What’s the deal with the hydraulic clutch?
#1
06-20-2021 | 12:51 PM
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What’s the deal with the hydraulic clutch?
My 2018 Road King has the hydraulic clutch. I’m fine with it although I have to say that the old cable clutch on my earlier Harleys seemed to work just fine. Now I am hearing that Harley is going back to the cable clutches? Can someone explain what is going on with all of this?
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06-20-2021, 01:03 PM
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My 2018 Road King has the hydraulic clutch. I’m fine with it although I have to say that the old cable clutch on my earlier Harleys seemed to work just fine. Now I am hearing that Harley is going back to the cable clutches? Can someone explain what is going on with all of this?
The short answer, is the location of the cat and rear pipe that is too close to the slave cylinder and lines, and it causing lot of heat boil problems with the fluid.
HD did upgrade the slave piston design, but again, when the cat/rear pipe is just baking the fluid to cause it to boil, your never going to solve that problem , which there is not where else to move all the needed items on the bike to prevent the fluid boil problems in the first place.
As for the hydraulic HD system, its not like it did reduce the clutch lever pull much anyways, so really the system and pipe/cat location just created more problems that good, and why HD is ditching the system. Think of it as the new radio system that was never completely worked out before being offered as well.
As for the older clutch cable systems and still running the stock clutch, if someone does have a problem with the lever pull being too hard, just take the time to re-lube the cable to correct the problem in the first place.
Last edited by Dano523; 06-20-2021 at 01:07 PM.
#2
06-20-2021 | 01:03 PM
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Joined: Jan 2020
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From: Colorado
My 2018 Road King has the hydraulic clutch. I’m fine with it although I have to say that the old cable clutch on my earlier Harleys seemed to work just fine. Now I am hearing that Harley is going back to the cable clutches? Can someone explain what is going on with all of this?
The short answer, is the location of the cat and rear pipe that is too close to the slave cylinder and lines, and it causing lot of heat boil problems with the fluid.
HD did upgrade the slave piston design, but again, when the cat/rear pipe is just baking the fluid to cause it to boil, your never going to solve that problem , which there is not where else to move all the needed items on the bike to prevent the fluid boil problems in the first place.
As for the hydraulic HD system, its not like it did reduce the clutch lever pull much anyways, so really the system and pipe/cat location just created more problems that good, and why HD is ditching the system. Think of it as the new radio system that was never completely worked out before being offered as well.
As for the older clutch cable systems and still running the stock clutch, if someone does have a problem with the lever pull being too hard, just take the time to re-lube the cable to correct the problem in the first place.
Last edited by Dano523; 06-20-2021 at 01:07 PM.
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#3
06-20-2021 | 02:36 PM
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#4
06-20-2021 | 05:21 PM
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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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#7
06-20-2021 | 09:27 PM
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#8
06-21-2021 | 01:13 AM
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#9
06-21-2021 | 01:40 AM
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Don't think I buy the cable clutch being easier to pull crap. Looks like other than the fluid warming up- btw, hearing of this the first time here, and never from Harley. HD is just looking to go cheaper. They save a ton with the cable clutches. Also, not sure what the fuss was about the hydraulic clutches, the pull and the feel is not world's different from the cable clutches. Just a matter of getting used to and a tiny bit of difference. Btw, if you could not get adjusted to different clutches, or clutch pulls, or friction zones, you shouldn't be riding clutch actuated geared bikes and should move on the DCTs or automatic vespas. I guess, the very same people who complain or crib this way or that would be perfectly fine in either of the set ups. It was never about what the customer liked or arthritics of the base of the thumb or the fingers whatever. Seems like its about cost cutting and then buying influencing to keep the mob quiet.
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#10
06-21-2021 | 06:00 AM
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