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About halfway through my last trip the clutch release Fork on my 86 flat let go. I should have had a spare in the saddlebag but of course I didn't... This is the first one I've had break in the ten years I have owned the bike.
now I am trying to decide how I want to fix it. The fork is no longer available through the Moco so I would be reliant on aftermarket parts. I am totally fine fixing it if there is a reliable aftermarket option? Does anybody have any experience with the aftermarket ones?
Or should I start Gathering parts and just change the trapdoor and the release mechanism to the newer style? I know this may be a better option but in order to salvage my riding season I'd love to have it going sooner than later.
I forgot to mention that I am running a Barnett Heavy Duty clutch spring. Even with my Drag Specialties Kevlar clutch the stock spring wouldn't quite hold it.
I suspect that the heavy spring is what ate your finger. I went through several fingers until I rebuilt the clutch and adjusted the spring tension properly, per the manual, resulting in a much easier clutch pull and no more busted fingers. If you are making that much power that you need a heavy clutch spring, then I don't think sticking with the finger system will work out for you. You could put an aftermarket one on and salvage the riding season, but long term, you'll probably need to go with the newer ball/ramp style.
Thanks guys, yes that probably would be the best route. I will throw just the parts at it that it absolutely needs so I can run it this season and start building up my parts pile for the winter.
It will be nice to be able to run a more common clutch cable on it then also. Because the clutch cable on that bike is 86 flst only. I've had some fun sourcing one of those in the past LOL
Those fingers do break, even on bone stock bikes. That type clutch was designed for about 100 hp or more I read somewhere.
Problem with the heavy spring is they are hard to pull and wear out the adjuster plate real quick. And you can't buy them anymore. Yeah, there's a replacement but it's flat - no adjustment - junk, because if the spring isn't adjusted flat to.010 concave they will slip under stock horsepower.
The lip at the red arrow wears off....
Last edited by t150vej; Jun 23, 2021 at 12:38 PM.
Reason: add pic
Those fingers do break, even on bone stock bikes. That type clutch was designed for about 100 hp or more I read somewhere.
Problem with the heavy spring is they are hard to pull and wear out the adjuster plate real quick. And you can't buy them anymore. Yeah, there's a replacement but it's flat - no adjustment - junk, because if the spring isn't adjusted flat to.010 concave they will slip under stock horsepower.
The lip at the red arrow wears off....
Yeah mine was pretty worn so i replaced it with a drag specialties billet one. And it does adjust just not as easy as a stock one. You have to use shims between it and the clutch hub on the bolts to adjust it.
It took me a good hour of piddling with it to get it adjusted flat. Ended up adding a plate to the clutch pack to get it right.
I wanted to try just a stock replacement spring but the one I ordered ended up not fitting. And there aren't a lot of options for this thing. I'm probably only making about 80 horse but two up if I'm real mean to it it would slip up by the rev limiter
Ha! Never thought about shims under the posts to adjust... Duh. Learn something every day
Takes some finesse to get that type clutch right, especially with an extra steel but they work very well when correct. I've noticed that too - if they start slipping, it's always at high rpms.
I have a 1985 FLHTC and used to break that finger about once a season, One time I even had to replace the shaft because it twisted. I carried a few spare clutch release forks and even extra throwout bearings in my tool bag on the bike. I would fix it on the roadside with minimal fluid loss. I replaced that all with the ball/ramp set-up from parts I gathered from friends. Pulled the old trap door off, replaced with newer style trap door with new bearings and all the other pieces that go with it. I think my clutch cable is from a springer softtail cause a buddy put a fancy SS braided one on his bike.
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Weighing my options
