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Nightster clutch dramas

  • night_prowler
    night_prowler
    5 years ago
    G’day HD forum members. 
    I bought a Nightster a few months back that had a knackered/incorrect clutch in it when I bought it, apparently it had a heavy duty clutch in it and the diaphragm was incorrect so it needed a complete replacement. The previous owner insisted a heavy duty clutch was necessary as its tuned up with a custom pipe and did a 89/89 hp/lb Dyno run. I sort of rolled my eyes thinking yeah nah probably not but whatever, I’ll sort that out with A dealership, haggled the price down and took the bike. 

    I paid top dollar for Fyshwick Harley Davidson to replace it with all the good stuff, as I suspected they assured me a standard clutch would
    more than suffice regardless of what old mate said. 

    I handed over a thousand bucks and rode it 1000+ km home without an issue. 

    I finally got it NSW rego’d the other day and had a really fun blast on it this afternoon, the first proper ride on it. But I noticed the clutch seemed to be grabbing at a stand still with the clutch lever in which it had not done since the clutch was replaced. 

    No biggie, I figured, I’ll adjust it.

    I tinkered a bit and rode around in the back yard but after adjusting it out a way, things started to get weird so I decided to throw the lid on and get out on the road and investigate further. 

    Wound it on hard in 3rd doing about 90-100 kph and the engine screamed with nearly no drive.

    Fuck. 

    Tried a few times to get it to do it again but it seemed to be holding just fine, so I ventured out onto a stretch of open road and really held it on in 5th doing about 140 and the fucking thing screams with very little to no drive. 

    Fucking fuck. 

    My question is, experienced folk oh HD forums Australia, is it indeed possible that 89 hp and 89 lb really demands a heavier clutch? It also has a chain drive conversion with a 28/50 gear ratio (off the top of my head, will double check) no idea weather this is taller than what the standard pulley ratio is. 

    If I’ve got to put another clutch in, I will shit a pineapple. Any help would be much appreciated. 


  • walka
    walka
    5 years ago
    I would say you mite be adjusting it the wrong way ,, stock clutch can handle 100 hp no problem 
  • night_prowler
    night_prowler
    5 years ago
    Quoting walka on 28 Jul 2019 07:57 AM

    I would say you mite be adjusting it the wrong way ,, stock clutch can handle 100 hp no problem 

    Hey Walka, I tried adjusting it out at the nuts down by the frame cradle, i.e putting tension on the cable as it was grabbing at a standstill, going the other way made the problem worse and as soon as it dropped into first it was walking away on me and damn near impossible to find neutral. 
    I’d love to think you’re right, but something is definitely not as it is supposed to be. 
    It is probably worth mentioning that it is my first Harley, I was of the mindset that the cable adjustment is the same as any other bike, the points of adjustment are just in different locations. 

    I may be a newbie to Harley’s but as I said, when he told me it needed a heavy duty clutch for the figures it has, I was raising an eyebrow. From what I’ve read all the standard running gear can handle a fair bit of poke. 
  • Grease Monkey
    Grease Monkey
    5 years ago
    Mate Google adjust clutch on sportster and watch a vid on it, what your doing ain't nothing but cable adjustment, if you are going to swing spanners on your ride(and there is no reason you shouldn't) grab a factory service manual for it, worth its weight in gold.
  • steelo
    steelo
    5 years ago
    I hope the plates haven't shit themselves after the high revving / speed flogging. That can't have helped.  Good luck
  • tussuck
    tussuck
    5 years ago
    Get a Service manual and follow the instructions.  Its not rocket science, but if not done per the manual then the results are random.  Not a lot of leeway in harley clutch adjustment between spot on and friggin useless.
  • night_prowler
    night_prowler
    5 years ago
    Thanks guy, I’ve got a service manual but as I said, I figured clutch adjustment wouldn’t be any different to any other bike so I just had at it. Amateur hour. If the plates are fucked then it’s on me.
  • Wholehog
    Wholehog
    5 years ago
    Quoting walka on 28 Jul 2019 07:57 AM

    I would say you mite be adjusting it the wrong way ,, stock clutch can handle 100 hp no problem 

    Was thinking the same...
  • night_prowler
    night_prowler
    5 years ago
    Adjusted it back in this morning before work and it’s hooking up no worries at high rpm but still creeping at a standstill so I just need to re-adjust it behind the primary cover and it should be sweet. 
    Rookie mistake!! Thanks guys 
  • Krash Kinkade
    Krash Kinkade
    5 years ago
    Quoting night_prowler on 28 Jul 2019 11:15 PM

    Adjusted it back in this morning before work and it’s hooking up no worries at high rpm but still creeping at a standstill so I just need to re-adjust it behind the primary cover and it should be sweet. 

    Rookie mistake!! Thanks guys 

    Sorry to read about your trouble, the stock clutch ok, I have a SE extra plate clutch and did not use the spring that came with the clutch, I just used stock spring. I don't know what power I have, but I think Torque would put more stress on clutch than the HP.
    has your clutch still got spring plate in there?
    personal choice, but I adjust my clutch loose as I like the lighter feel not having to pull spring all the way in. I've always set my Harleys that way & never had clutch troubles. but if your riding it hard. just, put it in gear, rev it to about 6k , see if it holds while stopped with clutch in. then check you have some free play when you let clutch out. & you have no worries. the way I adjust mine I have heaps of free play, it also jumps off the mark quick with only a slight clutch movement ( jumps off very savage if I have say 3k rev when I let it go ). Enjoy your new ride!!
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