Clutch Adjustment
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Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 1,877
Likes: 659
From: Yuba City, Ca.
Also, my instructions are a bit vague as I was trying to type it out in a hurry. If you're not familiar with adjusting your clutch and the clutch cable, watch some youtube videos on the subject. There's tons of them on this very subject.
Club Member
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 7,681
Likes: 8,413
From: Utah
Someone should tell Brandon Smith.........................
The best $50 you can spend on your bike is for a Service manual.
The best $50 you can spend on your bike is for a Service manual.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 5,691
Likes: 1,651
From: Olean, NY
Hey Brandon, you can't adjust your hydraulic clutch. However, check to see if you fall under the clutch recall. (Go to HD website, find the recall section and type in your VIN. Or call your dealer).
HDF Community Team
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 7,857
Likes: 4,419
From: Texas
Zero recalls. Thanks for the info guys. I test road three other '17 FLHX's and the clutch felt different on each - some engaged almost instantly, while some were way out. Why is that? All had similar mileage.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 7,776
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From: wet coast BC
I add one extra step after the 1/2 turn out, 3 clutch pulls I again turn in to see if it is still a 1/2 turn. 1st time I did this it was not. The ball/ramp did not fully return to '0' so the light touch was up the ramp 1st, after pulls it turned in more as it was now at bottom.
Many have complained of doing it by the book and I wondered if they experienced the same but did not know it was more than 1/2 turn when finished.
Many have complained of doing it by the book and I wondered if they experienced the same but did not know it was more than 1/2 turn when finished.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 2,172
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From: Georgia
I add one extra step after the 1/2 turn out, 3 clutch pulls I again turn in to see if it is still a 1/2 turn. 1st time I did this it was not. The ball/ramp did not fully return to '0' so the light touch was up the ramp 1st, after pulls it turned in more as it was now at bottom.
Many have complained of doing it by the book and I wondered if they experienced the same but did not know it was more than 1/2 turn when finished.
Many have complained of doing it by the book and I wondered if they experienced the same but did not know it was more than 1/2 turn when finished.
Good heads up about double checking after seating the ball and ramp though
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Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
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From: Bedford UK
I agree that there is scope for interpretation on clutch adjustment. On my older Glide, for example I set the clutch centre adjustment as per the book, but take out most of the cable slack, which works better for me. These variations can obviously only come about with some experience and experimentation, but only try them if the normal adjustments don't work 'just so'.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 5,691
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From: Olean, NY
There's no easy answer here I guess. I have read that the fluid sometimes gets gummed up by the graphite lube they use inside the master cylinder and by flushing new fluid through the line, getting the old crap out, it sometimes helps with the clutch pull. Of course you're bleeding it as well, where the MOCO may not have done the best job, so there's that also.