Clutch adjustments
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Joined: Mar 2018
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From: Washington
Clutch adjustments
Fellow riders, I was wondering if you guys could help me out. I swapped my levers out today and I couldnt get my clutch lever to do what I had before. I like my clutch to be a little tight and engages near the handlebar. Ive tried everything and i cant seem to get what i had before. Everytime i loosen the slack, it engage near the bar but its too soft for me. And if I do the opposite, i have a tight squeeze but it engages almost at the very end.
Couple questions, do I need to adjust the pushrods behind the derby cover to get it back to where it was? Or do I just keep messing with the cable adjuster and hope to get lucky and get what i had before. I read a few threads about adjusting clutch but i dont know where to start.
Thank you all for your input.
Couple questions, do I need to adjust the pushrods behind the derby cover to get it back to where it was? Or do I just keep messing with the cable adjuster and hope to get lucky and get what i had before. I read a few threads about adjusting clutch but i dont know where to start.
Thank you all for your input.
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Joined: Sep 2010
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From: Beyond Fucital
You need to loosen everything and start over.
Read the proper clutch adjustment procedure in the manual and start there.
What you're trying to do you do with the push rod in the clutch pack,
Back off a little farther.
Read the proper clutch adjustment procedure in the manual and start there.
What you're trying to do you do with the push rod in the clutch pack,
Back off a little farther.
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,800
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From: Houston, Texas
If all you did was remove and replace the lever, you shouldn't have to adjust the clutch pack. Of course it can't hurt either. I'm the " if it ain't broke, don't fix it" kind of guy. I'm of the mindset you don't adjust things that aren't out of adjustment,
Compare the new lever with the old one. If the shape of the handle and where the cable mounts are different at all, its going to feel different to you no matter how much you adjust on it. As long as the clutch doesn't slip and functions properly, you just need to play with the cable adjustment to where it feels the best then ride the crap out of it. Your muscle memory and feel will adjust to the shape of the new lever and where it engages after a couple of rides.
I have a similar situation having two bikes with totally different clutch feels. Just takes a little to get used to the difference when I jump from one bike to the next. The first few pull aways from a stop when I switch bikes is ugly. Especially since I ride one daily to commute and the other is for an occasional weekend ride or trip.
Good luck!!!
Compare the new lever with the old one. If the shape of the handle and where the cable mounts are different at all, its going to feel different to you no matter how much you adjust on it. As long as the clutch doesn't slip and functions properly, you just need to play with the cable adjustment to where it feels the best then ride the crap out of it. Your muscle memory and feel will adjust to the shape of the new lever and where it engages after a couple of rides.
I have a similar situation having two bikes with totally different clutch feels. Just takes a little to get used to the difference when I jump from one bike to the next. The first few pull aways from a stop when I switch bikes is ugly. Especially since I ride one daily to commute and the other is for an occasional weekend ride or trip.
Good luck!!!
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
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From: Honah Lee
Start over and only loosen cable free play a few turns..not all the way out. Be sure to deburr adjuster at clutch by screwing in a couple turns past no play and then find no play by levering the lever and back off 5/8 turn when cold. Then set the cable free play to the minimum checking at both locks of the bars. Done like this, the adjustment will hold for a long long time. Other than the cable free play, mine has not changed in 40K. The cable free play mostly determines what you want but the back off affects it also.
What I described above give long trouble free setting.
Do the back off at one turn gives a tad less plate separation. This along with minimum freeplay puts clutch engagement closer to lever coming off bar.
What I described above give long trouble free setting.
Do the back off at one turn gives a tad less plate separation. This along with minimum freeplay puts clutch engagement closer to lever coming off bar.
Last edited by Jackie Paper; May 25, 2018 at 07:31 AM.
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,456
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From: Deep South, Louisiana
Levers will make it feel different. Longer levers equals more leverage and can make it feel softer. I'd ride it a few day with the clutch adjusted properly to see if I get use to it.
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Joined: Mar 2018
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From: Washington
Thanks for all the input! Here is the update. I messed with it this morning and found a good setting for me. however, the cable is not pulling the lever back all the way to where i have to push it back in place. I rode it and when I downshift, if i dont push the lever back, clutch isnt completely engaged to where my RPM was moving up faster than my actual speed. (Revving up while speeding up).
so I re-adjust again and now clutch is seating properly but engage is way out. I just cant seem to get the proper adjustment. Im gonna start from scratch I guess and hope for the best! 😵😵😵
so I re-adjust again and now clutch is seating properly but engage is way out. I just cant seem to get the proper adjustment. Im gonna start from scratch I guess and hope for the best! 😵😵😵
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Joined: Mar 2018
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From: Washington
I have the same lever just different color. (I replaced the chrome with a black one)
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Joined: Mar 2018
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From: Washington
I just want to make sure im reading this right. If i back off the push rod a full turn, that would give me the engage close to the bar? Or if I back off just a quarter/half turn that will give me the engage close to bar?
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From: Beyond Fucital
Yes, because you have to pull the lever closer to the bar to disengage it.