Clutch cable too tight
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6th Gear
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 11
Likes: 2
From: Kansas
Clutch cable too tight
So here's my problem. After replacing stock bars I needed longer cables. Got the cable all hooked up and now I have no slack at the lever. Cable is tight. The adjuster on the cable is at its lowest setting and still no slack. Shifts just fine. Took er out on a short ride when bar install was complete and had no problems. Everything I've read, watched, or have been told says I should have some slack at the lever. Should I adjust the clutch or what? Any help is appreciated.
G
G
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Joined: May 2017
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From: NorCal
Loosen the adjuster fully and re adjust at the clutch then set your freeplay at the lever with the adjuster and see if it changes lock to lock. Sometimes you can reroute the cable in order to cheat some too.
It may shift fine but without some freeplay you'll burn up the bearing.
It may shift fine but without some freeplay you'll burn up the bearing.
Last edited by brakeless; Mar 20, 2023 at 06:45 PM.
Thread Starter
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6th Gear
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 11
Likes: 2
From: Kansas
It is a 2020 Softail but it has an after market cable. So no fancy cable the M8's have stock now. I've finally got some time to get back to work on it, so I'll will take this advice and see what I can accomplish and update. I appreciate the help.
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From: backwoods
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Grand HDF Member
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From: Florida
I know nothing about M8s and assume a transmission is a transmission.. so please take with a grain of salt. Many aftermarket nice clutch cables try to be better than stock. Sometimes they engineer it with extra thread depth at the door side of the cable. I guess they do it cause so many run easy pull type solutions.. whatever the reason if you compare how far in its threaded to stock you often find it can be seated much deeper shortening the overall sleeve. The opposite it true too. I fought with my evo because I didnt realize this
I thought it would be important to seat the o ring into the door. But once I compared to stock it became obvious.
If seating the o ring is your jam, maybe add a spacer.
If seating the o ring is your jam, maybe add a spacer.
Last edited by Rains2much; Mar 27, 2023 at 07:15 AM.
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Joined: May 2008
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From: South Carolina
If the correct cable is used, it is threaded fully into the trap door.
The clutch must be adjusted before adjusting the clutch cable.
The clutch must be adjusted before adjusting the clutch cable.
Last edited by Dan89FLSTC; Mar 27, 2023 at 09:05 AM.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2022
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From: Florida
I faughtbwith it using your advice for a number of hours and no matter what couldn’t get a proper adjust meant. You had to compromise either any free play at the lever or only a 1/4 out on the internal pushrod. With the trap door out a half inch with a spacer, a half turn lose internally I could finally get a 1/16 at the lever and a full disengagement when hot.
90 is that odd year, maybe the pushrod length was off? But I doubt that. It was a 6500 original mile bike.
Last edited by Rains2much; Mar 27, 2023 at 01:45 PM.