Clutch Grabs Late
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 2,590
Likes: 31
From: Western Illinois, land of bad roads, and corrupt politicians
Cable "relaxation" would be a better term. Cables are wound or woven. The windings relax over time and make the cable longer.
If you ever have to replace your clutch cable, and replace it with the exact same cable, measure them. The new one will be shorter.
I had to replace one because the outer was falling apart, on an 05 FXST, and used the exact same part #. The outer on the old one was the same length as the new one, but the inner was about 1/2 inch longer.
Last edited by shooter5074; Nov 18, 2011 at 02:21 PM.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 3,846
Likes: 173
From: Simi Valley, CA
Cable "relaxation" would be a better term. Cables are wound or woven. The windings relax over time and make the cable longer.
If you ever have to replace your clutch cable, and replace it with the exact same cable, measure them. The new one will be shorter.
I had to replace one because the outer was falling apart, on an 05 FXST, and used the exact same part #. The outer on the old one was the same length as the new one, but the inner was about 1/2 inch longer.
If you ever have to replace your clutch cable, and replace it with the exact same cable, measure them. The new one will be shorter.
I had to replace one because the outer was falling apart, on an 05 FXST, and used the exact same part #. The outer on the old one was the same length as the new one, but the inner was about 1/2 inch longer.
But everything else in my previous post, cable stretch aside, is absolute truth.
Stage II
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: California
Everyone says adjust your clutch to your liking. Or follow the instructions in the manual. All that is great, but it would be great to hear "if you lossen the cable/ more slack, your friction zone increases." "If you tighten it, the friction zone decreases." Don't know if this is true, because noone states this. Same as a full turn or 1/2 turn on the clutch adjustment alan screw.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 17,147
Likes: 6,170
From: SE Michigan
Everyone says adjust your clutch to your liking. Or follow the instructions in the manual. All that is great, but it would be great to hear "if you lossen the cable/ more slack, your friction zone increases." "If you tighten it, the friction zone decreases." Don't know if this is true, because noone states this. Same as a full turn or 1/2 turn on the clutch adjustment alan screw.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 5,484
Likes: 2,528
From: Lititz Pa
Now that's funny 14 years old. I was getting ready to comment until I read your post. Hope the guy got it fixed maybe traded it in by now. But I was thinking when people don't know much the first thing they do is check the oil.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,526
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From: Pennsylvania
Everyone says adjust your clutch to your liking. Or follow the instructions in the manual. All that is great, but it would be great to hear "if you lossen the cable/ more slack, your friction zone increases." "If you tighten it, the friction zone decreases." Don't know if this is true, because noone states this. Same as a full turn or 1/2 turn on the clutch adjustment alan screw.
1. Friction zone increases or decreases with the adjustment of the clutch adjustment Allen Head Screw.
2 Loosening with more slack or less slack in the cable just sets the hand lever position where it starts to disengage the clutch/ramp.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 23,000
Likes: 11,441
Everyone says adjust your clutch to your liking. Or follow the instructions in the manual. All that is great, but it would be great to hear "if you lossen the cable/ more slack, your friction zone increases." "If you tighten it, the friction zone decreases." Don't know if this is true, because noone states this. Same as a full turn or 1/2 turn on the clutch adjustment alan screw.
Last edited by smitty901; Apr 7, 2025 at 07:20 AM.