Thursday, May 31, 2018

REVERSING A HARLEY CLUTCH

Hello. So here's helping Harley Davidson (HD) with a modification that makes its clutch rocker pedal work in the right direction - like on Indian motorcycles.



We all know, at least those who learned to drive a standard shift vehicle know, that one pushes forward with the left foot to disengage a clutch and lets that foot back to engage it. HD motorcycle foot clutches require the foot (or toe) go forward to engage. Quite the opposite of learned behavior.

These same people know we in the United States also shift with our right hands. But we won't go there.

This modification is simple and, except for one hole drilled in the rocker, its reversible.

 My 1948 EL "Panhead"
 


(Above) Cut a heavy strap of steel. You can cut it to actual needed length after learning where the clutch control rod will be fastened at its top.  Using the one unused existing hole in the pedal (other models may not have this hole) and drilling another hole, fasten the strap with two bolts as shown.

Clamp the clutch control rod in various places at the upper area of the strap until the full throw of the pedal matches the full extension of the rod from fully engaged and fully disengaged. When fully engaged, there should be a little slack in the rod to assure the clutch plates are able to be fully engaged.

I just have a threaded bolt holding the rod's end in place with the nut slack and held with blue Loctite. Ideally, though, one would bolt on a bronze or brass bushing of a diameter that fits the rod's end well.

Install a Jones Spring Co, No. 379 spring as shown to counter the clutch springs and allow the pedal to stay in any position. A more elegant spring and positioning may be found than this one. But this spring does do the job.

Indians don't need a rocker spring to counter the clutch springs because Indians use a worm gear to disengage the clutch.


(Above) What was once "toe-to-go" is now full clutch disengagement with the toe moved forward like on Indian motorcycles.


(Above) Note that the strap needs a slight bend for clearance.


(Above) The spring lifts the rear of the pedal against, and balancing, the pulling force of the clutch control rod.

I'm also going to move that right foot brake pedal (below) forward. For some reason, HD placed it in the middle of the foot board causing the rider to have to reach backwards with the foot to engage it. Or maybe HD put it back there for the passenger to use. This is another simple and reversible modification.