Author Topic: continually adjusting clutch cable  (Read 5432 times)

Offline peter small

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continually adjusting clutch cable
« on: 08.12. 2015 12:54 »
Anyone had this happen its driving me insane.

The bike is a swing arm Road Rocket standard box.
Its fitted with a 6 spring clutch which is new New cables, just replaced the clutch rod and adjuster.
I have the actuating lever set up correctly with slight play on the rod.

But riding and keeping the clutch in the lever has more play and eventually the clutch drags until i take the slack up on the cable again this is the sixth time ive had to do it.
Do i carry on doing it or is it something else, never had this on other bikes i own.

Pete
BSA ROAD ROCKET 650cc 1954
Norton commando Roadster 750cc 1972
Triumph T140 Silver jubilee 750cc 1977
Honda Pan European ST1100  2000
Honda C90 1990

Offline a101960

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Re: continually adjusting clutch cable
« Reply #1 on: 08.12. 2015 13:24 »
Sounds like the rod ends have not been hardened

Offline terryg

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Re: continually adjusting clutch cable
« Reply #2 on: 08.12. 2015 13:40 »
Agree with a101960.

By the time I realised what was going wrong I found the rod ends looking like mushrooms. The rod ended up too short after reshaping, so I cut it in two and put a ball bearing between the two halves. Of course, after hardening 4 ends!
Terry
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Offline duTch

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Re: continually adjusting clutch cable
« Reply #3 on: 08.12. 2015 15:55 »

 I sometimes have a similar thing, for various reasons and doing it again lately. I have an adjuster on the handlebar lever, and find that if it's not 'locked' in the 'notch' it vibrates loose.  Last week it didn't do the trick so addressed it differently and found the pushrod adjuster was loose, but I think it was because I'd been fiddling with it and forgot to tighten it properly. It won't in your case be, but I also found a flat-spot on its ball, and trying to determine if it may be ok if the flat-spot stays engaged with the rod end *eek*.

 Otherwise, I've had a bit of an ongoing issue with one of the pressure springs undoing. It was all OK when I checked in conjunction with  above, but the little tabs on the spring adjuster nuts that engage with the spring ends to stop undoing (I guess that's the intent) are worn away, but previously was I think due to using five friction plates (as per parts list), but the springs don't engage enough, so I dropped one of each out and it's much better(six spring Plunger model, new plates).
 I think I asked a while ago about clutch springs, as I bought new ones from DragAnFly, and received right-hand wound ones(even though I specified L/H *rant*), and all the others I have are left-hand wound, so wonder if they are in fact any different in service. I haven't used them yet.
  Can't think of any other possibilities for you  at this stage......


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Offline Klaus

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Re: continually adjusting clutch cable
« Reply #4 on: 08.12. 2015 16:09 »
I agree with the others, the rod is worn.

But if its not the rod, have a look at the cluth, is realy bolt on and fix at the taper.

cheers Klaus


If you think, everything is under control, you are not fast enought.

BSA DB34 Goldstar, BSA A10 Road Rocked, BSA A7 Shooting Star, BSA M33, BSA M24, Kawa W650

Offline Butch (cb)

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Re: continually adjusting clutch cable
« Reply #5 on: 08.12. 2015 16:37 »
Unlikely, but I have had it on my James where the nipple was gradually easing itself off the cable. Took a few adjustments before it popped off.
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Offline metalflake11

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Re: continually adjusting clutch cable
« Reply #6 on: 08.12. 2015 16:48 »
The only time this has happened to me, the clutch nut had come loose.
England N.W
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Offline Greybeard

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Re: continually adjusting clutch cable
« Reply #7 on: 08.12. 2015 16:54 »
...I bought new ones from DragAnFly, and received right-hand wound ones(even though I specified L/H *rant*)
Is that necessary because you are south of the Equator; like bath water spinning down the plug-hole the other way?
Greybeard (Neil)
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Offline peter small

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Re: continually adjusting clutch cable
« Reply #8 on: 08.12. 2015 17:42 »
Wow what a lot of replies

The old rod was  worn i did harden it but problem persisted so i renewed the rod and the adjuster so that it was all new, 2 days ago.
The clutch basket outer/  inner pressure  plate and all the plates bearings springs nuts friction an plain plates are new.

There`s no adjuster on the bars only able to adjust at the gearbox.
The push rod adjuster i wound in until it touched and then wound it back 1/4 of a turn

I did set the pressure plate up with a D.T.i and it runs true so much so at tick over the rear wheel does not rotate at all.

I suppose i will have to continue until the cables sort themselves out or the clutch falls off.

Pete

BSA ROAD ROCKET 650cc 1954
Norton commando Roadster 750cc 1972
Triumph T140 Silver jubilee 750cc 1977
Honda Pan European ST1100  2000
Honda C90 1990

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Re: continually adjusting clutch cable
« Reply #9 on: 08.12. 2015 18:43 »
G'day Pete.
All good answers above. Others include poor quality inner cable stretching or outer compressing. All things expand when hot so maybe the stack of plates are growing. Does adjustment return once everything has cooled?
Cheers
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Offline peter small

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Re: continually adjusting clutch cable
« Reply #10 on: 08.12. 2015 21:50 »
Good day
Haven`t checked whether it returns as normal when cooling Ive been carrying the spanners round with me to adjust it to get home.
Im off out on it tomorrow so i will check it to see if it reverts to original adjustment.

Cheap cable might be a cause i usually fit the PTFE liners.

Pete
BSA ROAD ROCKET 650cc 1954
Norton commando Roadster 750cc 1972
Triumph T140 Silver jubilee 750cc 1977
Honda Pan European ST1100  2000
Honda C90 1990

Offline Klaus

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Re: continually adjusting clutch cable
« Reply #11 on: 09.12. 2015 08:43 »


There`s no adjuster on the bars only able to adjust at the gearbox.
The push rod adjuster i wound in until it touched and then wound it back 1/4 of a turn



Pete


I'm little confused you said there is no adjuster.
As l know, iff there is no adjuster at the levers, an adjuster is fit at the cable screwed in the gearbox cover.


cheers Klaus


If you think, everything is under control, you are not fast enought.

BSA DB34 Goldstar, BSA A10 Road Rocked, BSA A7 Shooting Star, BSA M33, BSA M24, Kawa W650

Offline peter small

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Re: continually adjusting clutch cable
« Reply #12 on: 09.12. 2015 19:16 »
Today a forty mile ride
Still have a problem the new rod has mushroomed at the adjuster end not hard enough.
The adjuster is on the gearbox only.
Onto the supplier tomorrow.
Pete
BSA ROAD ROCKET 650cc 1954
Norton commando Roadster 750cc 1972
Triumph T140 Silver jubilee 750cc 1977
Honda Pan European ST1100  2000
Honda C90 1990

Offline peter small

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Re: continually adjusting clutch cable
« Reply #13 on: 16.12. 2015 22:01 »
Supplier awaiting new stock of push rods hardened the old one but problem still there.
Decided ive had enough of the 6 spring clutch
So ive ordered a 4 spring clutch to replace it.
Let you know how it goes.
BSA ROAD ROCKET 650cc 1954
Norton commando Roadster 750cc 1972
Triumph T140 Silver jubilee 750cc 1977
Honda Pan European ST1100  2000
Honda C90 1990

Offline Butch (cb)

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Re: continually adjusting clutch cable
« Reply #14 on: 17.12. 2015 12:43 »
Where did you order the 4 spring from? Thanks.

Warning - observations made by this member have a 93% unreliability rating.

Of Bikes; various, including ...
'58 S/Arm Iron Head Flash Bitza