Clutch dragging?????

[bluesman]

Not knowing much about Harleys, is it normal for the trike to luch forward about 6" when starting in low gear with the clutch pulled in? It's like the clutch is dragging. I can't even push it by hand unless it's in neutral. Has 989 miles on it right now & it has done that since day one.

 

[Geezzer Glide]

No it's not normal for any bike to luch forward about 6" when starting in any gear with the clutch pulled in. Take it back to the dealer and have them adjust the clutch. It's new they should adjust it for you for free.
Dan

 

[Sloufoot]

Not knowing much about Harleys, is it normal for the trike to luch forward about 6" when starting in low gear with the clutch pulled in? It's like the clutch is dragging. I can't even push it by hand unless it's in neutral. Has 989 miles on it right now & it has done that since day one.

Every Harley I have owned with the big twin engine has done just that. Not exactly 6", but I guess if you let it roll it would make that. The clutch plates stick together after being compressed & then the pressure is released, nothing slides apart until something tries to turn. Like when the starter turns the assembly while starting. Once that happens, the plates push themselves apart & turn freely. There is no spring to push things apart, only to compress the plates. Also it is the oil on the plates that is holding them together.

It they were dry it would release better when the pressure is removed.

As long as it does release with just that minor bump it is normal. If there is still a pull more than that, there is a problem to have looked at.

If you force it when you try to move it in gear with the clutch pulled it will turn loose. Try touching the starter then moving it in gear. Not enough to start it, but just a bump. I have to grab the passenger hand hold or pull hard on the grips & use the slack in the primary chain to get it to release first. Once you see what will release it no problem. It gets easy to do.

 

[bluesman]

Every Harley I have owned with the big twin engine has done just that. Not exactly 6", but I guess if you let it roll it would make that. The clutch plates stick together after being compressed & then the pressure is released, nothing slides apart until something tries to turn. Like when the starter turns the assembly while starting. Once that happens, the plates push themselves apart & turn freely. There is no spring to push things apart, only to compress the plates.

As long as it does release with just that minor bump it is normal. If there is still a pull more than that, there is a problem to have looked at.

If you force it when you try to move it in gear with the clutch pulled it will turn loose. Try touching the starter then moving it in gear. Not enough to start it, but just a bump. I have to grab the passenger hand hold or pull hard on the grips & use the slack in the primary chain to get it to release first. Once you see what will release it no problem.

It gets easy to do.

Thanks. I have a buddy with a Kawa 1700 Vulcan that does the same thing. I never had that problem with my Yamaha Roadstar 1700

 

[lboos]

Same as Sloufoot,..... that's pretty much normal.

 

[Mr.Wizard]

Sounds like a severe form of clutch creep. The internal adjuster behind the derby cover will need to be set properly. Yes, warranty item.

 

[bluesman]

Sounds like a severe form of clutch creep. The internal adjuster behind the derby cover will need to be set properly. Yes, warranty item.

I may be exagerating on the 6" deal. (Kinda like my wife does.lol) but it does kinda jerk forward.

 

[Mr.Wizard]

The clutch creep gets better when the bike gets hot, yes?

Easy fix. Collapse the front cable adjuster, open the derby cover, break loose the shoulder nut on the center set screw. Move the set screw back and forth where you just feel the clutch lever move away from the grip then turn the set screw 1/2 turn CCW. Lock the shoulder nut and adjust the cable to the proper lever end play of 1/8th inch. Done....

 

[Lizard]

Hey Wiz, will the above move the friction zone closer to the grip? Mine is pretty far out, and Karen tells me hers is too after she reinstalled the ClutchWiz.

Oh, and for the OP, I have had a slight forward lurch on starting a cold bike on probably every Harley I've had, including my Trike. When it's warm, no lurch.

 

[rhino 2]

I've had a lot of bikes that did that, Not 6 inches but a bump forward.'
Especially after the bike sat all-night, or a cold weather start, I always start in neutral clutch pulled in... To avoid the bump, And for safety reasons as per all malefactors recommendations..
In my opinion a site kick forward is normal.

 

[Mr.Wizard]

Hey Wiz, will the above move the friction zone closer to the grip? Mine is pretty far out, and Karen tells me hers is too after she reinstalled the ClutchWiz.

Yeah... I told her the same.

 

[rap47]

I've had a lot of bikes that did that, Not 6 inches but a bump forward.'
Especially after the bike sat all-night, or a cold weather start, I always start in neutral clutch pulled in... To avoid the bump, And for safety reasons as per all malefactors recommendations..
In my opinion a site kick forward is normal.

+1 on the start in neutral with clutch pulled in. It is safer and easier on the starter.

 

[DK Custom Products]

If the clutch is adjusted properly and still experiencing this, another thing that can cause it is if there is just a tad too much oil in the primary.

 

[screwball]

Ditto Slou, every Harley I've had 'bumped' a little. Cure, start it in neutral or hold the break if you start it in gear.

 

[Sloufoot]

Ditto Slou, every Harley I've had 'bumped' a little. Cure, start it in neutral or hold the break if you start it in gear.

Yeah, the only clutch I have had that didn't bump was an open drive after it had about 10,000mi on it. Without the oil film on the plates let them move straight apart without the slide motion.

But adjust all ya want. Might help if it is out of adjustment a long ways & not releasing, but it would want to pull the bike while released & in gear. But an adjustment never hurts.

Ride safe Steve

 

[bluesman]

Hey Wiz, will the above move the friction zone closer to the grip? Mine is pretty far out, and Karen tells me hers is too after she reinstalled the ClutchWiz.

Oh, and for the OP, I have had a slight forward lurch on starting a cold bike on probably every Harley I've had, including my Trike. When it's warm, no lurch.

You are correct. I only notice it when the engine is cold

 

[JJHog]

You are almost at your 1000 mile checkup. If you do the work yourself then make sure you put in the right amount of Primary Fluid (38oz) if doing a wet change and then adjust your clutch rod properly.

There are two schools of thought on the clutch adjustment. Factory, which is loosen clutch cable all the way, loosen lock nut on center screw adjustment and then turn center scew in until you feel just a touch resistance then back it out 1/4 to 1/2 turn. Tighten up the lock nut on center screw and then adjust clutch cable so it only has 1/16 to 1/8 inch free play.

The other school of thought was to due all the above but as you screw in the center screw and get just a smidge movement on clutch lever back it out to the point that you barely feel any movement on the clutch lever and then do not back it out 1/4 to 1/2 turn. Tighten up the lock nut on center screw and adjust clutch cable free play to 1/8 inch.

 

[pcombe]

:Coffee: My clutch is adjusted right and has the proper oil level and i have and have always had the bump, Less when it's warm.

 

[msocko3]

As pcombe said, properly adjusted clutch and proper oil level it's going to happen.

The bump is normal, you have heavy oil in the primary which makes the clutch plates stick together. The sticking clutch plates is why it rocks when starting it in gear with the clutch pulled in. Once it warmed up or the clutch plates have had a chance to separate the problem shouldn't be there.

Take a cold bike, put it in gear then pull the clutch in and see if you can push it, bet you can't. Now take the same cold bike and rock it real good and it will be easy to push. You have to get the plates to separate.