Clutch Slipping?
Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 123
Likes: 0
From: Ballwin, Mo
My 11 RGC was doing the same. Had my dealer check adjustment, it didn't change anything. After inspecting the clutch and finding nothing they replaced clutch springs which solved the problem. Mine did this at 16000 mi. Not a common issue but I figured I'd throw it out there.
Thread Starter
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Road Master
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 803
Likes: 1
From: Port St. Lucie FL
My 11 RGC was doing the same. Had my dealer check adjustment, it didn't change anything. After inspecting the clutch and finding nothing they replaced clutch springs which solved the problem. Mine did this at 16000 mi. Not a common issue but I figured I'd throw it out there.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 2,422
Likes: 14
From: Fla
While being a relatively simple task, proper clutch adjustment seems to be a little tricky...
If you do a search here on HDF, you will find many many threads with this same subject. Most of the time, it was a mal-adjusted clutch. You will also find, that there are just as many people who have a different way of adjusting it, other than how the service manual instructs. This could be a leading factor in why so many have a problem?
One thing that I found was:
When turning the clutch adjuster screw in to make contact, you may find that you can back off a 1/4 turn, the turn it in again, and the contact has moved further in than it was at first. I have had to back off, and then turn it in again as many as 3 times, to get what I call an actual 'positive contact'. Being as the first time you feel contact, the ball/ramp throwout bearing may not be fully compressed, it can give you a misleading impression that you have made contact.
If you do a search here on HDF, you will find many many threads with this same subject. Most of the time, it was a mal-adjusted clutch. You will also find, that there are just as many people who have a different way of adjusting it, other than how the service manual instructs. This could be a leading factor in why so many have a problem?
One thing that I found was:
When turning the clutch adjuster screw in to make contact, you may find that you can back off a 1/4 turn, the turn it in again, and the contact has moved further in than it was at first. I have had to back off, and then turn it in again as many as 3 times, to get what I call an actual 'positive contact'. Being as the first time you feel contact, the ball/ramp throwout bearing may not be fully compressed, it can give you a misleading impression that you have made contact.
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,321
Likes: 12
From: Shorewood IL
While being a relatively simple task, proper clutch adjustment seems to be a little tricky...
If you do a search here on HDF, you will find many many threads with this same subject. Most of the time, it was a mal-adjusted clutch. You will also find, that there are just as many people who have a different way of adjusting it, other than how the service manual instructs. This could be a leading factor in why so many have a problem?
One thing that I found was:
When turning the clutch adjuster screw in to make contact, you may find that you can back off a 1/4 turn, the turn it in again, and the contact has moved further in than it was at first. I have had to back off, and then turn it in again as many as 3 times, to get what I call an actual 'positive contact'. Being as the first time you feel contact, the ball/ramp throwout bearing may not be fully compressed, it can give you a misleading impression that you have made contact.
If you do a search here on HDF, you will find many many threads with this same subject. Most of the time, it was a mal-adjusted clutch. You will also find, that there are just as many people who have a different way of adjusting it, other than how the service manual instructs. This could be a leading factor in why so many have a problem?
One thing that I found was:
When turning the clutch adjuster screw in to make contact, you may find that you can back off a 1/4 turn, the turn it in again, and the contact has moved further in than it was at first. I have had to back off, and then turn it in again as many as 3 times, to get what I call an actual 'positive contact'. Being as the first time you feel contact, the ball/ramp throwout bearing may not be fully compressed, it can give you a misleading impression that you have made contact.
Road Master
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 907
Likes: 8
From: Greeneville, TN
My 2012 clutch was fried. I replaced it with a Barnett +1 clutch. This was after the stealership charged me $135 to ride it around the parking lot and tell me there was nothing wrong. It was actually under 10K miles and under the original warranty.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 2,422
Likes: 14
From: Fla
What exactly got 'fried' on yours? These clutches are pretty tough. I'm running the stock clutch on my '99. I'm no speed racer, but I wouldn't say my clutch has been babied either. I bought a +1 plate clutch a few years ago, still no need for it. Unless you are running 100+ hp, the OEM clutch should be good for many years. Of course, that is if you haven't beaten it to death with hole shots, wheelies, burn outs, or running hard for a long while with a loose adjustment. Maybe, if you belong to a riding group that does slow ride exhibits/competitions daily, I might believe your clutch could have actually been 'fried'...
