Clutch lever broken

[Greybeard]

I was out having a very nice tootle this afternoon. After a while I was in traffic and I was finding it hard to get the bike into neutral when I was stopped. Right in the centre of Warwick the handlebar clutch lever snapped! Luckily I was next to a parking bay. I stopped the bike by stalling it. After a few panic stricken minutes I figured out that I could use the brake lever for the clutch. I didn't fancy trying to declutch while using the twistgrip so I removed the broken lever, detached the front brake cable and swapped the brake lever to the left hand side of the bars. After a few minutes I was ready to roll but minus a front brake. I was hoping someone watching realised that they'd just witnessed shere genius in action 😎. I carried on to my destination, an Esso garage, filled up with E5 fuel and rode home.
I want to use the bike tomorrow so I dug out the original and rusty handlebar levers that I've hung on to with the possible intention of getting them rechromed. I fitted the brake lever, popped the cable nipple into the hole and knelt down to put the cable back onto the brake drum lever. Hold on, there was a sort of stirrup on there earlier! It was gorn! 😕 I then had to spend time making up a new stirrup from some SS strip.

I use the front brake a lot so riding without one feels very wrong.

[Topdad]

Well done GB a real 60's road side get you home mod! like you i use the front brake a lot so there'd have been many snarly engine moments when I braked only to declutch , good fun as it ended well, take care Bob

[dave55]

If your clamp part is good you can buy just the blades on Ebay for about £12 a pair ,ebay item number 143229590189

[Greybeard]

Well done GB a real 60's road side get you home mod! like you i use the front brake a lot so there'd have been many snarly engine moments when I braked only to declutch , good fun as it ended well, take care Bob

I swapped the brake lever to the left side for the clutch so no snarly moments. 👍

[Greybeard]

Update. I bought a pair of new Wassell handlebar levers. I fitted the clutch lever. If I pull in the clutch I can see the lever anchor flexing because the little web that presumably is designed to brace the anchor is not  in contact with the handlebar, (see photo). I'm pondering making a sleeve to put around the bar at that point to fill that gap. I have a feeling that this has been discussed on the forum in the past. What are your thunks?

The lever that snapped was a modern one, probably from Wassell as well. The anchor is made of monkey metal.

I suppose those levers are fine on bikes with a light clutch but I've had to increase the cover plate pressure to cure clutch slip on hard acceleration.

[groily]

I am very picky about lever operation and my thoughts are unprintable about some of the flimsy levers out there! I recently replaced a pair on another bike with Dohertys, ball enders with 7/8 centres which improve lightness. Obtained from the extremely helpful Steve Surbey at http://www.amcclassicspares.com/

A possible hassle is whether or not combined ign & air slide versions are available (not that you have that sort in the pic). My new ones were plain so I used separate Amals from the bits box for the ancillaries.
Yes, clutter on 'bars, but truly chalk and cheese in terms of quality and 'feel'.

I'd rather have tired-looking good ones, at 7/8ths, with or without ball ends, than any number of shiny flimsy ones which are more theatre than function frankly.

[Bsareg]

I've snapped a couple of decompressor levers, as GB says they are made of monkey metal (presumably Mazak). They had Wassel part nos on the wrapping.

[Greybeard]

https://youtu.be/KiY6OdbDFmk

[bikerbob]

That is a good job you have done there, the only addition I would do is to polish bush up to a mirror finish so it is not noticeable then I would glue the handgrip to the handlebars so nothing can move backwards. The only reason I mention glueing the handgrip is that is what I had to do to the grips on my A65 as over time they did tend to slide back and you never really noticed until they were quite away back.

[Greybeard]

That is a good job you have done there, the only addition I would do is to polish bush up to a mirror finish so it is not noticeable then I would glue the handgrip to the handlebars so nothing can move backwards. The only reason I mention glueing the handgrip is that is what I had to do to the grips on my A65 as over time they did tend to slide back and you never really noticed until they were quite away back.

I'm planning to glue the grips on 👍. I've had a grip slide off while I was manhandling a bike. Soiled underwear ensued.
I guess I should polish the collar but I'm not sure I can be bothered.🤔

[Greybeard]

.... polish bush up to a mirror finish...

Just for you....

[Roger (Doomtrainbarx)]

What bush ??   

[Greybeard]

What bush ??   

George 👍

[Jules]

very neat outcome Neil