I need help getting my baby back on the road. I replaced the throw out bearing and the clutch cable and my cable continues to come out of adjustment! Is there something I'm missing or something else that could be causing this? I am doing the adjustment by the manual!

 

Did you try watching any videos on YouTube of Sportster clutch adjustment and or cable replacements. Maybe you missed something shown in one of those videos.

 

Yes I have watched videos on replacing both the bearing and the cable and the adjustment of the cable! I don't believe it's my clutch itself because the bike isn't shooting up rpms when I switch gears.

 

How many miles are on the bike? Im wondering if the clutch is failing because difficulty keeping the clutch adjusted is a sign of clutch failure

 

What year is the bike? My first thought is the brass rivets in your spring plate, depending on how old the bike is.

 

1989 XLH 1200 with unknown miles it didn't have a speedo when I bought it

 

Hmm. As far as I know, Sportsters didn't start having spring plate issues until they went rubbermounted in '04. It could just be a worn clutch. I would take the clutch pack out and look at the plates. Check the thickness of the friction plates and make sure the steel plates aren't warped.

When the clutch comes out of adjustment, is it slipping or is it dragging?

 

I believe it is slipping!! What would this tell me?

 

If it's slipping, your clutch plates are worn, and or your clutch spring, or your clutch cable adjustment is too tight. You want a little play in your clutch cable, maybe a 1/16th to 1/8th inch. Best test of the clutch being worn out is to get your bike going, put it in 4th and hit the gas, if you hear the rpms rev, your spring or clutch is worn out. If you're replacing one, replace the other, especially if it's been converted from an 883 to 1200. I put a screaming eagle spring in mine, but not sure I would recommend it, because the clutch lever pull is pretty heavy. Stock spring replacement should work as long as you're not throwing a ton of aftermarket HP at it.

 

Ok so I will be replacing the clutch plates and spring this weekend. Is there anything else I need to replace while I'm at it? Does anyone have a parts list I can use to order everything I need for the plates and spring?