Clutch Cable Tension Release?
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Novice
Joined: Apr 2017
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From: Arizona
Clutch Cable Tension Release?
All,
I'm new to the forum and to HD's. Doing my first clutch adjustment on 2000 Road King, FLHR. Read the manual and watched the videos. Trying to take all the tension off the cable but the travel on the turn bolt will only give me about half pull of no tension on the lever. Should I continue the adjustment at the clutch or do I need to figure out a way to have total tension released before doing that step? Here's a pic of the cable with no travel left on the back off nut.
Advice appreciated!
I'm new to the forum and to HD's. Doing my first clutch adjustment on 2000 Road King, FLHR. Read the manual and watched the videos. Trying to take all the tension off the cable but the travel on the turn bolt will only give me about half pull of no tension on the lever. Should I continue the adjustment at the clutch or do I need to figure out a way to have total tension released before doing that step? Here's a pic of the cable with no travel left on the back off nut.
Advice appreciated!
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,062
Likes: 191
From: Boise, Idaho
That's odd that you can't get the clutch lever to release more than it is. I would assume the clutch basket adjustment is way off causing this. I would back off the adjustment at the clutch and see where that puts the lever.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,724
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From: ORYGON
JUST throwing this out... there isnt another adjuster in line somewhere ? i just replaced my trans cover, had to loosen everything to take it off...not seeing how you loose adjustment there it goes together one way?
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From: USA
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Novice
Joined: Apr 2017
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From: Arizona
Wow, can't believe something that appears so simple could go so wrong! I backed out the adjuster at the clutch and the cable went slack and lever touched the bar. Made the adjustment at the clutch, tightened the clutch cable to the suggested tension and now when I try to pull in the lever, it is bound up tighter than hell and does not disengage clutch. Must be doing something major wrong, any ideas?
Thanks much!
Thanks much!
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,062
Likes: 191
From: Boise, Idaho
Start over. Back the screw out of the clutch pack. I'm guessing you have over tightened the screw in the clutch pack. If the lever came back to the handle bars the cable is free to move. I would assume the same with the clutch release mechanism. I believe the only way the clutch could be locked up is if the clutch basket is fully released when you set the free play in your cable.
Get as much slack in the cable as possible. Back the adjustment screw out of the clutch pack until it turns freely by hand. Turn the screw back in until resistance is felt. Then turn the screw out 1/2 to 1 turn and lock the nut down. Then adjust the free play in the clutch lever.
Get as much slack in the cable as possible. Back the adjustment screw out of the clutch pack until it turns freely by hand. Turn the screw back in until resistance is felt. Then turn the screw out 1/2 to 1 turn and lock the nut down. Then adjust the free play in the clutch lever.
Last edited by Boomer1143; May 2, 2017 at 01:36 PM.
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Novice
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From: Arizona
Thanks for the advice, Boomer. Tried starting over re-setting at the clutch basket but still having same issue. When adjustment made to cable tension at the 1/8" zone, and then try to pull in clutch lever, no movement at all and no action noted in the clutch area.
One thing that does stands out to me is after adjusting at the clutch basket the first time and then going back to the cable to adjust the tension back in to the 1/8th zone, I had to back out the cable adjuster to almost the very end of the adjustment option. This was not the case before I adjusted clutch at the basket the first time?
It's like the cable is hung up somewhere, but I checked the play from the lever to the trans and all appears fine.
Any other thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks.
One thing that does stands out to me is after adjusting at the clutch basket the first time and then going back to the cable to adjust the tension back in to the 1/8th zone, I had to back out the cable adjuster to almost the very end of the adjustment option. This was not the case before I adjusted clutch at the basket the first time?
It's like the cable is hung up somewhere, but I checked the play from the lever to the trans and all appears fine.
Any other thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks.
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2012
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From: Oklahoma
That clutch basket adjusting bolt is in a sheet metal plate in the center of the clutch. That plate should have a little play in it. If that plate is solid against the outer surface of the clutch basket, you have over tightened the adjustment screw. Start over again one more time and observe the looseness in the plate when the adjustment screw has been been backed out. As you screw the adjuster back in, note that at some point that plate goes tight against the clutch basket. That is where you should feel the slight increase in adjustment screw friction. That is your reference point for the 1/2 to 1 turn out on the adjusting screw. If, after making the adjustment you still have a problem, you now have a problem with the release mechanism where the clutch cable enters the transmission on the opposite side of the bike.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2009
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From: ORYGON
