What Clutch & How To Remove?

TFA170

New Member
Greetings - new guy here - I have a BDM drivetrain in an old '89 FLH I'm pulling out to put in another bike. I was pulling the primary and came across this clutch - not sure if it's original to the BDM drivetrain or not - looks like an older BDL or Baker? More importantly, how do I get this off? The four large shouldered nuts just turn with no visible movement or loosening. I assumed it would release the pressure plate like the later BDL does. I do not see a snap ring holding the clutch adjuster plate, but it could be hidden. Any help?signal-2024-02-13-153445_002.jpegsignal-2024-02-13-153445_003.jpeg
 

john sachs

Well-Known Member
Greetings - new guy here - I have a BDM drivetrain in an old '89 FLH I'm pulling out to put in another bike. I was pulling the primary and came across this clutch - not sure if it's original to the BDM drivetrain or not - looks like an older BDL or Baker? More importantly, how do I get this off? The four large shouldered nuts just turn with no visible movement or loosening. I assumed it would release the pressure plate like the later BDL does. I do not see a snap ring holding the clutch adjuster plate, but it could be hidden. Any help?View attachment 121959View attachment 121960
It looks like to me, that there is a snap ring holding in the adjuster plate. Check American Prime/Ben Kudon or google Rivera Primo, which is now American Prime.
John
 

TFA170

New Member
It looks like to me, that there is a snap ring holding in the adjuster plate. Check American Prime/Ben Kudon or google Rivera Primo, which is now American Prime.
John
Thanks - just looked up the Rivera Primo clutch - looks like it. Sadly, there is no snap ring - that's just shadow from the picture, I think (I see what you see in the pic).

So, I decided to put an impact gun on the four shouldered nuts - one came off - the other four just spin. Looking at pics of the Rivera hub, these are through bolted, but with no way to get to the back side, I'm kinda stuck here. I suspect someone put red loctite on those shouldered nuts instead of relying on the locking tabs. :oops: Not sure I want to use heat, but a new diaphragm spring would be preferable to destroying everything trying to cut these off I think...
 

Jersey Big Mike

100K mile club
Just for shit and giggles before you go that route see if you can get an allen wrench in that bolt then use an open end on it.
I;ve had bolt setups like that before (never in a clutch though)
 

TFA170

New Member
Just for shit and giggles before you go that route see if you can get an allen wrench in that bolt then use an open end on it.
I;ve had bolt setups like that before (never in a clutch though)
Looking inside, at first, I thought the studs might be socketed with allens, but once I got one out, I could see that wasn't the case - this pic is looking into the one I was able to get off....signal-2024-02-13-200246_002.jpeg
 

Jersey Big Mike

100K mile club
Looking at the BDM clutch setup and where those bolt attach, I have a really bad feeling that your in it deep.

I would try using a drill out that you can tap into that bolt then use an open end on the bolt. I would also use some gentle heat. I think you're going to need everu edge you can get for this.

If your clutch was mis-behaving before hand, I suspect you have a severely broken part.
If that part is spinning it would indicate it is not attached properly to the hub any long which would be very bad.
 

Mickmorris

Well Known Member
Supporting Member
Thanks - just looked up the Rivera Primo clutch - looks like it. Sadly, there is no snap ring - that's just shadow from the picture, I think (I see what you see in the pic).

So, I decided to put an impact gun on the four shouldered nuts - one came off - the other four just spin. Looking at pics of the Rivera hub, these are through bolted, but with no way to get to the back side, I'm kinda stuck here. I suspect someone put red loctite on those shouldered nuts instead of relying on the locking tabs. :oops: Not sure I want to use heat, but a new diaphragm spring would be preferable to destroying everything trying to cut these off I think...
Yeah that’s definitely a Primo. I have the same clutch in my 2000 vintage sport. Yea if they have red loctite on them you could be in for a real problem… sorry to hear that. They should back out with no problem. No specific torque for those just snug tight & tab locked.
 
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chubs

Guru
Greetings - new guy here - I have a BDM drivetrain in an old '89 FLH I'm pulling out to put in another bike. I was pulling the primary and came across this clutch - not sure if it's original to the BDM drivetrain or not - looks like an older BDL or Baker? More importantly, how do I get this off? The four large shouldered nuts just turn with no visible movement or loosening. I assumed it would release the pressure plate like the later BDL does. I do not see a snap ring holding the clutch adjuster plate, but it could be hidden. Any help?View attachment 121959View attachment 121960
is there any way you could clamp some vise grips on the head of the bolt and try to pull out as you turn the bolt? Just a thought.
 
I'm having that same problem with mine can't get that nut off did you have any luck any solutions. Not sure what happened to my clutch but the primary drive sprocket has seemed to separate from the clutch hub. I can't get one of the nuts off to take out the plates. It just spins
 
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