Clutch adjustment for 64 sportster....

[andypandy]

A while ago I asked you guys for help with wiring diagrams and generator info for Ironhead sportsters...Well I have completely re wired the bike and It turns out that my work mates girlfriends Dad is an auto electrician from the old school who works on magnetos and generators from all over the known Universe...he stripped and re built the generator for £30 ....the electrics are now sorted . So today I decided to put some new friction plates in the clutch. And you guessed it ...Now the clutch wont work...Does any one know a simple plan for the clutch adjustment..It either drags or slips..Thanks Andy

[kevscrivener]

Ironhead clutches are notoriously pernickety to adjust. The line between drag and slip is a very fine one and you'll get plenty of practice before you get it right.I run a 72 myself but I'm not sure if the adjustment's the same procedure as of course mine has the wet clutch.

Best bet is to send a PM to the french owl on here; Patrick runs early Ironheads himself and what he don't know about them ain't worth knowing.

I suggest you invest in a large quantity of patience though!

One consolation; once you get them right they do tend to stay right!

[andypandy]

Cheers Kev...mine has the dry clutch..I think they changed to the wet one after 1970...

[kevscrivener]

Originally Posted by andypandy

Cheers Kev...mine has the dry clutch..I think they changed to the wet one after 1970...

That's right; I do have the procedure for the 1970 clutch, but something in the back of my mind's telling me that it changed at some time before that and I wouldn't like to give you duff info.

[chilly]

1971 = change to wet clutch.

Save you a job Kev.

This is from a Clymer manual.

1970 and earlier clutch spring tension

Tighten each nut on the spring adjusters 1/2 turn at a time untill inner surface of clutch releasing plate is 3/16" from outer surface of each spring cup flange.
When increasing spring tension,take care that the foregoing dimension is not decreased to less than 7/64",or clutch will not release.

Is the clutch release mechanism set up ok ?

Chill

[Limey_Dave]

An oldie but:
When setting up clutches in general,mark inner and outer with chalk,kick over a few times (ign off ),do marks still align?

[kevscrivener]

Originally Posted by chilly

1971 = change to wet clutch.

Save you a job Kev.

:

Knew that Chilly, ta. I thought the set-up on the pre-71 dry clutches differed slightly on earlier ones, hence I didn't want to commit myself.

[chilly]

Not trying to teach you to suck eggs here Kev,you know far more than me on ole sporty's

What i meant was, i would save you the time by typing in the procedure of pre 71 models from the book myself.

All my knowledge of old sportys comes from a book,as you know i'm a new "old un" in this area.

Chill

[the_french_owl]

Procedure, valid for both wet or dry Sportster clutches:

You've got to adjust the cable 1st: Undo locking nut and screw IN adjuster screw until you're really pushing on the clutch springs. This make sure the cam is fully backed up on its rest so you'll get maximum travel once set up. Then adjust cable at lever end (dry) or primary end (wet) to get 1/8th free play.

Now back off adjusting screw till the cam feels free cause you can't feel the spring pressure anymore. find the sweet spot, retighten locking nut.

Test and readjust as necessary with adjuster screw. Don't touch the cable anymore.

Patrick

[andypandy]

Hi Patrick, its the set up of the actual clutch worm gear and the clutch spring pressure plate thing with the 6 nuts on it, the release mechanism doesnt engage ....it either drags or the engine stalls when putting it into 1st gear....I know its a case of trial and error and perserverence....but surely there must be a quick way of doing it...Andy