1978 ironhead

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Sep 3, 2008 | 03:33 PM

lushboy262

Thread Starter

Stage IV

Joined: Jul 2008

Posts: 4

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1978 ironhead

My sportster likes to jump in gear even if i have the clutch lever pulled in. If i adjust the clutch and put the bike away for a day and come back out a start it it does the same thing. Any ideas thanks for the help.

Sep 3, 2008 | 04:00 PM

Chubby

Road Captain

Joined: Jun 2008

Posts: 630

Likes: 1

From: Canada

Could be many causes... prolly not the clutch... first check that the shifter rod is properly adjusted... shifter drum adjustement... shift forks damaged or worn... worn gears etc. If you have a hydraulic clutch (not likely) could be wore seals... manual (cable) could be sliding out... check the ramp and *****... could be stretched cable... could be...

Sep 3, 2008 | 07:06 PM

Illini Pete

Intermediate

Joined: Aug 2008

Posts: 38

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From: East Central Illinois

Quote:

Originally Posted by lushboy262

Not sure whether your Ironhead has a wet or dry clutch but the early ones were dry, i.e. if you pulled the primary cover you'd see the clutch disks were inside a cover that sealed it from the primary lube. My '59's was like that originally but was converted over to "wet" by removing the cover and changing to "wet" plates. When I used to ride mine during the warm weather months only, the first time I got her out after the winter storage I usually had a helluva time getting the clutch free. What happens and what I think you''re experiencing is the clutch plates (the alternating friction plates and steel plates) are sticking together, either because they're worn or because the springs are set too tight (or maybe too loose, I'd have to look to be sure). If you have a factory service manual, check it out. It's not a big deal to remove the primary cover on an Ironhead and check the springs adjustment and condition of the clutch plates. To get you by until you feel up to that, try putting the bike in neutral when you start it, rev it gently while holding the clutch lever in while still in neutral, and then try putting it into gear. Sometimes that will break the plates loose, but be sure to have a tight hold on the front brake lever to be sure!

Good luck,
Pete

Sep 3, 2008 | 07:25 PM

Ugly Troll

Road Master

Joined: Mar 2006

Posts: 828

Likes: 8

From: western Mass

Been a very long time, but I'm pretty sure 78 had a wet clutch............kinda sounds like a bent fork maybe, but there are so many possibilities. Nice thing about those older iron heads is the ease of wrenching on em! If you don't have a manual, get one, it'll be well worth it!