Clutch Problems - Sanity Check
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 69
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From: Sanford, NC
Clutch Problems - Sanity Check
2007 FXDB Dyna Street Bob
During a ride the other day, my clutch control went limp and the cable had no tension. I had adjusted the clutch a week prior to this incident - so I assume I caused this failure.
1. examined the clutch release plate - ball is properly seated.
2. examined clutch cable - not bent or broke
3. examined clutch cable adjuster - still locked in set position
4. examined clutch adjuster screw, locking nut, and plate - seem fine
5. transmission and primary fluids at correct levels
I performed another adjustment and was able to correct the loss of tension but when I went to test ride - the gears were not engaging? I am hoping that this is due to me screwing in the clutch adjuster screw to far causing the clutch pack to be in a constant disengaged state? I say hope cause it would be an easy fix to just re-adjust.
My main question though is if all seemed well, what would cause the cable to lose all tension on the fly?
During a ride the other day, my clutch control went limp and the cable had no tension. I had adjusted the clutch a week prior to this incident - so I assume I caused this failure.
1. examined the clutch release plate - ball is properly seated.
2. examined clutch cable - not bent or broke
3. examined clutch cable adjuster - still locked in set position
4. examined clutch adjuster screw, locking nut, and plate - seem fine
5. transmission and primary fluids at correct levels
I performed another adjustment and was able to correct the loss of tension but when I went to test ride - the gears were not engaging? I am hoping that this is due to me screwing in the clutch adjuster screw to far causing the clutch pack to be in a constant disengaged state? I say hope cause it would be an easy fix to just re-adjust.
My main question though is if all seemed well, what would cause the cable to lose all tension on the fly?
6th Gear
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 11
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My 09 fxdb did the same thing. The jam nut on the clutch adjusting Allen came loose. just looking at it , it looked good but I put a wrench on it and it was very loose. So I re adjusted it and re tightened it and now it's fine.
Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 683
Likes: 3
From: Florida
Also looking into the inspection hole what happens when you pull on the cable lever, do you see any movement?
By the way, that is an interesting user name. Are you possibly an Army Sapper of the Leonard Wood Sapper school ?
Last edited by R_W_B; Nov 24, 2010 at 07:22 AM.
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,699
Likes: 2
From: Deltona, FL
- Loosen the cable at the cable adjuster completely
- Pop open the derby cover and loosen the 11/16" jam nut locking the set screw
- Turn the set screw in until it just bottoms out, then back off 1/2 to 1 turn
- (for those who like to move their friction zone, this is where to do it, the closer you are to bottoming out, the closer your friction zone is to the hand grip)
- Tighten the jam nut while holding the set screw with an allen key to prevent movement.
- Adjust the clutch cable and work the lever a couple of times to set the ramp and ball
- Final adjustment of clutch cable to obtain (I think, off the top of my head) 1/8-3/16" gap between housing and cable ferrule at the lever
- Close up the derby cover and test ride.
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 69
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From: Sanford, NC
So after work yesterday, I had the apiphany, thunderstruck at the simplicity of the problem and solution to my dilema. The original cause of my problem must have been that the locknut on the adjuster screw on the clutch pack had come loose causing the adjuster screw to move away from the clutch pack. This created the so called major slippage of the clutch cable and lever since there wasnt enough tension on the clutch pack for the components to make contact. When I re-adjusted, I over compensated by inserting the adjuster screw to far into the clutch pack, which caused to much tension on the components leaving the clutch pack in a constant engaged state thus producing no results when shifting. Following your instructions on properly adjusting the clutch produced positive results. Everything is much gooder now. Thanks!
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Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 683
Likes: 3
From: Florida
My Stepson was in the 82nd for about 8yrs. He served in the 10th mountain division in Afganistan back in 2005. Too many jumps messed his knees and shoulders up and he is in an Amored unit now out at Ft. Hood, working on his 16th yr.
I took AIT at Leonard Wood, beautiful country up there. Served 15 mo's in Viet Nam in 1970-71 as a combat Engineer. Was stationed part of the tour with the 1st I.D. at Lai Kai and the helped build fire bases for the Cambodian incursion. Did my share of working with Dynamite and C-4. Don't know if they even had a sapper school back then, but I have seen it on the military channel. It (as you well know)is a very elite and tough program to go thru.
Later.....R_W_B
Last edited by R_W_B; Nov 25, 2010 at 08:00 PM.
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Road Master
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 805
Likes: 6
From: Burb of Chicago
Glad to hear you got the problem solved.
I took AIT at Leonard Wood, beautiful country up there. Served 15 mo's in Viet Nam in 1970-71 as a combat Engineer. Was stationed part of the tour with the 1st I.D. at Lai Kai and the helped build fire bases for the Cambodian incursion. Did my share of working with Dynamite and C-4. Don't know if they even had a sapper school back then, but I have seen it on the military channel. It (as you well know)is a very elite and tough program to go thru.
Later.....R_W_B
I took AIT at Leonard Wood, beautiful country up there. Served 15 mo's in Viet Nam in 1970-71 as a combat Engineer. Was stationed part of the tour with the 1st I.D. at Lai Kai and the helped build fire bases for the Cambodian incursion. Did my share of working with Dynamite and C-4. Don't know if they even had a sapper school back then, but I have seen it on the military channel. It (as you well know)is a very elite and tough program to go thru.
Later.....R_W_B
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