What’s the deal with the hydraulic clutch?
#22
...I liked the hydraulic clutch on all my Touring, from '14 to '18.
After I put the AIM light force slave cylinder on the '18, it
was the EASIEST clutch I'd ever had on a Harley Touring bike.
I put the Mully on the '16 FLHXS and it was better than stock, but
not as good as the AIM on the '18.
The cable on the '21 Revival is easy, but not like the AIM...................
After I put the AIM light force slave cylinder on the '18, it
was the EASIEST clutch I'd ever had on a Harley Touring bike.
I put the Mully on the '16 FLHXS and it was better than stock, but
not as good as the AIM on the '18.
The cable on the '21 Revival is easy, but not like the AIM...................
#23
I’m no expert on why H-D ditched the hydraulic clutch. but there must have been a lot of moisture in the fluid to cause it to boil. If so, that’s a maintenance, moisture in the brake fluid issue, not a hydraulic clutch issue. I’ve ridden my ‘14 Limited in some really hot temperatures, sometimes in stop-and-go traffic, and I’ve never experienced a failure of the clutch. Perhaps my bike is the exception. I do monitor the fluid moisture content and I do flush it when needed.
I read the reasons for doing away with the hydraulic clutch were because there were so many complaints about how hard the clutch lever was to pull in, people didn’t like that the friction zone was too far off the grip and there was no way to adjust it. Plus cable clutches are cheaper to manufacture.
I read the reasons for doing away with the hydraulic clutch were because there were so many complaints about how hard the clutch lever was to pull in, people didn’t like that the friction zone was too far off the grip and there was no way to adjust it. Plus cable clutches are cheaper to manufacture.
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bluestoo (06-26-2021)
#24
Interesting to hear the different comments.
I bought an ‘18 Ultra Limited about a year ago and found effort required to pull the clutch to be much less than my old Road King or Dyna, both of which I still have and still ride.
On the Ultra, I did absolutely hate the engagement point which forced me to look for fixes. Changed the clutch lever to a modified one from Soft Brake and that made a big improvement. Pretty happy now.
Whenever I get on the King or Dyna now I always think how much more effort is required to pull in the clutch but get used to it pretty quickly.
I bought an ‘18 Ultra Limited about a year ago and found effort required to pull the clutch to be much less than my old Road King or Dyna, both of which I still have and still ride.
On the Ultra, I did absolutely hate the engagement point which forced me to look for fixes. Changed the clutch lever to a modified one from Soft Brake and that made a big improvement. Pretty happy now.
Whenever I get on the King or Dyna now I always think how much more effort is required to pull in the clutch but get used to it pretty quickly.
#25
There were discussions about this, by smarter people than me. They mention how with advent the M8, there were some changes to the cavity between the slave actuator and the clutch rod, that affected the draining, pressure, and/or volume of trans fluid that collected in between them. They speculate that it was one of the factors that led to the oil migration.
A forum member, and machinist, developed a procedure where he would machine a piece behind the slave actuator, that lowered the pressure and increased the drainage behind the slave actuator. It stopped the oil transfer on his bike which was rather excessive. He made them available for individuals with severe oil transfer for a time. He stopped when cheaper, easier alternatives proved to help reduce the oil migration..
#26
If you change your clutch fluid every 2 years like you should your brake fluid you won't experience any fade. Boiling point of those fluids drops significantly over time. We'd change our race bike fluid almost weekly on the road race bikes.
#27
I sure wish HD designed there little cover a bit different to get to the bleeder so you don’t have to loosen the exhaust to get to it. I know folks have cut the bottom, but HD should have done something so that doesn’t have to be done. I’d probably change my clutch fluid every year if I didn’t have to take everything apart.
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lp (06-24-2021)
#28
#29
I changed it at about 20 months, but only because I installed a Muller slave. The moisture content was still well under the limit specified by HD. My brake fluid is also still under the limit, but I'll probably flush it out this winter anyway.
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