Softail Models Standard, Custom, Night Train, Deuce, Springer, Heritage, Fatboy, Deluxe, Rocker and Cross Bones.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Help! Is My Clutch Cable Stretched??

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jun 28, 2019 | 02:07 PM
  #1  
Rocker B's Avatar
Rocker B
Thread Starter
|
Road Warrior
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 1,626
Likes: 310
From: "Old Hangtown" Placerville Ca.
Default Help! Is My Clutch Cable Stretched??

I went to take a little free play out of the clutch cable on my Breakout, and noticed that the cable adjuster had very little adjustment left in it, and was hard to turn. I decided to adjust the clutch so I collapsed the cable and gave the lever free play, and pulled the derby cover. The clutch adjuster screw only turned in maybe 1/4 to 1/2 turn before lightly seating, and the clutch lever barely moved out. I backed the clutch adjuster screw out 1/2 turn and tightened the jam nut...Now I still have all of the free play in the lever, but not any where near enough adjustment left on the cable adjuster to take it out.

An indy did the last clutch adjustment, and told me he had trouble turning the cable adjuster because the long cable (16" apes) kept getting twisted and bound up with each turn, and I noticed the same thing. He didn't mention that it took almost all the adjustment to get the lever free play correct...I'm thinking maybe he stretched the cable, and I made it worse trying to adjust the free play???

At this point I cant even get it back to how it was before I tried to adjust it, I really can't get any pull on the clutch now even with cable adjuster to the end of its threads. I'm thinking a new clutch cable might be the only fix...Could I have snapped the cable some how flipping the cable around?? It feels connected and doesn't pull out of the protector housing. This is the first time I've adjusted the cable/clutch on this bike since installing the apes, but I've done it several times on my Rocker and have never had an issue....Any thoughts????
 

Last edited by Rocker B; Jun 28, 2019 at 02:17 PM.
Reply
Old Jun 28, 2019 | 02:19 PM
  #2  
DC Mike's Avatar
DC Mike
Tourer
15 Year Member
Liked
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 339
Likes: 13
From: Badsville, So. Cal.
Default

You or the indy couldn't have stretched a cable simply by adjusting it. Impossible. Do you have a stock clutch and pressure plate on the bike? Pull the lever all the way back to the grip and look at the cable where it meets the eyelet for the pivot pin. Is the cable frayed? It's also possible that it's frayed at the throw-out side too, it happens.

The only way you can run out of adjustment on the cable is if it is frayed and stretched.
 
Reply
Old Jun 28, 2019 | 02:30 PM
  #3  
Rocker B's Avatar
Rocker B
Thread Starter
|
Road Warrior
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 1,626
Likes: 310
From: "Old Hangtown" Placerville Ca.
Default

Originally Posted by DC Mike
You or the indy couldn't have stretched a cable simply by adjusting it. Impossible. Do you have a stock clutch and pressure plate on the bike? Pull the lever all the way back to the grip and look at the cable where it meets the eyelet for the pivot pin. Is the cable frayed? It's also possible that it's frayed at the throw-out side too, it happens.

The only way you can run out of adjustment on the cable is if it is frayed and stretched.
Yes, stock clutch and pressure plate, I don't see any fraying up top, but knowing that it has to be frayed or stretched to run out of cable adjustment answers my question...Thank you!! l
Looks like I'll be ordering a new cable!
 
Reply
Old Jun 30, 2019 | 10:34 PM
  #4  
hattitude's Avatar
hattitude
Seasoned HDF Member
15 Year Member
Community Builder
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 10
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,158
Likes: 11,249
From: San Diego, CA
Default

Just a wild guess....

Who added the 16" apes? Could they have gotten the wrong clutch cable....?

If you got a clutch cable with the wrong travel length, that could be the reason all the adjusting room was used up....

Good luck with the fix....
 
Reply
Old Jul 1, 2019 | 12:16 AM
  #5  
Rocker B's Avatar
Rocker B
Thread Starter
|
Road Warrior
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 1,626
Likes: 310
From: "Old Hangtown" Placerville Ca.
Default

Originally Posted by hattitude
Just a wild guess....

Who added the 16" apes? Could they have gotten the wrong clutch cable....?

If you got a clutch cable with the wrong travel length, that could be the reason all the adjusting room was used up....

Good luck with the fix....
Thank you, I added the apes, and I could be wrong, but I think 72 11/16" cables all have similar length travel. I just ordered a new cable and everything I was finding had travel of 3 1/8" or 3 1/4", which is what I currently have. I'll confirm if it's stretched or frayed, or anything else I find after removing, and report back....
 
Reply
Old Jul 5, 2019 | 03:03 AM
  #6  
j33ptj's Avatar
j33ptj
Road Warrior
15 Year Member
Shutterbug
Liked
Loved
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,472
Likes: 126
From: The Netherlands
Default

When you get the new cable, you can compare them....

Then you wil know!

But changing things always affects others. With my belt drive the clutch was heavier and due to an injury on my hand could hardley engage the clutch, this was resolved with a new release (Müller Clutch release), which helped already.

So new ape hangers may have had an unforeseen consequence too!!
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
mfortkamp
Touring Models
5
Jan 20, 2015 09:34 PM
AAAC
EVO
12
Apr 16, 2014 12:03 AM
Rock Chalk
Touring Models
12
Apr 17, 2012 10:27 PM
Indy Road Dog
Touring Models
3
Apr 23, 2011 09:08 PM
Mike O
Touring Models
10
Feb 2, 2011 06:19 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:06 AM.

story-0
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-1
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-2
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-4
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-5
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-6
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-7
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE