I have a 76 rigid frame with a 4 speed tranny, kickstart, late 80's evo. The bike was homebuilt and basically sat for 4 years in an unheated shed in Canada with a quarter tank of gas. I just bought it (actually my wife bought it for me, I love her) and I am having problems to no end. I have electronic ignition on way but Kicking it over around the 5th kick the clutch starts to slip. I have adjusted it several times to spec even tightened the springs 1 turn. it run good until i washed the bike. Ithink the plates have gone south myself. any anwers would be appreciated. I just wanna ride.

 

Try posting in the classics forum, those guys usually have a grip on things. Hd was kinda weird at that time, 80 inch shovel/4 speed I think, then 80 inch evo/5 speed. good Luck. I may be waaay off on this.

 

my shovel used to do the same thing like 5 or 6 kicks then it would slip i asked around the best answer i got was make it start in 4 kicks hahaha i did think it was funny so i started parking it on hills and pop starting it evertime and never had an issue its not realy an answer but old school guys are a diffrent breed its a good thing sometimes

 

Are you sure the clutches are slipping I had a similar problem on a bike set up like yours it turned out to be a sheared key on the kicker gear off the main shaft I guess the next step is to watch the clutch the clutch turn as you kick if it turns as you kick the key is OK

 

Yeah, I'm thinking kicker problem instead of clutch problem. There's a bendix mechanism in the kicker. I'd pull the side cover off the transmission and take a look. Only takes a few minutes.

 

Thanks everyone gonna go out to garage and try what everyone said to do

 

Check that shaft for too much play, you might crack the outer case if it's worn out!