I was in the mid point of my 4500 mile bike trip and my clutch begun to slip in 5th gear. (2010 Ultra)
We decided to stop and take in to a dealer and I am told the "clutch is fried". Being at the mercy of the dealership and having a new extended warranty, I give the $50 nod and I am on my way again within 3 hours.
The bike had 16k miles at that time, I am in no way a new motorcycle rider and can't remember but one time in my 56 years burning up a clutch on a bike......that was a Honda CF 250 that the previous owner beat the hell out of.
Help me understand clutch mechanics.....if I can shift into all gears and ride except one......isnt that the plate and spring associated with that gear that is shot? Clutches are sold as one unit? I was also told that the clutch was adjusted "too tight" and that might have accounted for the problem.

Thanks for the read.....any comments invited.

 

The clutch plates aren't associated with any gears at all, they are merely friction plates that stick together and transfer engine power to the transmission, or not, if you have the lever pulled in. Normally if a clutch is bad, you would replace all of the "consumable" friction plates, and the metal ones between them if those are shot as well. Not replaced a Harley clutch so no idea when the metal plates wear out. I imagine there is thickness spec for the metal plates. With 16k on the clutch, I can't see how it would be bad already: I have almost 50k on my 2007 and the clutch is fine. Unless you do burnouts and wheelies, etc

Sorry, missed your last sentence - if the clutch is adjusted incorrectly it can slip and burn out the friction plates faster than normal.

 

Thanks for the response...that helps.

So I must thank Ed and Chad at BlackHills HD in Rapid City for their quick service......quite a dealership,,,,,I actually rented a bike for the afternoon at a reduced rate and my wife and I got to ride around while repair was getting done.

This is also a testimony to extended warranty coverage.....$498 job for $50....

 

I can't see a clutch being worn out in 16K miles for a conservative rider. I would be inclined to think the cluth lever may not have been adjusted properly and was applying just a little bit of lift on the clutch. It could have been adjusted out by a turn or so on the slack adjuster down in front of the engine.
I would be suspect of the shop doing a clutch replacement if all they really had to do was make an adjustment.

 

Thanks Ken

Your concern was my concern.......I tend to be suspicious about any type of service and being at the mercy of a new shop has me wondering....

Maybe they just adjusted the slack and called it a $498 day.