After thinking how good my sporty was running this summer my 1994 XLH883 finally lost its clutch. I am the 3rd owner and it seems the clutch was the stock Harley. I picked it up from the local Indy and I didn't know how bad my clutch was until I grabbed the handle, and I thought it wasn't even hooked up it was so easy to pull.
I had the cable replaced because a couple of years ago I tried removing the rubber boot and it fell apart to reveal massive rust. I cleaned it and greased it up and put a aftermarket metal cover on it. I told him to install a new cable on it.
I have a total of 41,000 miles on bike so I told him if he found the dreaded spring plate Harley clutch in it to just replace it with a Barnett extra plate kit. Well it was the dreaded rivets that gave way so $400.00 later and less the 24hrs. I had my bike back Sunday looks like good weather to drive it and test it out.
Thanks
Barry In MO.

 

Are the clutch issues limited to older bikes, or do I have that to look forward to in a few years on my 2014 Sporty?

 

does your clutch squeak?

 

Your clutch will self destruct in exactly one year.

Just ride the bike and enjoy it. Don't read too much into these forums.

 

The clutch Spring Plate issue affects all rubber-mount Sporties, 2004 to current. How long it takes for the Spring Plate to fail depends a lot on where and how you ride, city (lots of clutch usage/mile) vs highway (minimal use/mile). The average failure seems to be at 25,000 - 30,000 miles, but if you live in a rural area or do mostly highway miles, you may go 50,000 miles without a problem.

 

Good info and thank you.

 

Lastly, for the record, this is a made to fail item, change before you have no choice or take a real chance on spending allot more money than just the plates and pads.

Your call.

Ride safe,

.

 

That clutch plate is the same used in all big twins since 1990, when it was introduced. Mine has done 55k miles in a bagger often loaded to 1200 pounds and with a stroker motor, currently an S&S 107" engine and has given no problems. No reason why it shouldn't carry on for a lot longer and in a Sporty? Darned thing should last a century!

 

But the BT's don't have Spring Plates in the clutch pack.

 

Recent BTs don't but mine does, that is the point I was making! Mine copes with over 100HP/TQ.