What is this?

[Guest]

This pin in the center of the picture, in front of the drive sprocket. I cannot find it in the Clymer or the downloaded manual. It seems to line up with the clutch cable mechanism. It is loose It seems to spin and move in and out easily.

what is it.jpg

[tkent02]

That's the clutch pushrod. The cable mechanism pushes it in which releases the clutch.

[Trainer6]

Thank you. It does not seem to have any way of connecting to the cable mechanism. When I move the cable it appears like it should twist the rod rather than push it. When I try to put the cover on, just a slight touch and it slides inside of the motor. It is possible there may be something missing.

[gbw]

Its been a while since I was in that part of my 77 GS750, but as I recall, that twisting motion actually causes a sort of cam action that pushes the rod. It doesn't move very much. Maybe a quarter of an inch or so.

[Trainer6]

There is more history with this mechanism. I was trying to figure out what it was. Now that I know it is the clutch push rod. I inherited this problem with the bike. Apparently the former owner tried to change the clutch cable by himself. It all went south. He said he dropped something and didn't know what it was. The push rod on my bike moves quite a bit. It seems like I could easily pull it straight out.

[trippivot]

yes the rod "floats" in there -"common oil leak area" - the mechanism in the cover has an adjuster -NOW - some do, have a spherical ball bearing that goes in between the rod and cover mounted actuator.

if you install the new cable and cannot remove all the slack from clutch cable (loose lever) you know the ball is missing.

usually guys have a problem with the adjuster being too tight and the cover is difficult to bolt down tightly - as you overcome the clutch spring tension.

[Trainer6]

Good info. With the cover off there seems to be "normal" tension on the clutch lever. So how to tell if a part is missing. It difficult for a newbie like me who ay not know what the actual feel should be.

When I look into the clutch cable mechanism. I don't know the exact name. There is nothing inside. The spring gives it the feel that I would expect. Is there something visual I should see? I can easily take more pictures if that would help.

[Nessism]

Look up the parts diagram for your bike to judge if all the parts are there...http://www.alpha-sports.com/suzuki_parts.htm

There is a helix that moves when you pull the cable. Sometimes people remove the helix to install a new cable and when they put it back in they mess up the indexing. You may have to experiment with this aspect. First thing is learn how to adjust the cable using the screw on the engine cover. Before messing with that be sure to screw the cable stop adjuster all the way in first, both at the lever and at the clutch cover. Then try adjusting the helix using the screw.

[Trainer6]

This is getting more and more helpful. So the part that I am referring to is the Push rod L. I kept seeing only the push rod on the clutch side "push rod R". I looked at this diagram for several days now and didn't pick up on the "push rod L" . And because the clutch is not installed on the other side, there is no tension. Stupid me, I didn't connect the "push rods". The L fits into the cable mechanism. Seems kinda loose. But, by the diagram, it does not appear that I am missing any parts. It seems the helix causes the rod to push some how. I will have to wait till my clutch arrives before I can play with adjusting screw.