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Stiff clutch

  • Thread starter Thread starter MN850
  • Start date Start date
M

MN850

Guest
Hey all! I'm a new member but I've been looking at the site for about a year now. I put a new clutch cable in this fall and its way stiffer than the one I took out. I figured it would loosen over time but never did. What are some things I can do to make it easier to pull? Also this is a bit off topic but what is the stock rear shock length of my '80 GS850? Thanks for the help!
 
Welcome.

New cable shouldn't really bother stiffness of the lever pull unless its dragging. Did you lubricate it and is everything properly adjusted to factory specs?
 
If the cable is the only thing you changed, look at the routing. It's rather sensitive in that regard.

Your stock shocks are 13 inches from eye center to eye center.



If you have been "looking at the site for about a year now", you should know:
worthless.gif


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I did not lube it. I didn't lube the last one and it worked fine.
 
I just got engaged and this is a photo from our engagement photo session.
 
Here, let's make them bigger and put them together:





By the way, with the shape of the tank and the shorter pipes, that's an 850L.


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Thanks Steve. It is an 850L. I am in the process of making it into a bobber of sorts...for 2 riders. I flipped the clubman bars and am working on a way to make a rear fender that is passenger friendly and keeping the shocks. It's tough on the wrists to take long trips on a cafe bike.
 
Theres a difference between "fine" and "properly". Usually they come with a factory grease but something more wont hurt that way the small cable fibers won't bind inside the housing.

I'm guessing its slow to release, if not then the cable should be fine and you would need to check the adjustment screws. Could be the routing of it, shorter cable, etc.
 
With those bars, if you're using the standard length clutch cable, I'm betting it's kinked up and binding, causing your clutch problems. A standard length clutch cable on those bars should be looping way out in front of your bike to keep it from binding.
 
Ranger,
It's a tough pull. I really just noticed it when I remounted my bars....but it was also about 12 degrees in garage and that could have been the reason.
 
Steve said:
Just out of curiosity, what are you calling a "long trip"? :-k

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Click to expand...

You take short trips Steve, you ought to know what a long trip is. :cool:
I find 1200 miles non stop in a car to be short so you need to ride LONGER without rest!
 
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I'd love to ride longer but my throttle hand ends up going numb and falling asleep after about 60 miles. I love the cafe look but I've had it that way for 3 years and want something new.
 
Did not lube the cable? What the helll?
Oh please do get some dryslide stuff and pump it in.
Indulge me.

And the routing thing is super important.
 
I never have lubed it in the past. I will check the routing and see if that helps. Thanks guys!
 
I am with Dan on this one, a standard L cable on that setup would be way to long to route normaly, somewhere in there, there is a turn that that cable is not happy with, I would lift the tank and see how you can re route it better, unfortunatly you are going to have a pretty long bit of cable sticking out.
A standard "G" cable as opposed to the "L" cable would be much better for the application.

Also check that the angle at the clutch arm at the motor is correct, the arm should be 90 degrees to the cable, or pretty damn close to.
 
Steve said:
Just out of curiosity, what are you calling a "long trip"?
Click to expand...

MN850 said:
I'd say a full tank without stopping.
Click to expand...

DanTheMan said:
Then, you're looking at a "long trip" of 90-110 miles?:D
Click to expand...
I was thinking the same thing. :D
Ranger said:
You take short trips Steve, you ought to know what a long trip is. :cool:
Click to expand...
My only "short trips" are commuting to work. I consider 90-110 mile rides as "the long way home" from work. :p

For "longer" trips, I figure on doing 350-500 miles per day, depending on where we are going and what there is to see on the way. A weekend will easily be over 1000 miles, a week-long trip will be 2500-3000. :eek:

MN850 said:
I'd love to ride longer but my throttle hand ends up going numb and falling asleep after about 60 miles.
Click to expand...
Have you looked into getting a throttle lock?
Check out the Vista Universal Cruise Control at Amazon.com. $32 +shipping.
It is available in black or chrome, here is how it looks:

IMG_3501.jpg


IMG_3502.jpg


Very easy to operate when you want it, very easy to ignore when you don't. Don't let the "throttle LOCK" confuse you, though, you can still move the grip without releasing the clamp. I have had one on every bike I have ever owned that did not have a "real" cruise control on it.


MN850 said:
I love the cafe look but I've had it that way for 3 years and want something new.
Click to expand...
Are you going to re-arrange the current bike or are you looking for something totally different? If you can handle two bikes, keep your 'cafe' for sporting around, get another one for 'tour' duty. :D

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