Weak clutch???
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
From: Grand Falls, New Brunswick
Weak clutch???
Looking for help with what I think is a clutch problem. 2010 FLHTC with 9000 miles.
Picture yourself in a parking lot and you're trying to drive around really slow, along with stops and "walking speed" advances. In any event, you have to feather the clutch lightly - engage/disengage and so on. Well, at any time I am trying to "creep" forward just at the point of engagement, I hear an awful clunking noise coming from down low on the left side. Unless I give her good gas for a normal take-off, I get the noise.
Along with this, I find there is no real "sweet-spot frriction point" in the clutch where I say to myself "Here's where it grabs".
I had it into the dealer 2 weeks ago, who heard the noise. It was in for an oil change. They took apart the compensator, which they said was fine. They adjusted the clutch. They also found that the drive belt was loose.
Anyway, it's still doing this. My father's got an 09 Road King Classic. He had the primary bearing issue which was replaced. At that time, he paid the extra to have the SE clutch spring put in since they were already there with the work. On his bike, there is no vagueness at all about where the friction point is.
I'm hoping someone might have an idea other than clutch adjustment. What can someone expect to spend to have a stronger clutch spring. In my opinion (based on no technological know-how) it feels as if I had a stronger spring, the bike wouldn't make that clunking noise as it engages at low RPM's.
Picture yourself in a parking lot and you're trying to drive around really slow, along with stops and "walking speed" advances. In any event, you have to feather the clutch lightly - engage/disengage and so on. Well, at any time I am trying to "creep" forward just at the point of engagement, I hear an awful clunking noise coming from down low on the left side. Unless I give her good gas for a normal take-off, I get the noise.
Along with this, I find there is no real "sweet-spot frriction point" in the clutch where I say to myself "Here's where it grabs".
I had it into the dealer 2 weeks ago, who heard the noise. It was in for an oil change. They took apart the compensator, which they said was fine. They adjusted the clutch. They also found that the drive belt was loose.
Anyway, it's still doing this. My father's got an 09 Road King Classic. He had the primary bearing issue which was replaced. At that time, he paid the extra to have the SE clutch spring put in since they were already there with the work. On his bike, there is no vagueness at all about where the friction point is.
I'm hoping someone might have an idea other than clutch adjustment. What can someone expect to spend to have a stronger clutch spring. In my opinion (based on no technological know-how) it feels as if I had a stronger spring, the bike wouldn't make that clunking noise as it engages at low RPM's.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 5,535
Likes: 15
From: Salem, Va.
You can buy the SE clutch spring pretty cheap and it's a fairly easy job to replace it yourself. Just expect to use more grip pulling it in. There are a lot of aftermarket springs also.
Road Captain
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 583
Likes: 7
Looking for help with what I think is a clutch problem. 2010 FLHTC with 9000 miles.
Picture yourself in a parking lot and you're trying to drive around really slow, along with stops and "walking speed" advances. In any event, you have to feather the clutch lightly - engage/disengage and so on. Well, at any time I am trying to "creep" forward just at the point of engagement, I hear an awful clunking noise coming from down low on the left side. Unless I give her good gas for a normal take-off, I get the noise.
Along with this, I find there is no real "sweet-spot frriction point" in the clutch where I say to myself "Here's where it grabs".
I had it into the dealer 2 weeks ago, who heard the noise. It was in for an oil change. They took apart the compensator, which they said was fine. They adjusted the clutch. They also found that the drive belt was loose.
Anyway, it's still doing this. My father's got an 09 Road King Classic. He had the primary bearing issue which was replaced. At that time, he paid the extra to have the SE clutch spring put in since they were already there with the work. On his bike, there is no vagueness at all about where the friction point is.
I'm hoping someone might have an idea other than clutch adjustment. What can someone expect to spend to have a stronger clutch spring. In my opinion (based on no technological know-how) it feels as if I had a stronger spring, the bike wouldn't make that clunking noise as it engages at low RPM's.
Picture yourself in a parking lot and you're trying to drive around really slow, along with stops and "walking speed" advances. In any event, you have to feather the clutch lightly - engage/disengage and so on. Well, at any time I am trying to "creep" forward just at the point of engagement, I hear an awful clunking noise coming from down low on the left side. Unless I give her good gas for a normal take-off, I get the noise.
Along with this, I find there is no real "sweet-spot frriction point" in the clutch where I say to myself "Here's where it grabs".
I had it into the dealer 2 weeks ago, who heard the noise. It was in for an oil change. They took apart the compensator, which they said was fine. They adjusted the clutch. They also found that the drive belt was loose.
Anyway, it's still doing this. My father's got an 09 Road King Classic. He had the primary bearing issue which was replaced. At that time, he paid the extra to have the SE clutch spring put in since they were already there with the work. On his bike, there is no vagueness at all about where the friction point is.
I'm hoping someone might have an idea other than clutch adjustment. What can someone expect to spend to have a stronger clutch spring. In my opinion (based on no technological know-how) it feels as if I had a stronger spring, the bike wouldn't make that clunking noise as it engages at low RPM's.
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
From: Grand Falls, New Brunswick
It is embarassing, people around you are thinking you can't drive, especially when giving it more throttle than necessary, or they hear a clunking Harley ride slowly by.
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
From: Grand Falls, New Brunswick
I wouldn't even know what it looks like behind the primary cover. The crappy part about replacing would be the oil and primary gasket already set you back $50. Add the spring and who knows how much labour, you're probably easily over $200???
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 3,542
Likes: 161
From: Booming metropolis
Mine does it too. Dealer said it was normal. But then again isn't "normal" the standard answer for most issues brought to the (pick one) dealer.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,692
Likes: 22
From: Denham Springs, La
When my 09 was stock I got the clunking noise from the primary if I didn't give it enough gas on take offs. Since I had the SE Compensator installed I haven't heard the noise. Get your clutch adjusted for a better engagement and feel for the friction zone. The dealer adjusted my clutch after some other repairs were made and the clutch was adjusted at 1 full turn out. When I'd let the lever out to take off, the clutch was starting to engage right off the handlebar. I readjusted the clutch to 1/2 turn out and the clutch starts engaging further away from the handlebar and I can control the friction zone much better.
Last edited by smithbrl; Aug 14, 2011 at 05:17 PM.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
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From: Honah Lee
Just my though but V-Twin Harley simple are not real smooth at idle speed. Give it some more RPM, slip the clutch more and apply slight rear brake for control for slow speed. The clunking you hear is the compensator and crank pin since Harley do not fire equally. (the first cylinder fires, the second (rear) cylinder fires 315° later, then there is a 405° gap until the first cylinder fires again) You are not going to hurt compensator or clutch but I would not be lugging on the crank pin bearings.
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
From: Grand Falls, New Brunswick
Glad to hear that it's somewhat normal to be having this noise.
What would be your best guess on the cost of having the SE Compensator and a stronger spring installed?
What would be your best guess on the cost of having the SE Compensator and a stronger spring installed?