clutch lever/cable help!

S

sesamestreet

Well-known member
Hey i just have a question regarding the clutch lever and cable. i know that when pulling the lever the clutch shouldn't engage right at the beginning of the pull, but mine does this. and when letting go of the lever, it doesn't return to the default position but seems like it's tugging on the clutch cable a little bit. what can be done to correct this?!
 
sesamestreet said:
Hey i just have a question regarding the clutch lever and cable. i know that when pulling the lever the clutch shouldn't engage right at the beginning of the pull, but mine does this. and when letting go of the lever, it doesn't return to the default position but seems like it's tugging on the clutch cable a little bit. what can be done to correct this?!
Click to expand...

What bike?

Likely a full clutch adjustment on both ends. Some bikes have addition steps I think (I know the GS500 and GSXR)
 
its a suzuki s40. i just went to check it out some more in the garage. it seems that the lever might have been turned up too high. i swiveled it a bit lower and it seems fine. basically when i pull the lever, i see the lever at the side of the clutch cover move but i don't FEEL any resistance until its pulled a bit more. so now my question is, is the slack supposed to be in terms of when you actually feel resistance? or should the arm outside the clutch cover not move?
 
sesamestreet said:
so now my question is, is the slack supposed to be in terms of when you actually feel resistance?
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That's called clutch freeplay. Some people like lots (so that as soon as you release the lever from the grip it starts to engage, but with stock levers it'll make them very sloppy as you describe), some people like it tight so they don't have to pull it very far to disengage the clutch (and it's easier to hold it against the bar, good for stop and go traffic).

Here is how you set the freeplay properly, for your stock levers:

[video=youtube;eRBGiTrpp7I]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRBGiTrpp7I[/video]

Pick up a nice set of adjustable levers for your bike if you like the engage/disengage point and just want to get rid of the slack/sloppyness.

-Jamie M.
 
i actually just saw that video. but my question is more about the arm at the side of the case that activates the clutch. is it supposed to move during freeplay? basically how it's set up right now, is that the arm at the side of the case moves evenly with the clutch lever, then comes the actual resistance of the clutch. is this proper, or is the arm at the side of the case supposed to be still during freeplay?
 
sesamestreet said:
i actually just saw that video. but my question is more about the arm at the side of the case that activates the clutch. is it supposed to move during freeplay? basically how it's set up right now, is that the arm at the side of the case moves evenly with the clutch lever, then comes the actual resistance of the clutch. is this proper, or is the arm at the side of the case supposed to be still during freeplay?
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You set the free play to the point you get resistance, you should be taking out almost all of the pre-movement of the arm before resistance.

-Jamie M.
 
ok looking at the video a bit more closely makes me think something is wrong with my clutch lever. it never goes all the way back, but rather stops leaving that freeplay gap.
 
sesamestreet said:
ok looking at the video a bit more closely makes me think something is wrong with my clutch lever. it never goes all the way back, but rather stops leaving that freeplay gap.
Click to expand...
You should be able to adjust it at the lever adjustment so that it goes all the way back (well, ALMOST all the way back, coin width is what I tell people to use). If someone has messed around with the adjustment at the clutch arm you might not have enough adjustment at the lever to take up all the freeplay.

-Jamie M.
 
oh ok it goes back but does leave that coin-width gap. but seeing that video, the guy's lever went ALL the way back.
 
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sesamestreet said:
oh ok it goes back but does leave that coin-width gap. but seeing that video, the guy's lever went ALL the way back.
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The coin width gap is safe. If you make it go ALL the way back it can hold your clutch partially disengaged = not good if it slips!!!

Sounds like you have it as good as you can get it with stock levers. I asked google about some adjustable levers for your bike and they said no.

-Jamie M.
 
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