DOC HARLEY: CLUTCH LEVER SAFETY SWITCH

Doc Harley from the Service Clinic at Low Country Harley-Davidson to help you with the health of your motorcycle! This week he shares a tip on what to look for when customizing your clutch lever or when buying a motorcycle that has had them customized.
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Doc Harley is a motorcycle technician at Low Country Harley-Davidson with over thirty years working on motorcycles. Over the years at the dealership he has worked on Harley-Davidson, Buell, and Triumph motorcycles with a few other brands here and there from trade-ins. There are thousands of how-to videos out on youtube and other websites across the world. Doc’s goal is to help solve problems that people run into when using their service manual, share insights only found as a certified Harley® technician, and some of the tips he’s picked up over the years.
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[@isabella1823]

Hey Doc! This is Ana! Awesome video! I am sure more people will benefit from this.

[@matt8863]

Well I'll be...learn something new every day...Thanks Ana!

[@bobmaslan2401]

Ana, I can relate to your story. A couple of years ago, I bought a raffle ticket for a local nonprofit. As luck would have it, I won the first prize--a Vespa! Well, having ridden a Sportster back in the kick-start days, I was not about to ride a Vespa. So I gave it back to the nonprofit. My wife then said that the Vespa was an sign, and suggested that I look for a bike. The story I tell is that when I went to New Haven, CT to pick up the Vespa, I missed the exit, ended up at Brothers Harley Davidson in Branford, and bought a Sportster. I upgraded the next year to a 2018 Heritage. I never rode a Vespa. Thank you for your story. I am glad to see Doc Harley back in business after the hurricane.

[@isabella1823]

Robert Maslan great story! I fell in love with sporsters but my tailbone did not. 😂

[@jang6969]

Good to know. Thanks Doc! ☮

[@CaptFederico]

Hope you kept also that Vespa!! ;)

[@buzzbeauchamp4631]

YES!- Thank you! - Bought my first Motorcycle, a 2011 HD Heritage Classic & included an Extended Warranty- long stotry short, that Clutch Safety Switch was bad, so I couldn't "Start in Gear" my Dealership, High Desert Harley Davidson replaced the Switch & all I paid was a minor Deductible!

[@61espo]

I always learn something from Doc! I had no idea about this switch on 2008 & up Models. Thanks again Doc!

[@roxannev5897]

I have this same issue on a 2008 Heritage, thank you for explaining the problem!

[@chrisphilhower6029]

I put a set of Kuryakyn Dillinger(Black) on my 18 Custom 1200. If I remember correctly, They looked like the stock(HD) ones.

[@Easyliving2009]

Wow! Thanks a ton! I was just looking at some new aftermarket levers. Glad I seen this, because I will check to make sure they have it now. Maybe that’s why mine in only starting in Neutral. I took it to a shop, and he said the wires were cut, and he just by passed the switch with the wires soldiered he said. Got home, and the next day I tried it, it would only start in Neutral. I left his shop actually starting it in Neutral not trying it there. So I don’t even think he did anything, and so I’m going to see if it’s missing that piece. I bought this bike used, so who knows. Thanks for this video! ✌🏻

[@MegaBruceC]

I was wondering if my '06 Sportster had a switch but you pretty much said it didn't come with it. Thanks!

[@120074]

Thanks now I will go and check my 11 Heritage because it will not start in gear with clutch pulled in

[@miketodd8640]

Doc, you just keep bring great info to us. I was just thinking about that the other day when I went to start my '19 FLSB. Thanks!

[@_Gooch_]

I just bought some Amazon levers and now I’m in the same boat

[@dls613]

Good information here, thanks.

[@carlosholguin2365]

Hay Doc... Thank you for this video. I also am having this problem on my bike. I will take a look this weekend and make sure that is what it is. Big help.

[@3percentmick705]

Handy peice of info there

[@Otis884]

Always great info Doc.

[@irregularguy2]

Not just a problem w after-market levers. I had to place a shim between the handle bar and the switch. The tab that hold the switch is weak, and it bends just enough to not allow the switch to make contact.

[@BrewCityRider]

Good info Doc! Thanks.

[@Scott-tw8go]

Love your videos Doc!!!

[@harleybrown9834]

That's very interesting! My 2015 cvo road glide ultra had to be in neutral to start and I hated it. I've since replaced it with a roadking special and I was delighted to find the king didn't suffer the same problem. I wonder if the original owner of the rg changed the levers...

