Hi. I have a 97 Road King. At the beginning of last summer I changed out my clutch cable, for it had rubbed a hole in it down at the bottom and would drip oil.

After replacing the cable it worked fine all last summer up till a few weeks ago. I noticed more and more play in the lever. I adjusted the cable my undoing the locking nut on the cable and adjusting it out. It cleared up the slack. About 50 miles later I notice more slack. I adjusted the cable out more and all was good again. About another 50 miles more slack again at the lever. I once again adjusted it out almost all the way i put some loctite on it thinking the locking bolt was backing off. Guess what 50 miles or so more slack in the clutch lever again.

I read the forum watched some videos on adjusting the clutch. I moved the cable all the way in creating lots of slack, pulled the derby cover loosened the lock nut turned into the shaft with a allen wrench till it just bottomed out then backed it off half a turn and locked it all down. I still have the same amount of slack in the cable

Is it my cable that has just stretched out or is my clutch spring going out? Or am I missing something else? any help would be much appreciated.

 

You might be looking at the wrong side of the bike.
I'm riding a much older bike (1985) that most likely has a very different set-up, but when mine acts like that it's because the "throwout bearing" located on the Right ( starboard) end of the clutch push rod is going out. You might need to be looking at what's going on under the right side transmission cover.

 

Who made the cable you are using?
Personally I prefer Barnett cables and won't use anything else.
As for backing it off I only go 1/8th or a 1/4 turn.

The only other thing I can think of is are you sure you are putting the jam nut on the correct side to lock in the adjuster on the clutch cable?

I only ask cause I've done that one by mistake and had problems similar to yours.

 

I'll take a look on the other side see if the bearing is bad.

 

It's a Drag Specialties cable. And I'm sure I got my jam nut on the correct side. I've made that mistake long ago hahaha

 

The first thing you should do is pull that DS cable off and install a Barnett!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I'l leaning with Guido, mine behaved the same way when my release bearing was disintegrating.It wouldn't hold any adjustments for more than a few miles until it was completely gone. Over 70k miles ?

 

Me and quido have a different style throw out bearing/release arm than you do, but the general idea of a TOB or the ball/ramp thing or the other side (clutch side) or the arm in-between it all, something is going bad.

 

Open your primary too and check the jam nut on the clutch pack.

 

Also could be the clutch rod. Had that issue. everything was good the rod had gone soft on the end. Replaced problem gone.