Clutch slippage in 4th gear??

[zipsman03]

I tried adjusting the clutch due to the bike not wanting to shift into 2nd as easy as it did. Well after reading and trying the how to on this, I am starting to believe that I have smoked the clutch after 3000 miles, not good. I take the bike out for a test ride 1st good 2nd good 3rd good, 4 th bike rev as if the clutch is pulled in. But I have questions about the adjustment process 1. After I loosen the adjuster, is it ok to pull in the clutch so it it totally without resistance, any how this is what I did. 2 when you loosen the nut on the side. at what point do I know I have turned the push rod in enough? Or how much is considered light pressure? In other words how can I start from scratch? I only have a few weeks before Sturgis as you all know. :bang:
But I have a feeling this all part of being a new guy with a stubburn Dog. Just have to train better, me included.

 

[Raywood]

First off you need to play with it to get familiar with what it's doing.

Release the cable adjuster putting slack into the cable.

Remove the adjust cover and put your wrench on the nut and you allen wrench in the pushrod. Loosen the nut or remove it.
Now unscrew the pushrod to ensure there is no pressure on the pressure plate.
Now screw it in till you feel resistance. Now screw it in some more!!! Do this several times till you get the feel of where you want to set it.
Now back it out to what the manual specifies (forgot what it was now). And install the nut back on making sure not to turn the clutch rod.
Take the slack out of your cable and go for a ride. If it feels good then your good to go. If not adjust it some more a little bit one way or the other till you get it to where you want it.

 

[Rally]

I just re-adjusted my clutch as per the how-to section yesterday.
First I loosened the clutch lever adjuster with two wrenches one on the jam nut and the other on the barrel. Loosen all the way so clutch lever has no resistance. Then loosen the clutch cover (lefty loosey) I used a rubber oil filter strap. Put your box wrench on the nut and allen in the rod end. Counter clock wise on the nut until it's loose. Now with the allen turn clockwise until you feel resistance, I did this a few times just to get the feel of just getting resistance. Then back off 1/4 turn counter clockwise on the allen wrench. Then holding the allen wrench so as not to move use your box wrench to tighten the nut clockwise until very snug/firm. Re-adjust the clutch adjustment for approx. 1/8" play at the clutch lever. Be sure to tighten the jam nut to the barrel so as not to loosen up.

No expert just applied what I read and learned at this great site.
You can also find the How-to on this.
Good luck as it's easy to do.

Ray,
you beat me to it :up:

 

[PurpleDog]

Ray got you covered above...:up:
I'd just add that it seems unlikely that your clutch plates are worn out at 3k miles. (not impossible, just fairly unlikely - like something out of spec from factory maybe)

Keep playing with the clutch adj until you nail it. It takes some practice to get just right.

 

[woodbutcher]

Ray said "First off you need to play with it to get familiar with what it's doing" :roll::roll::roll::roll::roll::roll::roll::roll::roll::roll:

 

[REMorris]

I went thru 2 factory clutches (warranty) in 6000 miles. The engine simply has too much torque for the stock clutch. Mine was slipping all the way to 5th gear.

I gave up on the factory clutch and bought an after-market one. No problems since then.

Richard

 

[zipsman03]

Thanks guys, I will try it again. I have continued to read other post; how about this clutch nut? Could it be backing off?

 

[chaingunner]

Thanks guys, I will try it again. I have continued to read other post; how about this clutch nut? Could it be backing off?

Possible, I'd pull the inspection cover and check if you have excessive play on your primary chain.... easy enough to do if your suspect. Chain should be between 5/8 and 7/8 deflection.

 

[RRRUFF]

Exactly as Rally and Ray said. If it still slips, then pull the primary cover off and check the clutch. Look for worn friction disc and or warped disc. Also some 05 and 06's had a problem with the clutch basket cracking. Look for the how to's on the clutch.

 

[K9PSYCH]

I've had the same exact same problem since I've owned my bike. Bike pulls hard in every gear but forth. Dealer has tried several times to adjust the clutch to fix the problem, but nothing seems to work. At one point, they added a shim which worked for approx 3000 miles, but eventually the slippage returned. I currently have 10K miles & will be purchasing a Bandit clutch which I've been told should fix the problem. I wish you luck...

 

[zipsman03]

4th Gear slippage fix for me.

I read through other threads and found the problem. It was the dreaded clutch nut. Once I got her cranked down, took it out for a test ride and all was well again.:2thumbs:

 

[Brew]

I hope you didn't just tighten it up, did you apply loctite to it? :2thumbs:

 

[zipsman03]

I hope you didn't just tighten it up, did you apply loctite to it? :2thumbs:

locd her tite:up:

 

[RRRUFF]

Great glad it was a inexpensive fix.

 

[roadwarrior]

Hey Guy's

I have been having with the clutch slipping in 3rd and up when power is rolled in. Had dealer replace it at 500 miles under warranty then still has problems slipping. Neutral is not there anymore

Discussed this with Big Dog tech support and had dealer install shims etc with still problems

Contacted John at bandit Clutches and ordered a clutch from them that is guaranteed to put the smile back on your grill

I'm sick of a 30k machine not performing correctly and the experts can't seem to get it correct.

It's not a expensive job around $500.00 tax and title and no more problems

I'm looking forward to seeing what this beast can do if the damn clutch can hold the power

I'm looking for that smile

I will inform everyone next week if this is the deal but now I'm moving forward and ditching the soft pull weak ass clutch from Big Dog