[loudnlow7484]

If his clutch is engaging at the end of its travel, wouldn't you want to turn it IN so it engages earlier?

No.
The adjuster changes the length of the cable path.
Turning it in shortens the path, out lengthens the path..
As the cable itself stays the same length.
If the cable is too long (too short a path) the first bit of motion is just taking up slack. So you turn the adjuster out to remove the slack.
Over time the path stays the same and the cable stretches.
So you have to adjust the path to accomidate.

But he says he has to let go of it completely for it to engage, not pull it in completely to disengage. So the first bit of motion is disengaging the clutch. This makes me think it is too tight, in which case you would loosen it to correct it. And to loosen it, you would turn the adjuster farther into the lever perch.