repairing clutch cable end or replacing with amazon part

[Richsuz]

So this is happening to my clutch cable. Less than a year old. Suzuki OEM $35.

<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/J51yLjAfPWAXvE5HP2lRAA?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-MR_is7nzsUs/TnowGG9FClI/AAAAAAAABUA/srKGghOiaX4/s640/HPIM4012.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/chichitochang/September212011?authuser=0&feat=embedwebsite">September 21, 2011</a></td></tr></table>


Can I repair it with one of those brass cable ends? IT is all in very good shape, except for the very end, lubbed every three months or so.

Or should I order this from amazon for $7

http://www.amazon.com/Clutch-Cable-1981-1983-Suzuki-GS650/dp/B004JPPBZ6

I says it fits ALL GS650 81 to 83, I got a GLD with lower bars.

 

[koolaid_kid]

First link does not work.
I would get a new cable, possibly repair the old one to keep as a spare. I try to always carry spare cables on long rides; small towns rarely have GS cables in stock.

 

[Richsuz]

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/J51yLjAfPWAXvE5HP2lRAA?feat=directlink

how about this? and is non OEM OK? OEM did prove bad, anyway

 

[Richsuz]

https://picasaweb.google.com/106907057257885977795/September212011#5654885163621222994

 

[koolaid_kid]

Those appear to have been cut. Before you spend any more money, you need to find out how they were cut and repair the issue. Normal wear at the barrel (ferule) will have them splayed out all over the place as they tend to break one or two at a time.
Aftermarket cables are not always as robust as OEM, btw. I have run both and prefer OEM, but that's just me.

 

[Richsuz]

You mean intentionally cut? or caused by mechanical action of the lever or such? Bad fab maybe? Now that you pointed that out it looks like an abnormal failure mode.

 

[Agemax]

You mean intentionally cut? or caused by mechanical action of the lever or such? Bad fab maybe? Now that you pointed that out it looks like an abnormal failure mode.

maybe you had the cable routed wrong causing the cable to fail?
OE stuff is usually pretty good compared to aftermarket stuff

 

[koolaid_kid]

(Just a guess)
The fact that they are cut right at the barrel suggests that the barrel was not perpendicular to the lever during actuation. In plain English, it don't not look like it was stayin' lined up with the rest of the cable.
When I install a cable, I first lube the inner stranded cable by my current method of preference. I then put a very small amount of grease on the barrel itself, insert the cable and then take up the slack.
In your case, I would look under the bars up at the lever and see if anything is binding when the lever is actuated.

 

[apopleptic]

That looks kindof like a bad crimp. I'm no expert though.
Can you tell if there are pieces of the cable still in the crimp? it almost looks like the slid right out.

 

[Richsuz]

Thanks guys. In closer inspection seems like a combo problem. Bad crimp (I actually see no sign of the entire cable having been inside the barrel) and the cable being too long for my application ha I will have it repair at a place that MAKES custom cables for cars and also have it shortened about three inches. This is a GL that I replaced the buckhorns with a smaller jap bike bar, making the clutch cable a tight fit.

 

[koolaid_kid]

Excellent. Most issues are multi-layered, we call it pealing away the layers of the onion. Hopefully you have found root cause. Best of luck.