5th gear "slipping"
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 4,999
Likes: 55
From: Bay Area
Its your clutch, for whatever reason, adjustment, spring, or glazed discs. The way you troubleshoot a slipping clutch is at lower than normal rpms in a higher gear (Example: 25mph in 4th or 5th gear) throttle up, if it slips its the clutch slipping.
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 77
Likes: 14
From: Bassett, WI
My 2011 FLHTK did the same thing. I adjusted the clutch to 1/8" free play, did all sorts of stuff. I now have the initial clutch adjustment "loose" so that in 5th gear, it is right where it should be. When I ride, and I am pulling in 5th gear, i lightly grab the clutch lever and feel the minimal free play in it. All other gears, there is a lot of free play. Don't know why, but it works for me.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,625
Likes: 4,079
From: Virginia
When your clutch goes out of adjustment, it always affects your higher gears first. Before you change anything, get a shop manual and follow the procedure to adjust the clutch. It goes something like this:
readjust the clutch by collapsing the clutch cable, popping the derby cover and readjust at the clutch pack. Try just backing the adjuster off half a turn to allow the maximum amount of distance in the clutch plates when the clutch is engaged and go from there.
readjust the clutch by collapsing the clutch cable, popping the derby cover and readjust at the clutch pack. Try just backing the adjuster off half a turn to allow the maximum amount of distance in the clutch plates when the clutch is engaged and go from there.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,625
Likes: 4,079
From: Virginia
Syn 3 works fine, the slippage issues are due to that.
Thread Starter
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Novice
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 22
Likes: 5
From: The cuse
I should of titled this thread "clutch slipping in 5th gear only" I may rename it but anyways an update to This issue I was having, I put in the screaming eagle spring and some non synthetic primary fluid and adjusted it just like I had before boom no more slipping, I'm going to ride it out the rest of the season and see what it does
Just a note to anyone who's thinking of doing this the clutch is a little harder to pull in and it's either in or its out there's no slipping it or riding it
Just a note to anyone who's thinking of doing this the clutch is a little harder to pull in and it's either in or its out there's no slipping it or riding it
Last edited by Cnyflhx; Sep 1, 2016 at 01:13 PM.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 2,172
Likes: 377
From: Georgia
Thanks for the update.
Are you sure you have the clutch adjusted properly? You should have some friction zone. When I went with a new clutches and heavier spring the friction zone narrowed up but it should not be completely on/off.
Are you sure you have the clutch adjusted properly? You should have some friction zone. When I went with a new clutches and heavier spring the friction zone narrowed up but it should not be completely on/off.
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Advanced
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 77
Likes: 14
From: Bassett, WI
I think you will find that if you roll into it rather hard in 5th gear from about 2800, you see it will slip again for you. Like I said I did, I loosened my cable so that in 5th gear on a good pull, the clutch handle had had just a little bit of free play.
