FAQs

We recommend using Japanese Automotive Standards Organization approved motorcycle oil. JASO-MA and JASO-MA2 approved oils are designed for single unit engines where the wet clutch, gearbox, and engine used the same oil. Do not use automotive oil, it has too many friction modifiers and can cause clutch slippage, and gear box pitting. Reference your service manual, it will provide change schedules, viscosity, and the correct amount of oil to use. (On the back of the oil container there will be a JASO box with individual certification number)

Automatic Transmission Fluid can be used with bikes that use separate oils for the engine, clutch and gearbox. Alto clutches will operate properly with any of the ATF fluids on the market. (Ford “Type F” fluid will give a more positive clutch engagement, and is more suitable for competition riding.)

Worn or damaged clutch components will also affect clutch performance, thoroughly inspect the clutch assembly.

Alto motorcycle clutches can be used in a “Wet or Dry” application. For wet applications soak clutches for 10 to 15 minutes before installation. For moist application soak clutches for 10 to 15 minutes, wipe them off with lint free cloth before installation. For dry applications install right out of the box.

Clutch Pack Clearance is critical for the proper operation of the automatic transmission, it is the distance between the friction and steel elements that allow unobstructed rotation without parasitic drag, also allowing clearance for ATF.

 

All of the Alto PowerPacks will have our recommended clutch pack clearance in the Instruction Sheet for each PowerPack.

 

All other clutch packs should be set and measured using the manufactures recommendations. The factory transmission Service Manual will provide this information. ATRA and ATSG also have compensative rebuild books for all contemporary transmissions that are currently available.

 

If no information is available for the unit you are working on, there is an “Old School” rule of thumb of .008” to .010” clearance per friction element, example, 7 friction disc, clearance would be .056” to .070”

 

The Turbulator holes in the Alto steel plates will help prevent parasitic drag. During installation, they do not require any alignment to function properly.

Alto currently has 3 different Motorcycle friction linings, Red Eagle, Aramid, and Carbonite, all of these linings can be operated in the Motorcycle clutch basket wet or dry.
If the clutch is a “bone dry” application, (like most belt drives), do not soak the frictions, run them dry.
If the clutch is partially submerged in fluid, soak the frictions and steels in the fluid for 20 to 30 minutes minimum, before installation.
If the clutch is “moist”, (fluid from the primary case is lightly saturating the clutch plates), soak the frictions and steels in the primary fluid for 20 to 30 minutes minimum, before installation.

When looking at the clutch basket, the spring and ball face the front of the bike :

The Alto Harley Davidson Big Twin heavy duty clutch spring was developed to eliminate clutch slipping, mostly in 5th gear. It is 20% stronger than the Original Equipment spring supplied in the stock configuration.
Keep in mind the effort to compress this spring will be more than the stock clutch lever pull.
It is equivalent to the Screaming Eagle spring from Harley Davidson.

When using the OEM Friction and Steel Modules (Numbers 095752B, 095752KB, 095753B) you have a choice to eliminate the riveted spring plate or to replace it. IMPORTANT: Alto # 095763HD spring plate must be purchased seperately. 

To eliminate: After installing the 4th friction into the basket, install 2 steels against each other to substitute for the spring, continue with normal stack up. To replace like OEM: After installing the 4th friction into the basket, install 1 spring plate, continue with normal stack up.

Inside our E-Catalog located under the "Alto Number" tab there is a button labeled "Attribute Search". When this is selected, the user can choose the Part Type from the drop-down menu, and then continue with selecting multiple Attributes. The Attribute options are Teeth, ID, OD, & OAT, the Value selected reflects either dimension parameters, or quantity of teeth. This search tool covers all the Friction & Steel clutch products Alto offers.

Click here to see a visual guide for using the Attribute Search

Click here to try the Attribute Search inside our E-Catalog