Barnett Clutch Spring and Judges washers for 08 Nomad 1600?

[jtascone]

I installed these on my 03 Nomad 1500 after having slippage in higher gears and have had 38,000 trouble free miles since. Just purchased an 08 Nomad 1600 and was wondering if this mod would have the same excellent improvement as it had for the 1500? I thought I read somewhere that after 04 or 05 Kawi changed something in the clutch basket to make this mod unnecessary? Anyone know if that is the case?

[amamecman]

My 2005 1600 starting slipping the clutch at 40k miles, installed the Barnett clutch spring but did not use the judges washers. No more slipping ,but the lever effort was greatly increased. You did not want to get stuck in traffic and have to hold the clutch in for any length of time...lol

[jtascone]

Great info. Thanks! I'm thinking of just doing it, even though I'm having no problems as of yet. Just one less worry down the road. I just wanted to make sure the 08 Nomad 1600 clutch is the same as my 03 1500 Nomad is. Same parts and procedure?

[nomadbob]

You should. I did mine last year and cannot get over how much better shifting is now. Zero slippage.

[jtascone]

Thanks Nomadbob. Is your Nomad a 1600? If so what year

[DragonLady58]

well the 07' Nomad 1600s they had already updated to the MS spring and had redesigned the hub that eat the springs up in the 1500's.
If the 1600 starts slipping, go with new frictions, if the steels are within spec....your clutch should be as good as new.
The Barnett spring is stouter then the Meanie spring, so your grip on the clutch lever will increase. I'm running the Thunder 6 spring setup, I put mine in neutral at a stop light....

[andyvh1959]

So, for my 2003 1600 rebuild with Mean Streak heads, Power Commander, V&H pipes, Baron intake and all the smog stuffs removed, would I be best off with a 07 or newer Meanie clutch set or go to the Judge washers and Barnett clutch? I can handle a stiffer lever effort but would prefer the easiest/best clutch compromise.

[DragonLady58]

Originally Posted by andyvh1959

So, for my 2003 1600 rebuild with Mean Streak heads, Power Commander, V&H pipes, Baron intake and all the smog stuffs removed, would I be best off with a 07 or newer Meanie clutch set or go to the Judge washers and Barnett clutch? I can handle a stiffer lever effort but would prefer the easiest/best clutch compromise.

Get a meanie spring and the meanie spring actuator, while putting in meanie fiber and steel disc's. Any 1600 vulcan after 2005 (MS Tequila should know the exact year....) will have the redesigned actuator.....PN#13280A&B....

[MAS Tequila]

Only the 2002-2003 1500 MS have the heavy spring.

The 1600s use the Nomad/Classic spring in the MS.

MaKaw appropriated part of Bob's washer design for the 1600s.

The cut the spring holder to use one side of a thrust washer, Judge used both sides.

SO, buy a 1500 MS spring and a set of Judge's washers and install in the 1600.

You will be good to go.

Use a MS transmission with the 5th gear input and output sprockets from the Nomad.

The majority of the MS acceleration difference comes from the lower ratio trans gears.

Just slapping MS heads and cams on, is not the big kick in the pants most think it is.

[nomadbob]

Mine is a 2008. And it is a 1600.

[kpmhspirit]

About 10 years ago I changed the clutch on my '06 Nomad and posted a series of pictures of the process. The links in the post are no good anymore but maybe the pics will help someone. Just tooting my own horn here.....


http://home.insightbb.com/~franova/N-Clutch-Replace.htm

[andyvh1959]

Originally Posted by MAS Tequila

Use a MS transmission with the 5th gear input and output sprockets from the Nomad. The majority of the MS acceleration difference comes from the lower ratio trans gears. Just slapping MS heads and cams on, is not the big kick in the pants most think it is.

Yup, that's why I am doing both the Meanie 1500 heads/cams and the Meanie 1st thru 4th gearset in my 1600 Classic rebuild. So I'll get the clutch parts you recommend and enjoy the healthier umph my 1600 will have. My Classic already has all the smog crap gone, and it has the Power Commander and True Dual V&H exhaust with a Baron intake. I'm not expecting anything like a new Harley or Indian, but it should make a decent cruiser touring bike.