I know this is a highly subjective question depending on how you drive the bike, but on average how long should a clutch on these Savages last? I'm right at 5000 miles and I've just done the "fine adjustment" the second time in the last 1500, so I'll have to make my next adjustment on the lower cable end. Not knowing how the bike was treated before, (it was an acquaintance's wife's bike and not a real accomplished rider) The bike runs fine right now, just running out of adjustment on top, and asking because I've never seen the topic come up. Any information would be appreciated.

Dan

It's more than likely that the adjustment you made was due to cable stretch.  New cables stretch, it just happens.  They only stretch so far then pretty much stop.    

Just rebuild my engine, 10.4K miles.  Clutch plates were very good.  The Perv. Owner lived in Erie, Pa close to the great lake of same name, just rolling hills in that country.

Things that affect MC clutches.....starting on hills (what can you do...???)......wrong oil (MC oil has stuff in (sulfides??) that help prolong clutch life....).....old oil..........

got over 26000 and my clutch is still going strong!!

I hadn't thought about the cable stretch, and I'll be changing the oil again soon. I'll try those two and watch for developments. I figured there had to be something I was missing, I don't remember ever having to touch my old 68 Honda's adjustments. (of course... that was long ago in a galaxy far away)
Thanks to all for the input. Ride safe!

Dan

Cable stretch would explain the slack I adjusted out in June. The rest might be trial and error, because it doesn't make sense to me. I'll keep eliminating potential causes until I get it right. Considering the old owner told me he had the bike rejetted when he had the Jardine put on, but the shop he told me he took it to has no record of it, I'm assuming there might be a couple of other things fishy here. Everyone I talked to says the guy is meticulous, but doesn't turn his own wrenches. His wife and a younger relative each had time riding and taking care of it. I have had mixed results with the stealership in question and what they might do to cover their arses, and this '04 has some characteristics of a Savage and some of the '05 s/40 make me wonder if there aren't some model change bugs cropping up. All speculation, yet all potential troubleshooting concerns. I'll just eliminate the obvious until I get to the bottom of it. If nothing else it will give me a few things to work on when it gets colder. Another excuse to tinker? How else do you get to know your machine.

pgman wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:09:

As mentioned above, sometimes going to stiffer aftermarket springs or simply shimming the existing springs adds back some compression/tension lost over time.  New springs for the Savage are about $12-$15 and easy to replace.  I did mine when I installed the VerSlavy modded cam chain tensioner.