Author Topic: Clutch cable too long?  (Read 3301 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline stereosilence

  • Hot Shot
  • ***
  • Posts: 544
  • 1975 CB550K
Clutch cable too long?
« on: May 23, 2012, 05:15:39 PM »
My clutch cable is connected to the clutch lever, but it is set to take up the maximum slack and so it is in the way of where my unipod needs to go. I have clubman handle bars, do you think the PO *spits* changed the bars and kept a stock clutch cable and I need a shorter one? All the adjustments are basically at their extremes to get the proper clutch operation.

If so, any idea what length clutch cable I would need?


Offline LesterPiglet

  • Old Timer
  • ******
  • Posts: 4,046
  • 1977 CB550F2
Re: Clutch cable too long?
« Reply #1 on: May 23, 2012, 05:40:26 PM »
The only way the cable won't operate the clutch is if the inner cable has been replaced with a longer one. If it was a stock cable and too long there would be a routing problem, not adjustment. Is it stretched? Have you slackened the cable off and taken the adjustment up with the screw on the bottom of the clutch casing?
'Then' and 'than' are completely different words and have completely different meanings. Same with 'of' and 'have'. Set and sit. There, their and they're. Draw and drawer. Could care less/couldn't care less. Bought/brought FFS.


Les Ross.            Certified by a Professional

Offline Rigid

  • She likes a
  • Expert
  • ****
  • Posts: 821
  • Speak from personal experience, or don't
    • KingCustomCycles
Re: Clutch cable too long?
« Reply #2 on: May 23, 2012, 06:04:59 PM »
Just did a 550 clutch cable yesterday.  It took a bunch of screwing on the fittings at the arm end to take out the slack.  The clubmans I have done used the stock cable but I looped it out of the tree beside the headlight.  Don't know if shorter cables can even be ordered but it is no big deal to cut them and reattach the barrel by using a length of copper filled with solder and drilled for the cable.
36 years of this stuff, here to help.

Offline stereosilence

  • Hot Shot
  • ***
  • Posts: 544
  • 1975 CB550K
Re: Clutch cable too long?
« Reply #3 on: May 23, 2012, 07:38:24 PM »
It is hard to see in the picture, but to get the clutch adjusted properly, I basically had to thread the bolts out all the way (take up maximum slack). If the clutch cable gets any looser, there will be nothing I can do. In this configuration, so much of the adjustment bolt is above the loop on the clutch housing that the pod won't fit on there. The cable itself is a PITA because it has so much extra length, it is wound all around and is bowing out from under the tank in funny places.

Does anyone know the stock length of the 550 clutch cable? That bone head may have just grabbed a random cable and stuck it on there.

Offline dave500

  • Really Old Timer ...
  • *******
  • Posts: 17,023
  • WHAT?no gravy?
Re: Clutch cable too long?
« Reply #4 on: May 23, 2012, 11:19:34 PM »
the 500 one is similar but wont work on a 550,you need this much free slack on a 550 cable disconnected both ends,if yours is longer it may be a 500 cable?

Offline Dimitri13

  • Not a
  • Master
  • *****
  • Posts: 1,603
  • 1974 CB550K
Re: Clutch cable too long?
« Reply #5 on: May 24, 2012, 02:31:16 AM »
Likely your cable is just stretched and worn out. With clubman bars, you'll need a shorter cable if you want to keep the visual clutter down. First thing I'd recommend is replacing the cable, then if you feel like, get it shortened.