Harley Davidson Forums

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

Hard to pull clutch

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Apr 13, 2011 | 09:06 AM
Share
  #1  
GIJoe65's Avatar
GIJoe65
Thread Starter
|
Stage I
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: New York
Default Hard to pull clutch
I have an 05 Fatboy that has a hard to pull clutch. What can I do to make it easier to pull without using all my strength? Should I change the all the fluids, adjust the clutch cable, lube the cable, and or add an Ez (reduced effort) clutch?
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks
GIJoe65jokaelin@optonline.net
 
Reply
0
Old Apr 13, 2011 | 09:09 AM
Share
  #2  
DR. V-TWIN's Avatar
DR. V-TWIN
Former Sponsor
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 19,364
Likes: 40
From: Los Angeles, CA
Default
Start by lubing the cable and adjusting it. Report back with the results.

Drew
 
Reply
0
Old Apr 13, 2011 | 10:22 AM
Share
  #3  
JPL's Avatar
JPL
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 304
Likes: 3
From: Miami, FL
Default
Sorry for my stupidity but how do you lube the clutch cable? would it say in the service manual?
 
Reply
0
Old Apr 13, 2011 | 12:17 PM
Share
  #4  
bikersurgeon's Avatar
bikersurgeon
Tourer
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 325
Likes: 1
From: missouri
Default
remove clutch cable....cut corner out of ziplock bag....insert cable end in bag hole...tape bag to cable.....fill ziplock with oil.....hang bag from garage rafter (not in the house your wife will kill you....trust me).....wait till you see oil on other end of cable (hours later)
 
Reply
0
Old Apr 13, 2011 | 01:26 PM
Share
  #5  
JPL's Avatar
JPL
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 304
Likes: 3
From: Miami, FL
Default
Perfect man thank you!
Any specific Oil to use?
 
Reply
0
Old Apr 13, 2011 | 01:35 PM
Share
  #6  
DR. V-TWIN's Avatar
DR. V-TWIN
Former Sponsor
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 19,364
Likes: 40
From: Los Angeles, CA
Default
Or, you can buy a bottle of Dri Slide and stick the needle into the end of the cable and squeeze.

Drew
 
Reply
0
Old Apr 13, 2011 | 01:40 PM
Share
  #7  
poppavein's Avatar
poppavein
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 932
Likes: 2
From: Pacific NorthWest Territory
Default
Originally Posted by JPL
Perfect man thank you!
Any specific Oil to use?
I would stay away from olive oil.
 
Reply
0

Trending Topics

Old Apr 13, 2011 | 02:15 PM
Share
  #8  
stevelonewolf's Avatar
stevelonewolf
Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 649
Likes: 2
From: DeLand, Florida
Default
Originally Posted by DR. V-TWIN
Or, you can buy a bottle of Dri Slide and stick the needle into the end of the cable and squeeze.

Drew
LMAO!!
 
Reply
0
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Apr 13, 2011 | 02:25 PM
Share
  #9  
bikersurgeon's Avatar
bikersurgeon
Tourer
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 325
Likes: 1
From: missouri
Default
In the past I've just used 30 wt motor oil. when a cable is so jacked it's hard to pull,
dri-slide usually wont work unless you hit it every 10 minutes for 4 hours...granted the only cables I've ever had to treat are motocross bike cables....probably much nastier than most harleys...except mine lol.
 
Reply
0
Old Apr 13, 2011 | 02:34 PM
Share
  #10  
frontiercat's Avatar
frontiercat
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 4,646
Likes: 40
From: Midtown Tulsa
Default
Maybe even check cable routing...unless it just started getting hard to pull...
 
Reply
0
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
New clutch cable clutch slipping
Mfd6049
Touring Models
1
Apr 8, 2014 09:36 PM
Problem with clutch adjustment
arbound1223
Primary/Transmission/Driveline/Clutch
5
Aug 22, 2011 10:56 AM
clutch cable problem
simmonsp5
Primary/Transmission/Driveline/Clutch
1
Jun 27, 2011 04:22 PM
Need HELP "Clutch Cable"
jims79flh
Softail Models
4
Mar 29, 2011 09:01 AM
Clutch Cable/Handle Lubrication
HDF Tech
Primary/Transmission/Driveline/Clutch
0
Oct 8, 2005 10:33 AM
Tags
Back to Subforum
Softail Models
View Next Unread
Big sucker help




Advanced Search
Reply Closed Thread Share
Forum Jump

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:39 PM.

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