Clutch won't disengage!
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1st Gear
Joined: May 2022
Posts: 5
Likes: 2
From: New York City
Clutch won't disengage!
Yesterday I replaced my stator on my 1998 Dyna Wide Glide and I ran into an issue: I buttoned the bike back up, did the clutch adjustment according to the Clymer manual and the clutch would not disengage! Lever pulled all the way in, click into 1st and bike takes off with the lever pulled in. This isn't a lurching or wanted creep forward, this is as if I had fully release the lever. Re-did the procedure over and over and nothing!
Eventually, I noticed that pulling the lever didn't do much when I looked down at the basket, so I kept tightening the adjuster screw until it would engage. This made it drivable, but my cable is stiffer, there's not enough free-play, and it's torqued down pretty tight when it should just be a kiss and backed off 1/2 turn.
Anyway, took it around the block and up onto my stoop, shifted fine, easy to find neutral, but obviously somethings wrong and I'm hesitant to drive it like this. What could possibly be going on here! Everything was fine before!
Eventually, I noticed that pulling the lever didn't do much when I looked down at the basket, so I kept tightening the adjuster screw until it would engage. This made it drivable, but my cable is stiffer, there's not enough free-play, and it's torqued down pretty tight when it should just be a kiss and backed off 1/2 turn.
Anyway, took it around the block and up onto my stoop, shifted fine, easy to find neutral, but obviously somethings wrong and I'm hesitant to drive it like this. What could possibly be going on here! Everything was fine before!
Thread Starter
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1st Gear
Joined: May 2022
Posts: 5
Likes: 2
From: New York City
Is this caused by not putting the clutch basket in the exact same way it was pulled? I'll take a look at the manual on how to set the ramp and report back.
Thanks!
Thanks!
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,725
Likes: 3,070
From: Brighton, MI
Ramp is on the other side of the bike (right side where the clutch cable enters the transmission. You have a ball and ramp set up that is moved when you pull in the clutch lever. That ball and ramp in turn pushes on the rod inside the mainshaft that actually moves the actual clutch basket. As mentioned, probably out of position especially if clutch lever was moved while thing were apart.
HDF Community Team
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 5,402
Likes: 2,605
From: NC USA
Don't know what the Cylmer calls for but do this -
Collapse the cable adjuster fully and lever against handlebar. Run the adjuster screw until it touches.
(this part is not written anywhere) Continue to tighten till lever is off the bars a bit. Gently pull the lever a couple times. With light finger pressure on the lever, back off the screw until it's free.
Keep a finger on the lever and run screw in till touching, then back off 1/2 turn and lock it down. Adjust cable for correct free play at the lever and you should be good to go.
Collapse the cable adjuster fully and lever against handlebar. Run the adjuster screw until it touches.
(this part is not written anywhere) Continue to tighten till lever is off the bars a bit. Gently pull the lever a couple times. With light finger pressure on the lever, back off the screw until it's free.
Keep a finger on the lever and run screw in till touching, then back off 1/2 turn and lock it down. Adjust cable for correct free play at the lever and you should be good to go.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 21,718
Likes: 17,555
From: Driftless Area
Not the clutch basket, but where the cable connects to the ramp mechanism (opposite the lever end). If it's not positioned for full movement, it will act like your situation. Seen a lot of guys make that mistake.
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1st Gear
Joined: May 2022
Posts: 5
Likes: 2
From: New York City
Update: it worked! Thank you. I took a look at the ramp, didn't notice anything out of position but took it apart and reassembled it, redid clutch adjustment and everything came out great.
I had very minor drag when the bike was cold and put into gear but after it warmed up that drag went away.
I had very minor drag when the bike was cold and put into gear but after it warmed up that drag went away.
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Stage I
Joined: Apr 2026
Posts: 1
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From: Georgia
Ramp is on the other side of the bike (right side where the clutch cable enters the transmission. You have a ball and ramp set up that is moved when you pull in the clutch lever. That ball and ramp in turn pushes on the rod inside the mainshaft that actually moves the actual clutch basket. As mentioned, probably out of position especially if clutch lever was moved while thing were apart.
I just ran into the exact problem described by the original poster.
Was installing a new oil pump and had to get the clutch cable out of the way. I've worked on a lot of motorcycles but am not quite familiar yet with the specific Harley setup of the clutch. Will open the tranny door and check on the ramp configuration.
Best,
The Georgia Brigand
1989 FXR, Evo, Andrews 27 cam, Wide Glide front end, standard transmission
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