After adjusting the clutch the bike shifts good 1 or 2 times then it doesn't want to grab second anymore. Went through this 3 times and still the same works ok 1 or 2 times then back to not shifting well at all. Need some advice. Thanks for any input. 99 sporty 883 with about 5k miles on it and it has been serviced.

 

It makes a difference if it is adjusted hot or cold, check your manual and I think you will find it should be done cold.

 

Did you just adjust cable, or complete?

 

complete adjustment, cover off and cable. someone said it might be the shifting forks. I am not sure, any ideas will be appreciated.

tanks

 

The forks shouldn't be gone after only 5k. Could be the cable is crap. Try tightening the cable only a touch, and if your tranny comes back replace the cable. What oil is touching the clutch plates? Did you change it recently? Was the bike sitting for a long time, and the plates got dry? Hole shots, burnouts, general abuse?

 

The fluid was changed recently after the problem came up. Have adjusted the cable only then did the whole thing. No burnouts, holeshots or abuse, adjusted cold and hot. Cable moves freely, not sure what else to do, local shop said he didn't want to do it, too much work already. Looking for help before it may have to go to the dealer. And the damm thing is ridden fairly regularly to boot.

hdben

 

Try an adjustment like this and see what it nets you, there may be a problem with a stretched or fraying cable also

1) Loosen the clutch cable adjustor and remove ALL the slack in the cable. But don’t mess with the lever. Just leave it alone until the 3rd step.

2) Loosen the lock nut on the clutch pack pushrod adjuster.

3) Pull in the clutch lever. if should touch or be close to touching the handle bars. if it does not touch the handle bars back out the pushrod adjuster at the clutch pack while keeping a slight pressure on the clutch lever until it touches the handlebar.

4) When the clutch lever just touches the handle bar turn in the pushrod adjuster while keeping a slight pressure on the clutch lever. When you turn in the adjuster it will start to push the lever off the handle bar. Back the adjuster out until the lever returns to just touching the handle bar. Do this a couple of times until you know you are at the point where the lever is just touching the bar. When you find this point - back the adjuster out 1/2 turn and lock it down.

5) Adjust the clutch cable to 1/8 slack and lock it down.

Buy yourself a cheap 11/16 deep well socket and weld a nut on top of it. This makes the perfect tool for the adjuster lock nut. You can then use an Allen wrench inside the socket. Makes it a lot simpler.

You can also see "clutch adjustment by the book" in this same forum found here https://www.hdforums.com/m_69612/mpa..._/tm.htm#69612