Proper way to tighten the 27mm clutch nut

jtascone · 05-16-2021, 05:31 PM

I'm getting ready to install the MS Clutch Spring and Judges washers on my Nomad. I've read that the old penny trick for tightening the 27mm nut on the clutch basket is no longer recommended. So how do I get the nut tightened to 108 ft/lbs without it turning?

VulcanJeff · 05-16-2021, 10:30 PM

I bought an EBC clutch basket tool when I bought my discs. It wasn't that expensive, between 10 and 15 bucks as I recall.

jtascone · 05-17-2021, 10:40 AM

That looks like a great tool. Does it just go around the whole clutch basket like a socket over a nut? I'm assuming the 1500 and 1600 take the same tool?

BigRiig · 05-17-2021, 05:47 PM

The penny trick worked for me. Be sure to plug the hole under the clutch basket before using the penny to avoid dropping it in the crank case. I have been building engines of all kinds for years and the penny trick works good for many applications because the copper is much softer than the steel. It is virtually impossible to mess up the gears.

VulcanJeff · 05-17-2021, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jtascone

That looks like a great tool. Does it just go around the whole clutch basket like a socket over a nut? I'm assuming the 1500 and 1600 take the same tool?

It is a great tool. It might have been closer to 20 bucks or 25? Dennis Kirk has them for low 20s. I bought mine a few years ago.

Yes, like a socket over a nut, or more like a box end wrench over a nut.

Yes, fits 15 and 1600s.

mick56 · 05-18-2021, 06:02 AM

Or just put the bike in 1st gear, and put a chock in front of the back wheel.

**Kawi_addict** · 05-18-2021, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mick56

Or just put the bike in 1st gear, and put a chock in front of the back wheel.

I love common sense answers when you're in the middle of a project that you can see past yourself on

mick56 · 05-18-2021, 10:57 AM

Thank you kindly.

Unfortunately, common sense, ain't so common anymore.

EDIT. Actually. As it's a right hand thread, the bike should move backwards. So the chock needs to be behind the back wheel. Maybe.

degreaser · 05-19-2021, 10:41 AM

i used a copper penny between the gears, drilled a hole in the penny and tied a string thru the penny just for insurance the penny had to be fished out of the hole, never fell in and the penny worked good enough to get the Nut torqued

DragonLady58 · 06-03-2021, 01:48 PM

All the above works, also, the stepped blocks to lock up the primary chains on Harleys, Triumphs, Nortons....
I, too, have several drilled penny's with a line tied to it....cheap, inexpensive, takes about 10 minutes to make, works perfectly....

dsrtrat · 06-14-2021, 08:38 PM

I made an aluminium wedge that fit between the gears. Being aluminum, its a lot softer than the gears but being a wedge, it started to get pulled in between the gears but quickly stopped and allowed me to apply the required torque to the nut.

05-16-2021, 05:31 PM	#1
jtascone Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Posts: 282	Proper way to tighten the 27mm clutch nut I'm getting ready to install the MS Clutch Spring and Judges washers on my Nomad. I've read that the old penny trick for tightening the 27mm nut on the clutch basket is no longer recommended. So how do I get the nut tightened to 108 ft/lbs without it turning? Login or Register to Remove Ads
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05-16-2021, 10:30 PM	#2
VulcanJeff Member Join Date: May 2015 Location: Galesburg, IL Posts: 309	I bought an EBC clutch basket tool when I bought my discs. It wasn't that expensive, between 10 and 15 bucks as I recall. __________________ 2005 Vulcan 1600 Nomad - lovin' it! 2009 Vulcan 1700 Classic LT - gone, mostly forgotten 2005 Vulcan 1500 Classic FI - gone but not forgotten
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05-18-2021, 06:02 AM	#6
mick56 Sr. Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: The Newforest, England Posts: 4,664	Or just put the bike in 1st gear, and put a chock in front of the back wheel. __________________ when this you see, remember me, and bear me in your mind, let all the world say what they may, speak of me as you find.
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05-18-2021, 10:57 AM	#8
mick56 Sr. Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: The Newforest, England Posts: 4,664	Thank you kindly. Unfortunately, common sense, ain't so common anymore. EDIT. Actually. As it's a right hand thread, the bike should move backwards. So the chock needs to be behind the back wheel. Maybe. __________________ when this you see, remember me, and bear me in your mind, let all the world say what they may, speak of me as you find. Last edited by mick56; 05-18-2021 at 11:12 AM.
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05-19-2021, 10:41 AM	#9
degreaser Advanced Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Canada Posts: 614	i used a copper penny between the gears, drilled a hole in the penny and tied a string thru the penny just for insurance the penny had to be fished out of the hole, never fell in and the penny worked good enough to get the Nut torqued __________________ 04 1500 sold, got an 800 now Atlantic Canada
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05-17-2021, 10:40 AM	#3
jtascone Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Posts: 282	That looks like a great tool. Does it just go around the whole clutch basket like a socket over a nut? I'm assuming the 1500 and 1600 take the same tool?
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05-17-2021, 05:47 PM	#4
BigRiig Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Northern California Posts: 52	The penny trick worked for me. Be sure to plug the hole under the clutch basket before using the penny to avoid dropping it in the crank case. I have been building engines of all kinds for years and the penny trick works good for many applications because the copper is much softer than the steel. It is virtually impossible to mess up the gears.
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06-03-2021, 01:48 PM	#10
DragonLady58 Sr. Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Somewhere South of Alaska.... Posts: 2,373	All the above works, also, the stepped blocks to lock up the primary chains on Harleys, Triumphs, Nortons.... I, too, have several drilled penny's with a line tied to it....cheap, inexpensive, takes about 10 minutes to make, works perfectly.... __________________ --------------------- Don't start no schit, there won't be no schit.... My Sarcasm is directly proportional to the amount of Stupidity involved --------------------- VBA#03239 VROC#37400 VRA --------------------- 2014 Vaquero 2001 Nomad FI 2003 Street Glide (sold) 1500 Meanie, fresh rebuild (sold) 90s BUBF Bobber (sold) 2001 UltraCycle FatPounder (Sold) 1975 HD ElectraGlide (Sold) 1982 Kawasaki Z1 Chopper (Sold) Suck It Up & Ride!
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06-14-2021, 08:38 PM	#11
dsrtrat Member Join Date: May 2018 Posts: 221	I made an aluminium wedge that fit between the gears. Being aluminum, its a lot softer than the gears but being a wedge, it started to get pulled in between the gears but quickly stopped and allowed me to apply the required torque to the nut.
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