When they do get 'burned', you can sometimes clean the plates up with a piece of extra fine sandpaper laid on a flat surface like a pane of glass. The manual gives you the proper thickness of the plate stack, to insure you are still within 'serviceable limits'. And, sometimes, the steel plates can become warped if over heated. Unless your plates were severely warn, or warped, beyond the serviceable limits in the manual, I would suspect you got rid of a perfectly good clutch. But if it makes you feel better, then it was worth the expense, right?
Last edited by Def Mute; Apr 1, 2014 at 08:40 AM.
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,321
Likes: 12
From: Shorewood IL
Correct, I did pull the lever a few times during adjustment and I was able to get her out for a spin yesterday. I was about time we had a decent day around here. I didn't notice any slipping and it seemed to grip very nicely. I'm going to go with the belief that it is adjusted properly.
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Road Master
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 907
Likes: 8
From: Greeneville, TN
Fried Clutch
If it isn't slipping, don't bother. The manual says to squeeze the clutch lever several times throughout the adjustment, even though the cable is loose. This is supposed to help align the throwout bearing. If yours is working fine, then leave it.
I'm curious...
What exactly got 'fried' on yours? These clutches are pretty tough. I'm running the stock clutch on my '99. I'm no speed racer, but I wouldn't say my clutch has been babied either. I bought a +1 plate clutch a few years ago, still no need for it. Unless you are running 100+ hp, the OEM clutch should be good for many years. Of course, that is if you haven't beaten it to death with hole shots, wheelies, burn outs, or running hard for a long while with a loose adjustment. Maybe, if you belong to a riding group that does slow ride exhibits/competitions daily, I might believe your clutch could have actually been 'fried'...
When they do get 'burned', you can sometimes clean the plates up with a piece of extra fine sandpaper laid on a flat surface like a pane of glass. The manual gives you the proper thickness of the plate stack, to insure you are still within 'serviceable limits'. And, sometimes, the steel plates can become warped if over heated. Unless your plates were severely warn, or warped, beyond the serviceable limits in the manual, I would suspect you got rid of a perfectly good clutch. But if it makes you feel better, then it was worth the expense, right?
I'm curious...
What exactly got 'fried' on yours? These clutches are pretty tough. I'm running the stock clutch on my '99. I'm no speed racer, but I wouldn't say my clutch has been babied either. I bought a +1 plate clutch a few years ago, still no need for it. Unless you are running 100+ hp, the OEM clutch should be good for many years. Of course, that is if you haven't beaten it to death with hole shots, wheelies, burn outs, or running hard for a long while with a loose adjustment. Maybe, if you belong to a riding group that does slow ride exhibits/competitions daily, I might believe your clutch could have actually been 'fried'...
When they do get 'burned', you can sometimes clean the plates up with a piece of extra fine sandpaper laid on a flat surface like a pane of glass. The manual gives you the proper thickness of the plate stack, to insure you are still within 'serviceable limits'. And, sometimes, the steel plates can become warped if over heated. Unless your plates were severely warn, or warped, beyond the serviceable limits in the manual, I would suspect you got rid of a perfectly good clutch. But if it makes you feel better, then it was worth the expense, right?
My clutch would shudder when engaging. It would begin to engage when the lever was let out a bit. As the clutch lever was let out more, nothing more happened. When the clutch lever was almost out the clutch would grab 100%. The stealership said it was ok. I took the basket apart and found the outside 3 disks were burned. This ride has less than 10K miles on it, never jerked around, look, I'm too old to ride like that.
One more thing, I've owned several HDs over the years and still have an 06 RKC. I have never experienced a clutch like this.
Road Master
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 1,151
Likes: 14
From: Seattle
My clutch would shudder when engaging. It would begin to engage when the lever was let out a bit. As the clutch lever was let out more, nothing more happened. When the clutch lever was almost out the clutch would grab 100%. The stealership said it was ok. I took the basket apart and found the outside 3 disks were burned. This ride has less than 10K miles on it, never jerked around, look, I'm too old to ride like that.
One more thing, I've owned several HDs over the years and still have an 06 RKC. I have never experienced a clutch like this.
One more thing, I've owned several HDs over the years and still have an 06 RKC. I have never experienced a clutch like this.