I adjusted my clutch yesterday per the manual....didn't feel quite right after 40 miles....engaged too late for my taste.....so I'm eating lunch with my son and I realized I didn't back out the adjuster screw 1/2 or 1 full turn.....it was just touching when I tightened the lock nut.....

So I gave myself more slack on the cable and rode home...another 40 miles....I adjusted it (yes, adjusted it using ALL the steps!) per the manual and it feels great......

My question is: What kind of damage did I do by not backing that out properly the first time I adjusted it? I rode approximately 80 miles with it that way....

Thanks for any input all.

 

And you did adjust the clutch when it was cold, right?

 

Yes. Both times only the first one I didn't back it out before I tightened the lock nut.

 

If you rode it fairly easy and didn't feel the clutch slipping, then you didn't cause any damage.

Here's what you did... By not backing the adjustment screw out, you in essence eliminated the free-play in the clutch. Too little free-play can cause clutch slippage because the clutch may never fully engage.

As long as you didn't feel any slippage before re-adjusting the clutch then there's no need to worry.

Think of it this way - you learned something - bet you never do that again.

The most important parameter when adjusting the clutch is "freeplay". Not enough can cause damage as noted above. Too much will not cause damage but may contribute to rideability (shifting) issues. Therefore it's always a safer bet to error on the side of too much freeplay rather than not enough.

 

We all mess up now and then. Just yesterday I stripped one of the Brass fittings on my radio putting it back in after changing my fork oil. Now I have to tap it back out. **** happens, especially while trying to work on the bike the day after a little too much money spent at the local watering hole.

It sounds like you are alright though. For one you didn't ride it that long even though things can happen quickly, two, it doesn't sound like you were having a major clutch clip issue. If so you definitely could have done a little damage but I don't think much in that short of time. You should be fine.

 

Thanks.....I wont make that mistake again.... When I turned the adjuster in the first time I it was just touching....I didn't really seat it....I got distracted with the kids and got back to it....I probably had it just shy of a half turn .....so I was able to give it free play
with the cable...
It never felt like it slipped while riding....

Last question: what is lightly seated? Is it just touching or almost screwed in all the way? Or in between those two?

 

You can't introduce any freeplay into the clutch with the cable adjuster. That can only be done inside the cover. By adjusting the cable you were able to introduce freeplay into the lever, but that is something completely different than freeplay at the clutch.

You can have freeplay in the lever and still have none at the clutch. That is why the clutch adjustment is a two step process and the adjustment inside the cover is done first. The opposite is not true - If there is no freeplay at the lever then you can be assured there is none at the clutch.

As for lightly seated, I'd define that as the point at which you start to feel resistance. For this adjustment, similarly to what I stated earlier for freeplay, it's safer to error on the side of looser than tighter. Looser will result in more freeplay at the clutch when all is said and done.

 

Thanks guys....I did some searching and I think I had it adjusted shy of the 1/2 turn.....it engaged further away from the grip than I like....after doing it correctly, it feels much better and engages closer to the grip, which is what I'm used to.....

Panic avoided.....this is why I should do all this when the kids are sleeping.....no distractions......

Ride safe everyone.

Joe.

 

Because you caught it right away I wouldn't worry.

Too many overlook the importance of the primary clutch adjustment (behind the derby cover) and attempt to do it all through the cable, which of course is wrong. If you didn't feel any slip when accelerating chances are you didn't prematurely wear the clutch discs.

However, by not backing it off you left the throwout bearing in constant contact, along with the rods being in tight contact, which after several miles will overheat and prematurely wear the ends where the contact is supposed to be only while disengaging the clutch. You could also wipe out the bearing.

Go for a ride and enjoy the day!