Adjusting the clutch cable: Difference between revisions

(3 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown)

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[[Category:Clutch & Transmission]]

__TOC__

====Adjustment====

The cable is adjusted by checking the amount of freeplay at the clutch lever. Free play is the amount that the lever moves before it actually starts putting any pressure on the cable.

First, adjust the cable at the handlebar end so it's about in the middle of its adjustment, then use the two nuts down near the engine to set the initial free play. That way there is plenty of movement in either direction at the handlebar end for later adjustment. The lower adjusting nuts are on the right side of the engine, near the oil sight glass.

To adjust freeplay:

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Line 11:

*Tighten the locknut.

[[Image:13adjuster2.jpg|~~300px~~]]

[[Image:13adjuster2.jpg|200px]]

[[Image:adjuster-2.jpg|~~200px~~]]

[[Image:adjuster-2.jpg|150px]]

[[Image:25freeplay.jpg|170px]]

Measure free play as so:

Line 17:

Line 20:

[[Image:596594.jpg|200px]]

*If your cable has stretched so much that you can't adjust it at the lever, loosen the bar ~~adjusters and~~ take some of the slack out by tightening the lower adjusting nuts.

*If your cable has stretched so much that you can't adjust it at the lever, loosen (back off) the bar adjuster all the way, then take some of the slack out by tightening the lower adjusting nuts. The lower adjusting nuts are on the right side of the engine, near the oil sight glass.

[[Image:14aside.jpg|150px]]

Adjust the clutch end first. Make sure the clutch lever is pushed up, removing any play from the lever.

[[Image:23leverpush.jpg|170px]]

Now adjust the cable to remove most of the free play. Make sure to tighten both locknuts.

[[Image:24locktite.jpg|170px]]

====Cable breakage====

The clutch cable tends to break more often than many people think it should, usually right here:

[[image:Fray2w.jpg|150px]]

Since dealers quite often don't have these in stock, you might want to get a spare cable and zip-tie it to the current one. Should your cable break, it is just a matter of hooking up both ends and you are on your way home. That or [[Can I ride my bike home if the clutch cable breaks?|shifting clutchless]] for the rest of your ride.

~~'''~~Alternative adjustment method~~'''~~

====Alternative adjustment method====

Wes doesn't measure the free play distance, but likes it to engage when the lever is about 1 inch away from the handlebar. That way there is enough movement that the bike doesn't creep forward when the lever is pulled all the way in, but it moves when the lever is released. He does it that way to try to prevent fatigue in his clutch hand. It doesn't seem to cause excessive wear on the clutch plates.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 [[Category:Clutch & Transmission]]
+__TOC__
+====Adjustment====
 The cable is adjusted by checking the amount of freeplay at the clutch lever. Free play is the amount that the lever moves before it actually starts putting any pressure on the cable.
-First, adjust the cable at the handlebar end so it's about in the middle of its adjustment, then use the two nuts down near the engine to set the initial free play. That way there is plenty of movement in either direction at the handlebar end for later adjustment. The lower adjusting nuts are on the right side of the engine, near the oil sight glass.
 To adjust freeplay:
@@ Line 10: / Line 11: @@
 *Tighten the locknut.
-[[Image:13adjuster2.jpg|300px]]
+[[Image:13adjuster2.jpg|200px]]
-[[Image:adjuster-2.jpg|200px]]
+[[Image:adjuster-2.jpg|150px]]
+[[Image:25freeplay.jpg|170px]]
 Measure free play as so:
@@ Line 17: / Line 20: @@
 [[Image:596594.jpg|200px]]
-*If your cable has stretched so much that you can't adjust it at the lever, loosen the bar adjusters and take some of the slack out by tightening the lower adjusting nuts.
+*If your cable has stretched so much that you can't adjust it at the lever, loosen (back off) the bar adjuster all the way, then take some of the slack out by tightening the lower adjusting nuts. The lower adjusting nuts are on the right side of the engine, near the oil sight glass.
+[[Image:14aside.jpg|150px]]
+Adjust the clutch end first. Make sure the clutch lever is pushed up, removing any play from the lever.
+[[Image:23leverpush.jpg|170px]]
+Now adjust the cable to remove most of the free play. Make sure to tighten both locknuts.
+[[Image:24locktite.jpg|170px]]
+====Cable breakage====
+The clutch cable tends to break more often than many people think it should, usually right here:
+[[image:Fray2w.jpg|150px]]
+Since dealers quite often don't have these in stock, you might want to get a spare cable and zip-tie it to the current one. Should your cable break, it is just a matter of hooking up both ends and you are on your way home. That or [[Can I ride my bike home if the clutch cable breaks?|shifting clutchless]] for the rest of your ride.
-'''Alternative adjustment method'''
+====Alternative adjustment method====
 Wes doesn't measure the free play distance, but likes it to engage when the lever is about 1 inch away from the handlebar. That way there is enough movement that the bike doesn't creep forward when the lever is pulled all the way in, but it moves when the lever is released. He does it that way to try to prevent fatigue in his clutch hand. It doesn't seem to cause excessive wear on the clutch plates.