bad worn slots and no rattlers. Should I go back with same or get plates with rattlers installed. Bike is hand clutch and all stock everything.
Cotten
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Re: Rattlers or no rattlers?

#2

Post by Cotten »

Mark!

"Rattlers" as you call them, are a good thing.

The MOCO never produced plates without them, except for sportsters and other models that don't matter.

....Cotten
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Re: Rattlers or no rattlers?

#3

Post by OckMock »

Cotten...what is the benefit to them?

Ive run the plates without them for years...cant seem to find any ill effects....
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Re: Rattlers or no rattlers?

#4

Post by Cotten »

OckMock!

The disc buffers protect the splines of the clutch drum from gouges that can eventually hinder the disengagement of the pack.
Look for them the next time you wash the metal out.

Lots of folks don't think the cushion plate makes sense either.

....Cotten
Bosheff
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Re: Rattlers or no rattlers?

#5

Post by Bosheff »

I may be mistaken but I believe H-D did away with the "Rattlers" in 1981....bosheff
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Re: Rattlers or no rattlers?

#6

Post by Cotten »

Bosheff!

That's why I wrote: "except for sportsters and other models that don't matter."

The MOCO's evolution towards a cheaply-made throwaway vehicle should be obvious to all!

....Cotten
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Re: Rattlers or no rattlers?

#7

Post by Dave_R »

Cheapened the product....
Ah yes, the AMF years...

If you like a quiet clutch when disengaged, keep the "rattlers". Like Cotten said, they keep the plates from rubbing "wear-marks" in the hub splines.
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Re: Rattlers or no rattlers?

#8

Post by Bosheff »

Everything said above is true but on the other side of the coin, a steel without "Rattlers" will not gum-up and keep the steels from releasing or sliding as they need to....bosheff
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Re: Rattlers or no rattlers?

#9

Post by Cotten »

Bosheff wrote:Everything said above is true but on the other side of the coin, a steel without "Rattlers" will not gum-up and keep the steels from releasing or sliding as they need to....bosheff
Bosheff!

"Gum up?"

Sounds like a modern friction plate disintegration problem to me!

....Cotten
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Re: Rattlers or no rattlers?

#10

Post by 108 »

One of the best things I did for my clutch ( the Tamer is another) was to install steels without the "rattlers" (anti-rattlers?) The balls and springs take up clearance so the steels wont rattle, but the downside is they also grip the drive lugs in the drum which often prevents the discs and plates from seperating quickly when the clutch is disengaged for easy quiet gear changes. Thats another reason you hear so many older Harleys clashing into gear and clunking and banging shifts so much. For the smooth quiet shifting, its worth replacing the drum in a few years.
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Re: Rattlers or no rattlers?

#11

Post by Bosheff »

Gum up as in people don't service inside the primary and the clutch shell gooies up and the steels drag. I been runnin without the buffers (rattlers) for 25+ years. The rattlin of the steels is a small price to pay for a more efficient clutch mechanism....bosheff
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Re: Rattlers or no rattlers?

#12

Post by NightShift »

Cotten wrote:The MOCO never produced plates without them, except for sportsters and other models that don't matter.
....Cotten
Yeah shovels dont matter no doubt. But what about Knuckles and Big Flattys before 1941? And them others back before then. Harley only used those little spring loaded balls for forty years because and maybe only because they worked?

Nevermind,
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Re: Rattlers or no rattlers?

#13

Post by Panacea »

I wonder how often they are installed backwards? That's gotta be hard on the balls...
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Re: Rattlers or no rattlers?

#14

Post by FlatHeadSix »

Panacea wrote:That's gotta be hard on the balls...
Mike! What??? This is a family forum.

but, good question.

mike
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