I had the Barnett Scorpion and would never run it again. I have a built motor and needed a better clutch. Barnett recommended the Scorpion with my stock clutch basket and ATF F fluid. Had it installed and it worked but made a loud squawking noise when leaving red lights if you let the clutch out easy. Found out this was normal with them, secondly for my motor to not slip I had to run a combination of medium and stiff springs which was ok but in stop and go traffic the pull was more than I like. I could have lived with all this, but while touring Canada this summer my clutch basket exploded taking out my stator, inner primary chains and adjusters. Took it to a HD Dealer in Calgary. They told me they had installed 3 Scorpion clutches in stock clutch baskets on built motors and all had exploded after awhile. One took out the guys transmission and bent his crank so his bike was done. They said they no longer install them without upgrading the basket too. It would have been nice for Barnett to tell me that when I installed it and I would have done a basket too. I put in the Primo Rivera with the variable pressure plates and am very happy. I can run regular oil in the inner primary, it makes no noise, and the clutch is easy to pull.
Tj316 just described my scorpion clutch to a T. Tj when you installed you scorpion did you install the damper seat and damper spring also known as the antichatter spring? When I first installed my kit I was advised not to install the damper spring, I was told it was unnecessary and could possibly cause the clutch to drag. So I installed my clutch plates without it. The clutch works great but has that same squawk that Tj has described that drives me nuts. My squawks on aggressive takeoffs. So I've ridden it that way for a year now. Now that cabin fever has set in here in Illinois last week I decided to pull it back apart and install the anti chatter spring hoping to get rid of the squawking sound. That's when I noticed my clutch basket had cracked in three places. Luckily I caught it by mistake before any further damage was done. After alittle research I've realized that it's not uncommon to see these clutch baskets break becouse they are cheap cast baskets. I never assumed it had anything to do with the scorpion clutch I have just assumed that the heavier clutch is able to transfer more power than the basket can take. I am curious though if Tj's clutch squawked even with the damper springs in it?, and what basket did you go with?
1.
When getting a Scorpion, get the basket and lock up, don't be cheap and just buy the pack- adding just the Scorpion pack has nothing to do with the cheap HD pot metal basket failing, addiing much more torque and HP, which caused the owner to buy the Scorpion pack in the first place, does. If you didn't know this, don't blame Barnett for your lack of knowledge.
2.
Use ATF.
3.
Scorpion Clutch Chirping off the line can be fixed either by putting in ATF, not flooding the primary with it (I like just enough to splash the ring gear), proper pack adjustment, and if all these are correct, pulling the pack and taking a fine grit hand sander over the pack steels to remove the glazing. Done.
4.
I have taken a Barnett Scorpion lock up set up over 200 hp, and currently have one in my Harley street bike, with over 170, and it holds like a champ.
This is a picture of my clutch basket. I'm not sure if the damper seat and spring were installed, I had a Indy shop do it. I met John when my bike was being repaired, he's the one who had his explode and it bent his flywheel so he had to get a new motor, he put a S&S 124LC in so he was sorta of happy. He reinstalled his Scotpion using the Barnett beafed up clutch basket. I was on the road in Canada(I'm from Florida) , they couldn't find the Barnett Clutch basket in stock anywhere. They couldn't express ship it because it would have to clear customs and it would have been 6 days to get it, so I dumped the Scorpion and the Canadian Drag Specialties warehouse had a Rivera Primo clutch assembly(basket included) in stock that had the TPP variable pressure assist. I bought it and the Harley shop installed it. I like it 100% better, it's very quiet, smooth as butter and does not slip.
PWMorris, you know nothing that you are talking about, don't blame Barnett. I called Barnett, told them my exact engine build and specs and asked them what to use. I had installed exactly what they recommended. Had I bought it on my own, without calling and talking to tech support, you would be correct. I put 10K in a motor, you think I was trying to save $400 on a basket, no way. In the end the Rivera Primo is a much better clutch.
PWMorris, you know nothing that you are talking about, don't blame Barnett. I called Barnett, told them my exact engine build and specs and asked them what to use. I had installed exactly what they recommended. Had I bought it on my own, without calling and talking to tech support, you would be correct. I put 10K in a motor, you think I was trying to save $400 on a basket, no way. In the end the Rivera Primo is a much better clutch.
Thanks for that...you just made my day. A blind squirrel can sometimes find a nut...a broken clock is right twice a day... Sometimes when you throw enough darts at the board, you get a bulls eye.......lol.
