Seems my clutch has always been dragging just a bit. I put it up on blocks, started the engine, pulled clutch, then shifted into gear. With the clutch in the back tire spins. With the clutch still in, if I press the rear brake, the tire stops and stays stopped. However, if I let the clutch out, tire starts spinning, then pull the clutch back in, the tire stays spinning forever. The clutch never disengages the transmission.

I've felt that it just shifts too hard between gears as a result suspecting that the clutch never fully disengages.

The bike is about a year old, would this type of work be covered by the warranty? Is it normal?

 

Your clutch needs to be adjusted...if you don't know how - (1) get a service manual and follow the steps (pretty easy) or (2) take it in for service.

 

Yep. Clutch adjustment. It won't be covered by warranty because it's a maintenance item, not a defect.

 

This is completely normal for a wet clutch when the rear tire is off the ground. All wet clutches have some drag and the rear wheel will turn under this condition if it's off the ground. As long as the bike is not trying to move forward when you're sitting at a stop with the clutch in, it's fine.

 

Exactly, very common with wet clutches. If it doesn't lurch forward with the clutch lever in while on the ground, it's fine as noted.

 

If you want to check how much free play adjustment your clutch lever has, here is a good video on that.

As for the hard shifts, just about all Harleys shift hard between gears. Just make sure you are pulling the lever all the way in before you shift and get the timing right. Seen folks shift up at the same time they are starting to pull in the lever not giving enough time for the clutch to disengage.

 

Thanks guys! I've done the service manual adjustment...twice. Perhaps there's nothing wrong at all. My first Harley and didn't see this behavior with my other bikes.

Thanks for all the info!!

 

Couple of thoughts.

Sometimes you gotta hold your tongue just right when adjusting the clutch...it's as much by "feel" as it by an objective measurement.

The other thing is, even though a wet clutch will continuously spin the rear tire when disengaged, a primary that is just a bit over-full will give that dragging feeling, and can make shifting a bit clunkier.

 

I ran into this when I put a full quart of oil in the primary. It's to much and makes for rough shifting and lots of dragging. I could coast through my neighborhood with the lever puled in and never stop. I use about 80% of the quart and I am golden.

 

I haven't added any additional fluids since I purchased the bike last year. It's only a year old with about 3,000 miles. I'll keep that in mind though when I do the 5k service.

Thanks!!