| Author | Message | ||
     Typeone |
well, i finally got around to installing the Free Spirits soft clutch i ordered over the winter. super simple to install, no adjustment troubles, basically bolt on, adjust to manual spec and go! clutch pull is crazy smooth and way easier now. love it! FYI that for $40-60US you can't go wrong.  (Message edited by typeone on April 20, 2007) | ||
| Tx05xb12s |
Who's selling it? The clutch on my 05 kills my hand in stop and go traffic. | ||
| Typeone |
BadWeb usernames ronlv or Trojan (Matt at Adrenaline Moto)... i'm sure a few other sponsors can get them too. | ||
| Tx05xb12s |
Thanks. I wonder how the Free Spirits compares to the Muller Al @ American Sport Bike sells? Is it the complete clutch, or just a ball-ramp replacement like the Muller kit? | ||
| Trojan |
The Free Spirits Soft Clutch kit is different to the Muller but achieves the same result in the end. Unlike the Muller it is not a complete ramp assembly but an extended actuating lever that bolts on to the stock clutch mechanism. We have used one on our race bike all last year with no issues at all, and have sold literally hundreds of them with great results. Like the Muller, you have to spend a little time geting the adjustment just right, but it is worth the effort (or lack of effort required to pull the lever of course!) | ||
| Yellowbolter |
does it really only cost 60 us thats a lot cheaper then the muller | ||
| Typeone |
Like the Muller, you have to spend a little time getting the adjustment just right, but it is worth the effort the adjustment time was why i avoided installing until now but it was total cake for me. installed, adjusted to manual spec and away i went. was i just lucky? did 406mi straight today with NO issues at all. hit some decent traffic too, worked like a charm. | ||
| Fulgur |
I got one too. Simple and works good.  .....Fulgur. | ||
| Surlypacer |
does it rub the primary cover at all? | ||
| Bake |
Will it work on a 883 sportster as well? | ||
| M_singer |
Does it acieve the lighter pull by increasing leverage and thus decreasing clutch plate movement? | ||
| Trojan |
does it rub the primary cover at all? No, not on the Buell XB or tube frame models. It will hot the primary case on the new Sportster though. Will it work on a 883 sportster as well? Yes but only on the pre-rubber mount motors . See above. Does it acieve the lighter pull by increasing leverage and thus decreasing clutch plate movement? It increases leverage but you still get the same amount of plate movement. For those that have asked (and I will get back to you individually), the shipping price to the US for one of these would be GBP4 (US$8) by air mail. | ||
| Ronlv |
works great and alot less expensive than the muller | ||
| Norrie |
I have also just fitted the Free Spirits clutch and what a difference. I have Rheumatoid Arthritis and after a long run struggled to pull the clutch in. It is so much easier now.  Norrie. | ||
| Asym50 |
Any disadvantages compared to the Mueller? | ||
| Djkaplan |
"It increases leverage but you still get the same amount of plate movement." I can't see how that could be possible, but I'm starting to realize (in my old age) that I really don't know everything. Could you explain how it achieves more leverage at the lever with the same movement at the clutch? | ||
| Gowindward |
"Could you explain how it achieves more leverage at the lever with the same movement at the clutch?" I think the real answer is it does reduce clutch movement, but not enough to matter. It's a clever idea really. "Any disadvantages compared to the Mueller?" There is an extra nut and bolt inside the primary cover to now vibrate loose, although it looks like they use a nylon lock nut. I never felt like the clutch pull was that bad, but decided to add the Muller part to my bike this spring. After it was installed it was like "Oh, that's light!" when pulling on the clutch lever. Either part would be a nice addition to the bike. (Message edited by gowindward on April 24, 2007) | ||
| Mesafirebolt |
Anyone have a picture? | ||
| Typeone |
 the Free Spirits kit contains the top-right, four pieces in the pic above. bolt, washer, nut and extended arm. the other two parts pictured are stock. my kit came with a different looking nut, it was 'brass' in color, felt like a lock nut of some sort. | ||
| Mesafirebolt |
Most likely yours was Cadmium Plated giving it a Shiny Brass color, THANKS for the pics... | ||
| Trojan |
