CVO Clutch issue
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6th Gear
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 12
Likes: 1
From: new york
CVO Clutch issue
Took it out for the first ride of the season today ( 2008 CVO Springer ) - like 65 degrees out . As I'm riding ( about a 1/2 hour ) I start to notice the bike is getting harder to shift and I can't find neutral . Soon enough , the clutch wont disengage , and had to limp the bike home and shut it off to come to a stop .
Checked the fluid (trans ) and seemed fine - no burnt odor and full . Checked the Hydraulic clutch fluid reservoir on the handlebar - full .
Looked for any leaks - nothing found .Tried to see if the clutch line going into the trans was loose , but it seemed tight .
Got home , waited about an hour or so for it to cool down and was able to get the bike into neutral again , but didn't try to ride it again - just in case .
7,650 miles on bike .
Anybody ever have a problem like this before ?
Checked the fluid (trans ) and seemed fine - no burnt odor and full . Checked the Hydraulic clutch fluid reservoir on the handlebar - full .
Looked for any leaks - nothing found .Tried to see if the clutch line going into the trans was loose , but it seemed tight .
Got home , waited about an hour or so for it to cool down and was able to get the bike into neutral again , but didn't try to ride it again - just in case .
7,650 miles on bike .
Anybody ever have a problem like this before ?
Last edited by oldsofty63; Mar 12, 2021 at 07:09 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 5,315
Likes: 4,272
From: Granville New York
When was the last time you had the fluid bled and changed? While not alot of miles 08 is long time for it to soak up some moisture. Sure sounds like thats the issue. I forgot to add since you have a cvo springer its mandatory that you post some pictures lol
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,415
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From: Pennsylvania
Flush and bleed your clutch fluid, get some of the new HD fluid and use it. Redline absorbs moisture also and he might have used stuff that was opened. If the clutch worked after cool down that is a sure sign of moisture/air in the brake line as it vaporized when hot then condensed when cooled. I would also flush the brake fluid front & rear.
Thread Starter
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6th Gear
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 12
Likes: 1
From: new york
I just replaced the primary fluid , and it looked disgusting . Pardon my ignorance here , but I've heard that the fluid in the clutch reservoir is brake fluid ? So when I checked my trans ( gear fluid ) the fluid was red ( the Redline I guess ) . So there a 3 different fluids ? Clutch , Primary , and gear box ?
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,415
Likes: 30,638
From: Pennsylvania
I just replaced the primary fluid , and it looked disgusting . Pardon my ignorance here , but I've heard that the fluid in the clutch reservoir is brake fluid ? So when I checked my trans ( gear fluid ) the fluid was red ( the Redline I guess ) . So there a 3 different fluids ? Clutch , Primary , and gear box ?
Even if you do not wrench yourself it lets you know how things work and the proper procedures.
Engine oil, Transmission Oil (gear box), Primary Oil, & clutch/brake fluid are the 4 types of fluids used depending on year & model of the Harley.
Yes, primary fluid can be quite nasty as the clutch plates wear and there is no filter to remove the particulates.
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Thread Starter
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6th Gear
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 12
Likes: 1
From: new york
Ok , Thanks , I'll see if I can bleed the clutch fluid . Saw a video on how to do it - only difference is my clutch cover has a nipple on the outside , so I guess there's no need to remove the cover to bleed it ....
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,056
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From: San Diego, CA
I would "flush" the clutch fluid... bleeding just gets out any air, flushing removes all the old fluid and replaces it with new fluid, and then you bleed it....
Since your symptoms could be caused by air or water in the fluid.... flush it to make sure any water is removed from the system...
I also make sure to use the best fluid, with the highest dry/wet boiling points I can get... the hydraulic clutch line runs right next to the exhaust making it easier for water in the fluid to vaporize.... being in SoCal, it gets hot here, so I also switch my brakes to a high performance brake fluid. My hydraulic clutch in on a bike that needs DOT 4 (glycol base) in the brakes for the ABS, so I switch it all over to Motul 600 (high performance glycol base). It has a dry boiling point of 599° and wet boiling point of 399°
Good luck with the fix........
Last edited by hattitude; Mar 19, 2021 at 09:57 PM.