Hmmm....sounds like you got a tech/salesperson who trusted the HD basket. I have run the stock basket with a Scorpion and didn't have any issues, but please explain your theory how just a Scorpion pack replacement (which is built to specifically fit into an OEM HD basket), in and of itself, can cause the basket to explode? It ain't the pack, it's the additional power (and possible poor riding skills of the rider banging gears under load with that additional power of a stock basket built to handle 60 hp) which can destroy a cheap HD pot metal basket.
I used to run a Rivera Pro clutch, their basket, and an AIM lock up hat in my street bike. Ran great, but it couldn't handle the additional power when I upgraded my motor and HP level.
Just an FYI, I was commissioned several years back by Rivera/Primo to test their prototype clutches (report back results, show dyno numbers, and get free clutches). I also have run and tested various Bandit clutch set ups as well-
Then again, I don't know what I am talkin' about so don't listen to me....
Like many on these forums you just want to be right and since you apparently can't follow what I said I'll cover it again. Yes, you no nothing that you are talking about WHEN IT COMES TO MY SITUATION. Nobody said you didn't have a knowledge of clutches. I could give a **** about 170 or 200hp motors, I have a 140/140 motor. I called Barnett and went over my build, my motor specs and asked them what the absolute best was to use. They made a recommendation, I asked about my basket because they weren't recommending one and was told I didn't need it. I wasn't looking to go cheap. It exploded and while at the HD dealership they tell me they had 3 others do the same thing in 120 motors. I do not claim to be an expert as you are claiming to be, but when I follow their recommendation and it fails DON'T tell me Barnett is not responsible and it's my fault. The Rivera Primo is a much better clutch in my build, maybe not in a 200hp motor but I could give a **** I don't plan on building one like that.
The common link here is non stock motors and failed clutch baskets, I can't see any reason to blame the scorpion clutch for that. I will continue to run the scorpion but with a good basket and the damper seat and spring will go in this time. Morris do you have an opinion on weather or not the the damper spring will help with the squawking sound during ingaugement?
Like many on these forums you just want to be right and since you apparently can't follow what I said I'll cover it again. Yes, you no nothing that you are talking about WHEN IT COMES TO MY SITUATION. Nobody said you didn't have a knowledge of clutches. I could give a **** about 170 or 200hp motors, I have a 140/140 motor. I called Barnett and went over my build, my motor specs and asked them what the absolute best was to use. They made a recommendation, I asked about my basket because they weren't recommending one and was told I didn't need it. I wasn't looking to go cheap. It exploded and while at the HD dealership they tell me they had 3 others do the same thing in 120 motors. I do not claim to be an expert as you are claiming to be, but when I follow their recommendation and it fails DON'T tell me Barnett is not responsible and it's my fault. The Rivera Primo is a much better clutch in my build, maybe not in a 200hp motor but I could give a **** I don't plan on building one like that.
I don't give a **** if I'm right or wrong, and I don't pretend or think I'm an expert on this site. I have worked my *** off for years testing stuff, good or bad, and just know what I know, based on years of failure and success-period.
Re-Read my post, I said you must have spoken to someone in tech or sales who said the stock basket was fine, and it has been ok on several set ups that I have used. I don't bag on an outstanding product if I don't know what I am talking about...I do my homework, and if it fails, it's on me. I don't go on an open forum and rip a well respected Company.
Love this...you wouldn't answer my question so as will ask again. What is you theory/explanation of how a Barnett Scorpion clutch pack, which replaces a stock pack and fits an OEM spec basket, causes the Harley basket, in and of itself, to explode?
140 square is pretty healthy power so I would have recommended a billet basket, Scorpion pack, and low profile lock up, which is similar to what you have now in Rivera.
PWMORRIS, I am not saying you are not correct on why it failed, but I am not an expert so I called Barnett and asked a bunch of questions and was assured what they recommended was good up to a 150/150 build. I didn't have a clue about the stock basket so I even asked about it, I wasn't looking to go cheap. I was told you aren't running a turbo you don't need it. When I was in Sturgis this year I went to the Barnett semi and spoke to their guys working the show, their comment was if you don't have a built motor you don't need the Scorpion, if you do have a built motor you need the basket too so we really should sell it together. You are full of it saying I shouldn't blame Barnett, not being an expert where should I go for advise? I thought calling them about their product would be, but I was wrong. FYI I know how to ride a motorcycle and I don't abuse it. No burn outs or jack rabbit starts. I have to much money in it and I know the damage that stuff does. When I use my power is rolling down the highway. I know the clutch works and had I been able to get the Barnett basket I would have put it back in the bike, but I was on vacation in Canada and couldn't wait around a week or more for them to get one in. At the end of the day I like my new clutch much better, again it is quiet, smoother and easier to pull and doesn't slip in 5th gear roll on which is why I bought the Scorpion to begin with.
02-01-2017 | 06:32 AM
