Sportster Clutch

[Ironhead]

ok guys,
ever since getting my wifes sporty, I thought that maybe the newer sporties just had a stiff cluth, it is very stiff.
then after riding a couple other newer evo sporties, I can pull their clutch levers with one finger. my wifes take a full hand and still hard to pull.

I lubed the cable, readjusted it, and everything I could think of.

what might make it so stiff?

also, it engages and disengages smoothly and works properly.


just curious as to what to look at/for

[Crocodile56]

Maybe the old owner put a Heavy Duty Presure Plate in it!:scoot

[gruss]

my thought as well, you may have a heavy plate setup....You could buy a lever that allows some reduced pull....I have used those on my dirt bikes for ever, and they work well.......

[BigWorm]

may not be a stock clutch. my stock 05 was easy to pull.

[MOTOCROSSER]

josh ,heavy clutch springs will definatly do that!!! I had a 84 xr-250 and installed barnetts heavy duty clutch springs in it. made the clutch so stiff that the only time i actually used the clutch was when i started off in first and when i stopped!!!!!! why doesnt h-d have the easy pull clutch systems like the motocross bikes have ??????

[gruss]

could go hydraulic I guess......It's a bit spendy, but very nice... (so I hear).....

[Ironhead]

I suppose it could be heavy duty clutch set up. never thought of that considering the following
first owner 81 years old, put 800 miles on the bike over 4 years
second owner, a woman who between her and her husband put 3800 miles on it over the next 4.5 years

here's the kicker, the bike had been knocked over. doesn't appear to be any damage anywhere except a few scratches on ball end of clutch lever, left grip, and bottom of primary cover, and a slightly (ever so slightly) bent shift peg.

the derby cover has been changed (before I got it)
so I am not sure if something got damaged inside of the primary with the clutch or not. haven't had time to pull it apart yet. but I would think if there was damage it wouldn't engage or disingage properly or there would be bad vibrations, etc

[gruss]

I suppose it could be heavy duty clutch set up. never thought of that considering the following
first owner 81 years old, put 800 miles on the bike over 4 years
second owner, a woman who between her and her husband put 3800 miles on it over the next 4.5 years

here's the kicker, the bike had been knocked over. doesn't appear to be any damage anywhere except a few scratches on ball end of clutch lever, left grip, and bottom of primary cover, and a slightly (ever so slightly) bent shift peg.

the derby cover has been changed (before I got it)
so I am not sure if something got damaged inside of the primary with the clutch or not. haven't had time to pull it apart yet. but I would think if there was damage it wouldn't engage or disingage properly or there would be bad vibrations, etc

Agreed, you would have leakage or poor performance of the clutch. I'm thinking you have heavy springs inside the clutch pack.....Thats good !!
now you can bump it up to 150 horsepower and not slip it !...LOL

[MOTOCROSSER]

Agreed, you would have leakage or poor performance of the clutch. I'm thinking you have heavy springs inside the clutch pack.....Thats good !!
now you can bump it up to 150 horsepower and not slip it !...LOL

no gruss thats bad !trust me try riding around on a bike that in order to pull in the clutch lever is a feat of strength n enurance!!! when i installed the barnett clutch springs on the xr-250 i thought it would help the clutch performance but at the same time it made it so freakin stiff i only used the clutch when i absolutley had to !!!!!was not a good move on my part to have installed the heavy springs!!!!!!!!haevy clutch plates yes !,heavy clutch springs hell no!!!!!