[@tobpitbull]

Doc, I’m in a pinch… I converted a fltr 2009 to a 2014 hydraulic clutch…using a baker dd7 with hydraulic sysyfrom baker… not 6 gear indicator (did the ratio flash) nor cruise…speedo will stop working which makes bike want to stall, red key light comes off and on (don’t have security system) Soooooo.. looking over levers I’m seeing that the standard 09 pushing indicator switch in when pulled in and the hydraulic lever releases switch when pulled in … so I have the clutch switch with upgraded hydraulic system in at all times which the ECM is rejecting? Can the switch be disabled in ECM? I really like the hydraulic clutch but not at the expense of losing 6 gear light and cruise control and somehow this is messing with my Speedo some too? Thanks.

[@LowCountryHarleyDavidson]

To my knowledge their is no software that will reverse the clutch switch function. You can try to modify the switch so it is off all the time, but this eliminates starting in gear…..Doc

[@BusterKitten]

every time I watch one of your videos my IQ goes up a couple points. Thanks Doc!

[@rmcalhoun4543]

I just put on an adjustable lever on my wife's trike and was having this issue. It will start in gear if its adjusted all the way out but won't if its adjusted inward just one click so it kinda defeats the purpose of having an adjustable clutch lever if you have to leave it out anyway.

[@carystarke8000]

What's up DOC ? Question : I have a 2000 HD POLICE ROAD KING EFI , I want badly to shop for some Brake Clutch Levers, As you know the Cop Bikes have to be Clutch Engaged to start it . From this Video , Does that mean I could use a later model year 2008 & up that would work on my 2000 Police Road King ?

[@LowCountryHarleyDavidson]

Unfortunately I don’t think so. Later controls send a different CAN Bus data. By the way. The clutch only needs to be pulled in if gear box is not in neutral to start or the original jiffy stand safety switch is malfunctioning….Doc

[@carystarke8000]

@@LowCountryHarleyDavidson I thank you. I did chrome the Levers 20 years ago. I do in fact do have to Pull Lever ( Clutch) even in Neutral to start it. I never start it in Gear cause it does lunge slightly if I do.

[@reaperronin8898]

Thanks for the info... Good to know.!.!

[@socalfun64]

THANK YOU!! 😎

[@LowCountryHarleyDavidson]

You're welcome….Doc

[@GJM866]

My 1997 Police Road King comes stock with a clutch lever safety.

[@roncoburn7771]

Good tip

[@jharris5822]

Hey doc great video what do you do if it has the nub but still doesn’t engage the switch the whole way? Is it an alignment issue?

[@LowCountryHarleyDavidson]

Do you have stock levers? If so, it is likely the plastic tip on the switch broke off.

[@josea5949]

Hey Ana. Way to go. Glad you moved up to something a lil bigger than the Vespa. But seeing you like to take long road trips, have you thought about moving up to a touring model?

[@isabella1823]

Jose' A I have. As soon as I bought the Blackline, I saw how beautiful the Road King Special is. I may buy one in the next few years. For now my Blackline is exactly what I wanted: a comfy ride that is minimalist.

[@mountaindew8042]

👀👍

[@noahpaul7491]

What if the switch is broken? Do I need new controls?

[@LowCountryHarleyDavidson]

depends on the model and year....Doc

[@mbrennan7517]

i just started having the problem on my softail streebob after switching the stock bars out... any ideas?

[@LowCountryHarleyDavidson]

You're going to have to supply more information on “problem”? What bars? Wires internal in a Z bar with sharp angles? Aftermarket parts? Trying to use stock cables where they shouldn’t? Dealer installed or by “ a friend” without a HD Service Manual? Thanks ~ Doc

[@mbrennan7517]

@@LowCountryHarleyDavidson got it all figured out. One of the plugs was still loose in its housing upon plugging back in. thank you!

[@mohutchmo9591]

msf course didnt teach people to start in neutral?

[@brucewhite7069]

I always start in neutral just a habit

[@crash5309]

No switch on my 13 flhtk....

[@toddachten2224]

AKA....."Yuppie Switch"

[@dadtrap]

Ok Doc here is a Harley stumper. How do you delete a “Favorite” from the 6.5 boom audio on a 2018 Flhtk without doing a factory reset? Not even Harley can tell me

[@LowCountryHarleyDavidson]

The best option is to replace that saved station with an alternate station

[@dadtrap]

Low Country Harley-Davidson I know it was on my usb so I deleted it. The only other idea we had at the dealership where I bought it was to do a factory reset and harley wasn’t even sure that would work

[@pugloverg6671]

Oh god lol bypass that switch hahahhaha

[@phdr754]

"Once in awhile" ???

[@alphasixfive1658]

Skip the BS and go to 1:27

[@LowCountryHarleyDavidson]

Why?....Doc