So I adjusted clutch normal way now the kicker wont engage at all no resistance any ideas? This bike is a kick only.
I also have a 1979 with electric only I adj it the same way and clutch works fine

 

Did you happen to replace the throwout while you were in there?
I'm thinking about oil slinger holding up the Kicker gear maybe?

 

No resistance, clutch is slipping WAY too much and not turning over the motor. Re-adjust clutch.

 

I did not do the bearing, what is the oil Slinger

 

When I turned in the bolt that I bet it was 3 solid turns until it seated, then I backed off 1/2 turn then adj the cable, just like the manual says I have done this twice. If I back bolt out again then the kicker works

 

a ratio between the bolt and the cable tightness the OEM book never planed on the bike being driven 40 plus years - the kicker cover sleeve / and or the clutch arm shaft // it must have wear and it takes up travel in the mix as well as the lever and pin on the bars sooo --try this - turn the bolt in till it starts to feel that its hitting the clutch springs then back off just till its loose no more - then - pull the clutch lever in a bit start to adjust the cables bolt out till the handle just hits the handle bar clamp STOP

try to kick it // if your gold it will fire up check neutral if its not letting you select neutral adjust the cable bolt out just a bit till you can get it to work -- it will be not too much neutral and just enough so it does not slip kind of thing with worn parts and yes it happens all of a sudden at a traffic light

replacing all the worn stuff is the only real way to fix it going forward

 

Or....Take some bit of time to figger out Exactly how it all works together...
My '74 is all old Junk...and works just fine...
But....I don't think I even own a Manual for a '74 Shovelhead!!!!
I've only owned it since the '80's tho....

 

having owned a real bike and you being old now hahahahahah - experience from the old days and the style we lived - which way to best adjust and fix something came from living on a bike not just riding it once in a while

 

Man I heard that with my bad ear, having spent a big portion of my life playing scooter tramp on swap meet and buddies junk boxes specials you do learn certain skills to keep the old beasts purring, don't think I had manual till 10 years into it

 

I'm another that learned by tearing into them. Didn't buy a manual for a long time. Because I did live on a Pan and it was a poor backyard chop job when I bought it, I had to learn. I was lucky to have some people that spent time on theirs who guided me some. By the mid '70's I was getting invites to runs just for the wrench abilities I acquired. That became a drag as it was always the same bikes I was fixing usually for the same problem on the side of the road. Come on people, fix 'em at home, not on a run! No money spent between runs for a fix up. Too busy chasing fat broads at the bars, dropping paychecks, going home alone and ignoring the bikes!!?
Still, I loved working on 'em. Makes one closer to the machine than just throwing a leg over & going. And I got pretty good at doing them. Been a reward to me having the ability and experience.
As I say, "Motorcycles saved my life even though they've almost killed me several times" Wouldn't trade these last 43+ years for nuttin'.


Sounds like he needs to look behind the kicker cover. Throw out rod/bearing might be pushing against the starter gear. Something ain't right in there.