Touring Models Road King, Road King Custom, Road King Classic, Road Glide, Street Glide, Electra Glide, Electra Glide Classic, and Electra Glide Ultra Classic bikes.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Clutch Issues

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Aug 31, 2013 | 09:28 AM
  #11  
12hdrk's Avatar
12hdrk
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,335
Likes: 5
From: CT
Default

Originally Posted by tjcaron
It's a 2012. I had a new Magnum cable installed last year and service done about 1000 miles ago. The clutch was adjusted then and was smooth as can be. The fluid was also changed then...honestly I don't know what they put in there since I had the dealership do it. The cable has a little play in it and that seems about right.

I'll give the adjustment a shot. Hopefully it's not something I have to do every 1,000 miles.
Yep. Do it yourself and do it right. Dealer did my clutch adjust at 1k. I checked it at 4800 and the adjust screw was tight. No 1/2 to 1 turn clearance as required. I did it myself and changed the primary oil as well. At that point I asked myself why take it in at all. Bought necessary tools and did the 5k myself. Nor rocket science...
 
Reply
Old Aug 31, 2013 | 02:33 PM
  #12  
tjcaron's Avatar
tjcaron
Thread Starter
|
Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 712
Likes: 49
From: NH - Live Free or Die
Default

Originally Posted by hdbob2006
Actually, it sounds like too much play in cable.[clutch not Disengaging]
Originally Posted by sfchief
Cables stretch a bit when new. As other have said, a complete clutch adjustment should do it.
Well, I may have found the problem. I went out to look at the cable and how much play was in it. It LOOKED like there was only about 1/8" until I pulled on it. It's almost like some slack was pushed up inside the switch/lever housing. When I pulled it out there was a 1/4 - 1/2" gap. So I guess I'll assume it loosened up a little.



Anyone else have a Magnum clutch cable? One thing I noticed when I adjusted it is that the cable appears to have a jam nut but it spins the same way as the adjustment nut. Could this loosen up from the vibrations or am I over-thinking it?

 
Reply
Old Aug 31, 2013 | 02:33 PM
  #13  
tjcaron's Avatar
tjcaron
Thread Starter
|
Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 712
Likes: 49
From: NH - Live Free or Die
Default

Originally Posted by 12hdrk
Yep. Do it yourself and do it right. Dealer did my clutch adjust at 1k. I checked it at 4800 and the adjust screw was tight. No 1/2 to 1 turn clearance as required. I did it myself and changed the primary oil as well. At that point I asked myself why take it in at all. Bought necessary tools and did the 5k myself. Nor rocket science...
Yeah, plan is to do a full adjustment and oil change when I get home. I don't have the tools to do it here.
 
Reply
Old Nov 16, 2013 | 07:39 AM
  #14  
njmasterplumber's Avatar
njmasterplumber
6th Gear
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
From: South Jersey
Default

Originally Posted by DeJavu
Sounds like you don't have any play in the cable. Should be able to lightly pull on the lever and have atleast 1/16" to 1/8" freeplay. When the clutch heats up the plates increase in size just enough to drag if there is no play.
Wouldn'r that mean he has too much play in the cable? He's pulling after the plates swell yet they are still slightly engaged, right?
 
Reply
Old Nov 16, 2013 | 04:06 PM
  #15  
paulhog's Avatar
paulhog
Road Captain
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 527
Likes: 42
From: Sequim, WA
Default

"loosened up a little bit"?? WOW! That's more than a little.
 
Reply
Old Nov 16, 2013 | 04:14 PM
  #16  
Hammz's Avatar
Hammz
Grand HDF Member
Veteran: Air Force
10 Year Member
Community Favorite
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 3,820
Likes: 587
From: Michigan
Default

Originally Posted by njmasterplumber
Wouldn'r that mean he has too much play in the cable? He's pulling after the plates swell yet they are still slightly engaged, right?
Too much play in the cable means he's not fully disengaging the clutch when he pulls the lever in.
 
Reply
Old Nov 16, 2013 | 04:21 PM
  #17  
Hammz's Avatar
Hammz
Grand HDF Member
Veteran: Air Force
10 Year Member
Community Favorite
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 3,820
Likes: 587
From: Michigan
Default

BTW - adjusting the clutch cable isn't the same as adjusting the clutch. Backing out the clutch rod more than 1 turn (I use 5/8 turn) before tightening the lock nut can produce similar symptoms.
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
tonycap
EVO
14
May 24, 2013 11:44 AM
bigredwing
Touring Models
8
Sep 1, 2011 11:00 AM
skarouba
Sportster Models
6
Apr 8, 2010 05:31 PM
kmealp
Dyna Glide Models
12
Apr 5, 2010 06:02 PM
UglyLou
Primary/Transmission/Driveline/Clutch
3
Jun 25, 2008 03:46 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:11 AM.

story-0
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-1
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-2
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-4
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-5
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-6
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-7
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE