Clutch Longevity

dogdoc · 09-26-2007, 11:28 AM

Question for the gear heads(BD)! What can one do to preserve the clutch life. Be in neutral at lights? Downshift everytime or don't downshift till stopped? No speedshifting? OF COURSE! Any other tips so we dont have to do what we discussed in clutch spring repair thread, Thanks!!

**scion0** · 09-26-2007, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Question for the gear heads(BD)! What can one do to preserve the clutch life. Be in neutral at lights? Downshift everytime or don't downshift till stopped? No speedshifting? OF COURSE! Any other tips so we dont have to do what we discussed in clutch spring repair thread, Thanks!!

Good questions all! I am not looking forward to taking the clutch apart... a computer sure, a clutch... ???

unwind2 · 09-26-2007, 11:36 AM

Doc - good question. I'll be watching also to see responses.

I know on the motorman tapes he will tell you after practicing those slow parking lot manueavers to every 15 - 20 mins drive the bike 30+mph to cool off brake/clutch.

spork · 09-26-2007, 03:09 PM

IMO! Only.

The Clutch spring replacement is fairly straight forward on these bikes. I had to replace the clutch spring on the Classic at 15000 miles. I still have it for show and tell. :) It was so bad you could have shaved with it.

The key tool is the 27mm socket and air tool for the retaining nut.

I used the Mean Streak spring in mine and was able to wheelie the bike for short distance. (Not that you would want to do that! It was just shocking when it first happend and then quite a bit of fun on subsequent attempts)

More specifically to address the question, I will choose safety over clutch life any day. I do not recommend neutral at lights as one should always be checking the "6" and be ready to egress rapidly should some poor inattentive driver fail to see you. You did leave yourself an exit strategy when you pulled up at the light right?

The spring is the weak link.

Traffic will kill a clutch on these heavy bikes so I would also recommend finding aleternate routes to avoid heavy clutching in traffic.

Ride On!

unwind2 · 09-26-2007, 03:27 PM

Spork - I don't sit at light in neutral either. I will do neutral if traffic jam and it's stop, inch, stop for long time, then inch. And if it goes on very long I'll get off first chance I get and find another way around. The engine heat in the summer....yuk...I'm hot natured away.

Yesterday I was coming up in the right hand lane to an intersection ....lady in left turn lane suddendly made a RIGHT TURN!...geezzz have to watch them every minute. I also slow up coming to intersections....glad I did.

spork · 09-26-2007, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Spork - I don't sit at light in neutral either. I will do neutral if traffic jam and it's stop, inch, stop for long time, then inch. And if it goes on very long I'll get off first chance I get and find another way around. The engine heat in the summer....yuk...I'm hot natured away.

Yesterday I was coming up in the right hand lane to an intersection ....lady in left turn lane suddendly made a RIGHT TURN!...geezzz have to watch them every minute. I also slow up coming to intersections....glad I did.

YES! THEY ARE OUT TO RUN YOU OVER!!!!! NEVER FORGET IT!

flightdoc · 09-26-2007, 03:59 PM

I have 23k on my 2005 and the clutch is doing well.....I think. What should I be looking for besides the obvious slipping?

bobzinger · 09-26-2007, 04:04 PM

I keep my bike in neutral and try to keep an eye out behind me...never know when some idiot on a cell phone will plow into you.

dogdoc · 09-26-2007, 05:01 PM

Thx for all the tips, I think if your gentle on the clutch you should get 30,000 easy.

blowndodge · 09-26-2007, 05:18 PM

I thought I head a request in hear somewhere? Seems you have group thunk it out amongst yourselves............carry on.

blowndodge · 09-26-2007, 06:20 PM

Dont confuse them GH....I was a 20/80 and the strip..Only in first....

Todd · 09-26-2007, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Dont confuse them GH....I was a 20/80 and the strip..Only in first....

I've been know to hit it like that on the street once in a while too!!!

dogdoc · 09-28-2007, 08:12 AM

I know somebody out there is wanting to ask, what the hell is 50/50 ???

blowndodge · 09-28-2007, 11:16 AM

It means Nico likes men and women?? Actually since all the gears in our machines are fully syncronized you don't need to use the clutch if you shift at a syncronized engine speed.

**scion0** · 09-28-2007, 11:23 AM

Quote:

It means Nico likes men and women?? Actually since all the gears in our machines are fully syncronized you don't need to use the clutch if you shift at a syncronized engine speed.

I've heard that about Nico but... (jk bud)

Like I'd know when the sync speed is and when not to use the clutch... ??? ::)

09-26-2007, 11:28 AM	#1
dogdoc Top Contributor Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 5,263	Clutch Longevity Question for the gear heads(BD)! What can one do to preserve the clutch life. Be in neutral at lights? Downshift everytime or don't downshift till stopped? No speedshifting? OF COURSE! Any other tips so we dont have to do what we discussed in clutch spring repair thread, Thanks!! Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

09-26-2007, 11:36 AM	#3
unwind2 Sr. Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Dyersburg TN Posts: 2,858	Clutch Longevity Doc - good question. I'll be watching also to see responses. I know on the motorman tapes he will tell you after practicing those slow parking lot manueavers to every 15 - 20 mins drive the bike 30+mph to cool off brake/clutch. __________________ Nancy '05 Nomad Blue/Silver Kawanow Member #23 Hubbie-Ken '10 Metalic Black Goldwing
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09-26-2007, 03:09 PM	#4
spork Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Deer Park, Texas Posts: 106	Clutch Longevity IMO! Only. The Clutch spring replacement is fairly straight forward on these bikes. I had to replace the clutch spring on the Classic at 15000 miles. I still have it for show and tell. :) It was so bad you could have shaved with it. The key tool is the 27mm socket and air tool for the retaining nut. I used the Mean Streak spring in mine and was able to wheelie the bike for short distance. (Not that you would want to do that! It was just shocking when it first happend and then quite a bit of fun on subsequent attempts) More specifically to address the question, I will choose safety over clutch life any day. I do not recommend neutral at lights as one should always be checking the "6" and be ready to egress rapidly should some poor inattentive driver fail to see you. You did leave yourself an exit strategy when you pulled up at the light right? The spring is the weak link. Traffic will kill a clutch on these heavy bikes so I would also recommend finding aleternate routes to avoid heavy clutching in traffic. Ride On!
	0

09-26-2007, 03:27 PM	#5
unwind2 Sr. Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Dyersburg TN Posts: 2,858	Clutch Longevity Spork - I don't sit at light in neutral either. I will do neutral if traffic jam and it's stop, inch, stop for long time, then inch. And if it goes on very long I'll get off first chance I get and find another way around. The engine heat in the summer....yuk...I'm hot natured away. Yesterday I was coming up in the right hand lane to an intersection ....lady in left turn lane suddendly made a RIGHT TURN!...geezzz have to watch them every minute. I also slow up coming to intersections....glad I did. __________________ Nancy '05 Nomad Blue/Silver Kawanow Member #23 Hubbie-Ken '10 Metalic Black Goldwing Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

09-26-2007, 03:59 PM	#7
flightdoc Sr. Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Barrington, New Hampshire Posts: 1,285	Clutch Longevity I have 23k on my 2005 and the clutch is doing well.....I think. What should I be looking for besides the obvious slipping?
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09-26-2007, 04:04 PM	#8
bobzinger Sr. Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Livermore CA Posts: 1,334	Clutch Longevity I keep my bike in neutral and try to keep an eye out behind me...never know when some idiot on a cell phone will plow into you. __________________ Life is Good! Eternal Life is better!
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09-26-2007, 05:01 PM	#9
dogdoc Top Contributor Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 5,263	Clutch Longevity Thx for all the tips, I think if your gentle on the clutch you should get 30,000 easy.
	0

09-26-2007, 05:18 PM	#10
blowndodge Sr. Contributor Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Washington City, Utah Posts: 16,474	Clutch Longevity I thought I head a request in hear somewhere? Seems you have group thunk it out amongst yourselves............carry on. __________________ I love my Victory Cross Country Tour 106. Smells like Victory! Ultra's are Limited There are two types of Harley riders. Those that trailer them and those that push them. The most Interesting Man in the World "Find the things in life you don't do well and don't do those things" Member # 0005
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09-26-2007, 06:20 PM	#11
blowndodge Sr. Contributor Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Washington City, Utah Posts: 16,474	Clutch Longevity Dont confuse them GH....I was a 20/80 and the strip..Only in first.... __________________ I love my Victory Cross Country Tour 106. Smells like Victory! Ultra's are Limited There are two types of Harley riders. Those that trailer them and those that push them. The most Interesting Man in the World "Find the things in life you don't do well and don't do those things" Member # 0005
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09-28-2007, 08:12 AM	#13
dogdoc Top Contributor Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 5,263	Clutch Longevity I know somebody out there is wanting to ask, what the hell is 50/50 ???
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09-28-2007, 11:16 AM	#14
blowndodge Sr. Contributor Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Washington City, Utah Posts: 16,474	Clutch Longevity It means Nico likes men and women?? Actually since all the gears in our machines are fully syncronized you don't need to use the clutch if you shift at a syncronized engine speed. __________________ I love my Victory Cross Country Tour 106. Smells like Victory! Ultra's are Limited There are two types of Harley riders. Those that trailer them and those that push them. The most Interesting Man in the World "Find the things in life you don't do well and don't do those things" Member # 0005
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