How Loose Harley Transmission, Harley Clutch & Harley Primary Discuss How Loose in the Harley Tech & Harley How-to forums; I like to keep my clutch adjuster at the handlebar loose enough to pull the lever about 1/4 inch before it actives the clutch. My buddy likes to keep his ...

[JayDee]

I like to keep my clutch adjuster at the handlebar loose enough to pull the lever about 1/4 inch before it actives the clutch. My buddy likes to keep his a lot looser - perhaps 1 inch of travel at the tip.

Who's better off?

[EZE RIDER]

You are. an inch of slack is way off! I like about an eighth of an inch.

[HarleyCruiser]

First you adjust the clutch in the primary before you adjust the cable. The manual calls for 1/8 inch free play in the slack. To check this you pull out on the cable from the handle bars.
If your friend runs the adjustment out that far it is important to make sure the clutch is not dragging when it is pulled in all the way.
A dragging clutch will cause hard shift, wear on the dogs.
I used to adjust mine out about half way like that so that it was easer to pull in. I just had to make sure that I pulled it in all the way, and was very careful how I shifted.
It shifted fine.
Since then I put on a Easy pull and now adjust it at 1/8, 1/4 inch free play.
With the Easy pull it increases the leverage but also increases the distance that the lever needs to be pulled to disengage the clutch entirely, so you need to adjust it pretty tight and make sure everything is adjusted perfect, or the clutch will drag.