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Hmm so that didn't seem to fix it. I took all the slack out of the clutch cable, loosened the lock not on the clutch adjustment screw, tightened the screw until I felt resistance, then backed it out half a turn and tightened the lock nut. It definitely slips in 5th and 6th gear, even when I give it only 60-70% throttle. Wonder if I should just replace the clutch. Or should I start with a heavy duty stock clutch spring?
You adjusted the clutch incorrectly if you did what you said above. You need to put slack in the clutch cable, then adjust the clutch & lock nut in accordance with the service manual or search HDF for the procedure. Once you have adjusted the clutch adjustment screw, backed off 1/2 turn and tightened down the lock nut, you then take the slack out of the clutch cable.
You adjusted the clutch incorrectly if you did what you said above. You need to put slack in the clutch cable, then adjust the clutch & lock nut in accordance with the service manual or search HDF for the procedure. Once you have adjusted the clutch adjustment screw, backed off 1/2 turn and tightened down the lock nut, you then take the slack out of the clutch cable.
Oops, I spoke incorrectly. I put the maximum amount of slack I could in the cable ("collapsed" the cable), then adjusted the clutch adjustment screw. There was no resistance in the clutch lever after I added slack to the cable.
The oil didn't smell burnt and I didn't see any clumps of metal shavings on the drain plug magnet or anywhere else. Color was dark grey. I attached a couple videos of the clutch moving back and forth when engaged, if that helps.
The previous owner may have been hard on the clutch and glazed the plates. Once glazed, they’re toast. I’m in the same boat, bought an 2012 Ultra last year, have a clutch pak sitting on the work bench waiting for me to install.
i've not paid any attention to the newer bikes but assume they still use a compensating sprocket?
Maybe the compensator is slipping under load?
I probably need to go take a dump and think about it. I do my best thinking when i'm pinching off a loaf.
You didn't maybe use a primary oil with a friction modifier in it? (Motor oils with the "Fuel Economy" emblems aren't good for wet clutch applications.)
Do we "know" that a sketchy rear tire is not slipping on cold roads ?
Just throwing it out there
New tires with about 500 miles on them.
You didn't maybe use a primary oil with a friction modifier in it? (Motor oils with the "Fuel Economy" emblems aren't good for wet clutch applications.)
I haven't changed the primary oil since I bought it, aside from recently. The oil that came out of it was a dark gray color.
Looks like a new clutch fixed the issue. I put in a BDL extra plate kit (BTXP14) and used Harley Formula+, since there seems to be lots of different opinions on which oil to use. I don't feel that slipping "lag" and the gear indicator on the gauge isn't shutting off anymore, which it was doing before when it was slipping. Shifts firm now, it's easy to find neutral from 1st or 2nd, and it doesn't try to pull forward when I'm idling in 1st. Here's pictures of the old clutch. Not sure if you can tell anything from these.
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