The Soft Clutch is normally supplied with a stainless steel nyloc nut as shown in the above picture. It would be extremely unlikely for this to come undone, unless you forgot to do it up properly of course  . | ||
| Djkaplan |
"I never felt like the clutch pull was that bad..." I used to snicker at all the pansies that complained about the clutch pull. Manly men (like me, of course) don't need such devices. That is until I went to Deals Gap and back during MBIV. My left hand was so tired I could barely pull the clutch in at all at the end of the day. Yeah... I'll probably be getting one now. | ||
| Onthebumper |
I had to replace the clutch cable once and remembered it being a bitch because of how tight it was with the clutch inspection cover off. Is it possible to install this without removing the left side engine cover or only by removing the inspection cover. | ||
| Typeone |
Onthebumper, no evil removals necessary. Here's the process in a nutshell: - loosen clutch cable via adjustment nut in front of engine - open clutch inspection cover from left side - rotate center shaft of ramp assembly clockwise with a flat screwdriver until center nut comes loose - remove ball and ramp assembly - remove clutch cable from stock arm on ramp assembly - install Free Spirits parts to ball and ramp assembly - hook clutch cable to new arm - reinstall ball and ramp - reinstall center nut - screw center shaft with flat head counter-clockwise until it gently seats - back out by 1/4 turn (i forget exact spec here but its in your manual) - adjust clutch cable to spec using adjustment nut in front of engine - once everything is in spec, button up the inspection cover and RIDE. even going super slow and patient with the install i think it took me like 30min. (Message edited by typeone on April 25, 2007) | ||
| Onthebumper |
Thanks Typeone! I think I'll definitely be purchasing one of these this spring. I did a Limited Endurance Track Day last year and thought my hand was going to fall off after the first session. On a side note I was talking to a budy who does constant clutchless upshifts at the Track and on the street. Anyone else here do that? He does it mostly because of the stiff clutch lever. | ||
| Isham |
Why couldn't buell just make their own improved version. The whole deal looks kinda flimsy. | ||
| Fulgur |
I often don't use the clutch on other bikes but on my 05 Firebolt it don't feel good (1st to 2nd - not good at all), so I wouldn't recommend it. You'll still be able to go quick if you shifts are good anyway. Didn't the gearbox get changed on the 06+ to a dog version that would make the short-shifts better? The soft-clutch dose increase leverage and shorten the amount of movement at the turny bit but a properly adjusted clutch will still get the plates fully apart to fully closed with it installed. I found that this gave me a better feel of the clutch as well as lighter, I preferred it. It's made quite strong and good quality. It is easy to make one yourself (like we used to have to in the old days) but you have to harden it etc or it is either too big and wont fit, too soft and bends or too hard and breaks thats why after I made one for my Bros Sportster 1200 (after playing in the forge) at bit back, I decided to save the time and purchase one of these. Much easier. ....Fulgur. | ||
| Xb12s_streetdemon |
the 06"s have a reduced effort clutch. i had the o6 springs installed on my 05 and it is much easier. | ||
| Firebolteric_ma |
I had one of them, it worked, but was VERY finikey with getting it adjusted perfectly. Always had a "slight drag" on the clutch if not in the perfect spot. I ended up ditching it and buying a muller. I have not adjusted this one at all yet. | ||
| Trojan |
the 06"s have a reduced effort clutch. Out of interest, and because I couldn't resist fiddling around with it, I fitted both a Free Spirits Soft Clutch and a Muller Clutch to our 06 Uly as a comparison, and to see if they worked with the new clutch as fitted to the 06 onward models. Interestingly, the Muller made the 06 clutch too light and lacked any feel at all. It almost felt as if the cable was not connected. It worked fine but I didn't like the feel of it. The Soft Clutch retained a decent amount of feel and lightened the clutch to the point where it was extremely easy but kept a distinct 'biting point' and lots of feel when slipping the clutch. We kept the Soft clutch on the bike all year. Hardly a scientific study, but it did show what happens with the newer clutch, and that thee is still room for improvement even with the latest models |
