After a recess (due to a university senior project) of a few months, I started riding again. My ironhead '85 XLS is in great condition I'm almost the sole owner (the original one sold it w/ 3500 miles). Anyway, my bike has 59,150 miles and I noticed that the gas comsupntion has going up dramatically. I used to make 200 miles w/ 3.8 gallons (before the reserve) now is 160 miles. I suspect a slippery old (its the original)cluctch,
Any suggestions?

Thanks!

 

Does the clutch feel like it's the problem? I would try a basic tuneup before I would check the clutch (spark plugs, clean the carb, adjust the pushrods)

 

Don't jump to the clutch unless youcan feel it slip. If it is slipping so much that you have a 20% gas milage drop, I bet you can't climb a hill either. [sm=icon_rtfm.gif][sm=signs003.gif] Check all the basics.

 

like the others have said, check the other things first, before you go diving into the clutch, I would seriously look into the carb first, and things like plugs, adjust your pushrods, start with the simple things first, then when you have got all that checked out and it still gets poor gas mileage then you now know what is left to check, Thats what I would do,, just my 1 1/3 cents.
Daryl

 

I'll go ahead and add another 2/3 to make it an even 2 cents. Check tire pressure also. That won't be enough to cause the kind of numbers you're seeing but it will compound any other irregularities. Also, I would think that with a bad clutch, if you can notice bad milage, than you should also see much worse throttle responce under pressure, (to pass a vehicle on the Hwy or up hills).

Rich