Sticky clutch on '69 ElectraGlide

 

I'm  working to get my father's 1969 ElectraGlide back on the road
after sitting for over a year and a half. Its running fine but I
noticed that the clutch does not fully disengage when the clutch lever
is pulled in, so at a stop sign it still wants to roll. I can smell
the clutch plates burning. My buddy suggests it may be that the plates
are rusted from sitting for so long.

Has anyone dealt with a this or similar issue in restoring old bikes?

 

SuziT wrote:

Have you tried adjusting the clutch as outlined in the service manual?

Fins BS#221

 


I am assuming you have pulled the steel plates and clutch disks and
cleaned them (I like brake cleaner or Coleman Fuel, anything without
oil or lead).  While they're out sit a spell out on the sidewalk and
rub the clutch disks against the concrete to rough them up a little.
Check everything for warping too.

After adjusting it according to the manual go back and insure that the
pressure plate is square with the basket when the clutch is
disengaged.  You may have to adjust one or two lock nuts at a
different place than the other to see this happen.

A RamJet retainer for the clutch basket cures the basket from floating
in and out and it's cheap.

Hoppy
BS7  AH85  SENS  SLOB16

 


wrote:


Mousetrap setup I assume?

regardless, pull your primary remove all your clutch plates and
steels, clean all the steels,  might have to replace the plates, they
are probably stuck from oil soaking in them for a year, once oil has
them sticking chances are they are toast or you are going to have
remove clean too damn often, just rep[lace them, bet is they ain;t
rusted just glued together.  once you get that all cleaned up, setup
is simple, the book really does work if you do it like the book says

a '69 is a sweet bike to own for sure, congrats a sweet ride