My 2013 FLHTK seems to like to loosen up on the amount of free play in the clutch. I first noticed it about 1000 miles in and adjusted it and all was good. Then at about 5000 miles it seemed loose again.. Adjusted it (Via the adjustment on the cable) again, and it was good again. Now at around 9500 miles it seems loose again (I am having trouble switching into certain gears and there is a bunch of free play in the lever). I'll adjust it again tomorrow and I am sure everything will be fine again.. for a while.

So WTF? Do these cables stretch or something? Or is something else wrong?

 

Cables are stretching all the time and given the intervals of your adjustment, it's perfectly normal.

 

Are you doing clutch adjustments in the primary or just at the cable slack adjuster ???

Be Safe JIM

 

Your clutch plates a wearing normally, You should adjust the clutch directly every 5000 miles or so ( the adjusting rod/nut inside the primary,) and then adjust the cable to finish it. (That's how you're supposed to do it, the clutch first and then the cable second.)

 

If you are in fact doing the adjustment correctly(inside primary too) make sure the adjustment screw you seat goes all the way down, sometimes(on mine) it catches a bur or something and makes you feel like its seated before you give it a half or full turn out.............. good luck Man.............

 

One of my ridings friends was erratic on his year old Fatboy with only 6K on it. His throw out bearing was broken up in the transmission. I find the cable stretch a little of a stretch on a factory spring pressure clutch. That cable is harden woven steel. Cutters won't go thru them. There is a difference in the free play on most from one lock to another. I always set it on the tightest side and live with the extra play on the loose side. Like the others said. Adjust the clutch behind derby cover first, then do free play. Be sure you are at zero clearance before you start you back off at the clutch. Do not put so much free play in cable that you cannot detect this at the lever. Then lock the nut and do the cable free play with bars to the right. Then notice what it is to the left for a future reference.