Specialized Material Options

Barnett offers three distinct friction compounds to match your bike’s configuration and riding style:

• Kevlar (Aramid): The most popular choice for street use. Kevlar is incredibly durable and resistant to “glazing.” It offers a smooth, linear engagement and is ideal for long-distance touring and daily riding.
• Carbon Fiber: Designed for high-heat and high-performance applications. Carbon fiber plates provide a more aggressive “bite” and can handle the extra torque of stroker motors without slipping.
• Traditional Organic/Cork: Best suited for original-style restorations where a soft, vintage engagement feel is desired for stock-output engines.

Wet or Dry Compatibility

One of the unique challenges of vintage Harleys is the variety of primary setups. Barnett friction plates are engineered to be completely versatile. They perform flawlessly in a “wet” environment (running in an oil-bath enclosed primary) or a “dry” environment (common in aftermarket open-belt drive systems). The high-grade bonding agents ensure the friction material stays attached to the steel core regardless of the operating conditions.

Precision Fitment for 10-Segment Baskets

These plates are manufactured to strict tolerances to ensure they slide freely on the clutch hub and within the clutch shell segments. This precision prevents “clutch drag,” which is the leading cause of the difficult neutral-finding often associated with older 4-speed transmissions.

Fitment Guide (1941–1983)

This plate set is a direct replacement for the following Big Twin models:

• Knucklehead & Panhead: All 1941–1965 models.
• Shovelhead: 1966–1983 4-speed models (FL, FLH, FX, FXE, FXWG).
• OEM Cross-Reference: Designed to replace and upgrade Harley-Davidson Part #37930-41.
• Quantity: Most 4-speed setups require a set of 5 friction plates (verify your specific stack requirements).