SPARES NEWS - RESTORE OR TRANSFORM YOUR CLUTCH!
Manufactured for the club to our own exacting specifications, these components could transform your clutch. 
(Only available for the VR, VM, VMT & springer MSS 9-plate type at the moment)
The friction plates and chain-wheel use a bonded lining material and the plain plates are of a modified design in order to reduce distortion. All components are manufactured to a high standard of flatness and all are interchangeable, in any combination, with the original Velo 9-plate components. To emulate the original Velocette design, the plain plates incorporate a double right-angle bend for the internal tang rather than a simple bend inwards, and the friction plates have bonded segments rather than a continuous band of friction material.
Click for pictures of design features of the Friction Plate, Plain Plate and Chainwheel
These clutch components have been on trial on two Velos. The main one is Tom Tunnicliffe's VM/VR 500cc (a sort of Clubmans) machine. In his opinion this is the best Velo clutch that he has ever experienced. Others who have tried it have also been impressed. There has never been the slightest hint of slip (16 spring carrier with VSL springs) and drag is absolutely minimal. First gear can be engaged at rest with no more than a faint snick, hot or cold, which makes a pleasant change from the sickening crunch that is so often heard. This gives you the option of selecting neutral at traffic lights, etc, which beats sitting there with the brakes hard on to combat a hot dragging clutch any day. The clutch engagement is slightly "sharper" than with the previous standard clutch, but you soon adjust to the difference and by just dipping the lever part way you can get really crisp gearchanges.
The second test was just of the plain plates, to see if heat would warp them and produce the familiar "both dragging and slipping" clutch that ruins many a Velo. A set of plain plates was fitted to Tony Wright's ex-racing 500, with 20T sprocket. It was then ridden up that well known long, steep hill, "Sunrising", which has a fairly sharp bend at top and bottom and a hairpin bend in the middle. Only 3rd gear and over 4,000 revs were used all the way, which meant the clutch was slipping under heavy load throughout. 10 minutes after exiting the top bend at considerable velocity the smell of burning had gone and the clutch behaved perfectly as before, with negligible loss of adjustment.
Anyone refurbishing a 9-plate clutch is urged to get the plain plates as well, because the key to low drag must lie in the flatness of all the components. In order to complete the job, why not also treat your bike to a new roller thrust race and a matched set of springs, as supplied by your very own Spares Company !
The prices are extremely competitive - 
VSL150 - CLUTCH FRICTION PLATE £10.00
VSL151 - CLUTCH PLAIN PLATE £5.00
VSL152 - CLUTCH CHAINWHEEL £90.00 (The chain-wheel does not include the large narrow ball bearing, on which it revolves when the clutch is freed.)
The parts are suitable for all 9-plate clutches as fitted to the Venom, Viper, Thruxton and some MSS models. 
Club members can order using the standard VSL Order Form - remember to include your membership card, or a photocopy.