Hey, it's me again. Seems like the only time I have issues with my R* is when I'm 2500 mi from home.

I've been noticing the clutch slipping at take off. It's the same feeling as when you try to start in 2nd gear.

Here the recent history to help with trouble shooting.

1. The Clutch lever is adjusted properly.

2. I'm running my first Synthetic oil. Lucus syn 20/50 motorcycle.

3. I'm in Ft.Sill OK in the 105 deg heat.

4. I recently ran 2500mi in 4 days to get here from New Brunswick.

5. I used to have long leather braided tassels hanging from the clutch and brake but removed them when I noticed they acctivated my brake lights.

Any good advice is apreciated.

Worst case scenario, I have to replace the clutch in the parking lot... any specialty tools required? Can I re-use the gasket?

Sounds like your clutch spring needs to be replaced if you have the stock spring. It is about the only weak link in these bikes. Go with the Barnett spring kit and never look back! If the clutch plates have not been overly abused, they should be O-K.

Ask Darn about the spring replacement. Just did his and said it was a breeze.

Barnett clutch. Don't even think about it, just do it. I ride in the mountains all the time and it's fantastic.

Did mine and no more slipping.

http://belair.smugmug.com/Other/My-Silver-Edition-Road-Star/341496_j6DWr#1301071948_kWC7JGZ-A-LB

Try another 1 turn out on the clutch adjustment knob at the lever and see if that helps.

When you let out the clutch lever, where does the clutch engage/disengage?

Doc

Doc.

It's not that it totally engages or disengages at a certain point, it's just like when your starting in second. It seems to grab slightly throught the first three quarters of release and then it grabs in the last quarter and kinda causes a bit of a jump or a jerk forward.

I do ride hard, and this is my first synthetic oil. It's not severe but it is noticable.

I'll let the cluch out a bit more and reply in a few.

Sounds like warped/dirty plates.

There was an old thread regarding using Seafoam in the oil to 'clean' the plates. You could try doing that.

Doc

Just went for a little cruise. Let out the free play a touch more, better lose than tight! (in this circumstance). It is less noticeable when cold but still there. I read the old thread about the sea foam and I'll try that but not until I'm ready to change the oil. One more thing is that it is more noticeable with a passenger.

Gonna look into the Barnett clutch a bit. Any advice on where the best deal is?

Gunner wrote:
Just went for a little cruise. Let out the free play a touch more, better lose than tight! (in this circumstance). It is less noticeable when cold but still there. I read the old thread about the sea foam and I'll try that but not until I'm ready to change the oil. One more thing is that it is more noticeable with a passenger.

Gonna look into the Barnett clutch a bit. Any advice on where the best deal is?Spring kit is $134 shipped on ebay.