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2014 FXST seems to need clutch cable adjustments every ~3000 km.

  • 009jim
    009jim
    2 years ago
    hi Folks, My FXST has 35,000 km of fairly sedate mileage. I've had it since 5000 km and it seems to need clutch cable adjustment more often than I expect. My Sporty and other bikes I've had almost never need clutch adjustment. I've also done a check on the adjustment at the pushrod behind the derby cover and that was within spec. If I use the clutch a lot in traffic, the clutch lever rapidly gets more play than the spec in the service manual. If I put up with the extra play, I can probably make it last between oil changes without doing any adjustment. If I tried to keep the lever play within spec all the time it would need adjustment every second ride. I don't do burnouts and I don't feel like I ride it hard at all. 

    Does anybody else have an opinion whether this is normal or not? Is it symptomatic of some problem?
    Thanks.
  • tussuck
    tussuck
    2 years ago
    90% chance its the clutch plate that explodes!  I had the same issue on the Sporty and the ring was 50% disintegrated - lucky no damage to the internals.  Its a VERY common thing.  

    If not that then what primary oil you running?  Harley or aftermarket?
  • 009jim
    009jim
    2 years ago
    Quoting tussuck on 27 Mar 2022 02:58 AMedited: 27 Mar 2022 02:59 AM

    90% chance its the clutch plate that explodes!  I had the same issue on the Sporty and the ring was 50% disintegrated - lucky no damage to the internals.  Its a VERY common thing.  


    If not that then what primary oil you running?  Harley or aftermarket?

    I am using the HD Formula+ oil in the primary.
    I've not found any metal debris on the magnetic plug when I've changed the primary oil.
  • STEAMER
    STEAMER
    2 years ago
    Quoting 009jim on 27 Mar 2022 02:43 AM

    hi Folks, My FXST has 35,000 km of fairly sedate mileage. I've had it since 5000 km and it seems to need clutch cable adjustment more often than I expect. My Sporty and other bikes I've had almost never need clutch adjustment. I've also done a check on the adjustment at the pushrod behind the derby cover and that was within spec. If I use the clutch a lot in traffic, the clutch lever rapidly gets more play than the spec in the service manual. If I put up with the extra play, I can probably make it last between oil changes without doing any adjustment. If I tried to keep the lever play within spec all the time it would need adjustment every second ride. I don't do burnouts and I don't feel like I ride it hard at all. 


    Does anybody else have an opinion whether this is normal or not? Is it symptomatic of some problem?
    Thanks.

    My 2011 fxst with just about 60,000km has only needed clutch adjustment a couple times.
     I dont ride the clutch at lights. 
  • 009jim
    009jim
    2 years ago
    Quoting 009jim on 27 Mar 2022 02:43 AM

    hi Folks, My FXST has 35,000 km of fairly sedate mileage. I've had it since 5000 km and it seems to need clutch cable adjustment more often than I expect. My Sporty and other bikes I've had almost never need clutch adjustment. I've also done a check on the adjustment at the pushrod behind the derby cover and that was within spec. If I use the clutch a lot in traffic, the clutch lever rapidly gets more play than the spec in the service manual. If I put up with the extra play, I can probably make it last between oil changes without doing any adjustment. If I tried to keep the lever play within spec all the time it would need adjustment every second ride. I don't do burnouts and I don't feel like I ride it hard at all. 


    Does anybody else have an opinion whether this is normal or not? Is it symptomatic of some problem?
    Thanks.

    Quoting STEAMER on 27 Mar 2022 03:39 AM

    My 2011 fxst with just about 60,000km has only needed clutch adjustment a couple times.

     I dont ride the clutch at lights. 

    I'd hope I don't ride the clutch at lights either. But I might be doing something wrong. If I get stuck in traffic I ride it quite a lot.

  • Grease Monkey
    Grease Monkey
    2 years ago
    It's not normal and if no debris in the oil and the pack is sound then the cable maybe stretching because of a manufacturing fault, perhaps your procedure for adjusting it isn't quite right, not saying that's the case but have a read of this and see if it rings true for you...... For what it's worth I use the hippo method.

    1971 proceedure.

    Loosen the cable adjuster and make sure the lever has free play.

    Turn the clutch adjustment screw in until you free it make contact with the throwout bearing and then turn it in 2 more turns. This releases the clutch and sets the balls in the bottom of the ramps.

    Now turn the cable adjuster out until all the play is removed. You have to check this in three handlebar positions, left stop, straight, and right stop. You need to remove the play without applying any cable preload in any handle bar position. 
    Lock the cable locknut down, the cable slack is now properly adjusted with the balls at zero position in the ramps.

    Now turn the clutch screw out until it turns free, then back in until it just contacts the throwout bearing, this is zero free play on the bearing.

    Now back the screw out at least 1/4 of a turn for minimum free play. If you want the friction zone on your clutch lever closer to the handle bar you can back the screw out more but this will result in more lever free travel and less pressure plate movement which can lead to clutch drag. It was also recommended that the final adjustments and fine tuning be done with the bike at operating temperature because the expansion of all the transmission and clutch components will change the free play. Remember that once the cable housing play is removed the fine adjustments are made at the clutch screw.

    Hippo clutch adjustment procedure

    1. Loosen the clutch cable adjuster and shorten the cable sleeve as much as possible, but dont mess with the lever. Just leave it alone until the 3rd step.

    2. Loosen the lock nut on the clutch pack push rod adjuster.

    3. Pull in the clutch lever. It should touch the handle bar grip. If it does not touch the handle bar grip back out the push rod adjuster at the clutch pack while keeping pressure on the clutch lever until it touches the handlebar.

    4. When the clutch lever touches the handle bar turn in the push rod adjuster while keeping pressure with your hand on the clutch lever. When you turn in the adjuster it will start to push the lever off the handle bar. Back the adjuster out until the lever returns to just touching the handle bar. Do this a couple of times until you know you are at the point where the lever is just touching the bar. When you find this point - back the adjuster out 1/2 turn and lock it down.

    5. Adjust the clutch cable to 1/8 slack and lock it down.
  • FBUser214
    FBUser214
    2 years ago
    Adjust using GM's clutch adjustment and see how you go.
    If you still have problems , I would be looking at replacing the cable for braided if it is not, or maybe a better brand .
    And check your clutch pack, steels may have got a bit hot and warped .
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