I have '13 fatboy w/800 miles. I just put apes on it. after riding for about 4 hours my bike went into neutral. no matter how I adjusted the clutch it would either be too tight or too loose.

After getting towed to the custom shop the mechanic calls me the next day to say everything looks normal but the clutch bearing. how is this possible on a brand new bike? anyone help me out...?

 

An improperly adjusted clutch/clutch cable can cause the throwout bearing to be under constant pressure, which it is not designed for. Premature failure of the bearing is the result.

 

Good to know, thanks. So how do I know if I properly adjusted the clutch cable?

Also, at 50+ mph if I got on the throttle it would seem like the clutch was slipping. Can you explain?

Thanks for the response.

 

Sounds like it was not adjusted correctly, a clutch that does not engage fully will slip, and there will also be pressure on the throwout bearing, causing it to fail prematurely.

The service manual will give the correct procedure for adjusting the clutch and clutch cable. Both must be adjusted properly.

 

I typically learn things the hard way so ill mark this on my list. Thanks for the help/insight.

 

Are we talking about the bearing that is between the clutch hub and the clutch shell ? That is the bearing that the hub spins on when the clutch is disengaged. That bearing and the one that is in the inner primary are the only bearings. The bearing that is in the inner primary is there to support the main shaft coming out of the transmission.

If the hub bearing has gone bad the bearing in the inner primary should be inspected along with its race that is press fit to the main shaft.

As far as I know there is no throw out bearing. As the pressure plate is pushed away from the clutch stack by a rod that passes though the main shaft from the other side of the trans. Were it comes in contact with the adjustment bolt ( screw ) there is NO bearing . That adjustment bolt and the nut on it are were you should have adjusted the clutch after the cable had been given all the slack it can get . By closing its adjustment located below the steering neck.-

By the way the only way he would know that is if he has taken it all apart.

Did it make a bad noise when the clutch was disengaged ?? If it made no noises then I would say it was just way out of adjustment from not being adjusted properly.

 

Those are not the only bearings.

The throwout bearing is at the far end of the clutch pushrod, under the clutch release cover.

Items 7 and 8 in the illustration.

http://www.granitestateharleystore.c...~OF|~2\BWV-ANV

 

The link didn't work for me . But I do see the bearing your talking about that rides on the oil slinger. I was thinking the push rod will not make contact with that bearing. The oil slinger spins anyway. But I can see how it should not have a load on it at all times. which it would have if the clutch was adjusted to not fully engage. Thanks for correcting me.

 

As long as the clutch is adjusted properly, the throwout bearing will probably last as long as the bike. My Softail still has the original, over 140K miles so far.

 

So OP what was it anyway????

That's a lot of miles that's for sure. How did the drive belt fair ?