Author Topic: clutch adjustment question  (Read 1335 times)

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JWExperience

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clutch adjustment question
« on: March 20, 2014, 07:30:15 PM »
I'm wondering if there is a way to adjust the clutch to reduce the long let out in the clutch lever before it begins to engage. I've searched around on this and found people talking about it being normal but not really getting into how to adjust it out if possible(maybe its not). I have tried to adjust a few things on the bike but have not made much progress. I was thinking maybe a slightly shorter cable from motion pro might do it? I ridden several different bikes and they usually begin to engage somewhere around halfway out on the clutch, mine feels like its all the way out before it engages. Is my clutch worn? I don't have any slipping issues at the moment. Thanks for any help.

Offline HondaMan

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Re: clutch adjustment question
« Reply #1 on: March 20, 2014, 08:14:38 PM »
Which bike is it? 750? 500? 550? etc.
See SOHC4shop.com for info about the gadgets I make for these bikes.

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Link to Hondaman Ignition: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=67543.0

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Offline bjbuchanan

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Re: clutch adjustment question
« Reply #2 on: March 21, 2014, 11:32:16 AM »
750 have a little bit farther out throw than some other bikes. Makes it feel "wrong" until you get used to it. Hard to ride if you are the burger king guy



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« Last Edit: March 21, 2014, 11:34:15 AM by bjbuchanan »
The dirty girl-1976 cb750k, Ebay 836, Tracy bodykit
Round top carbs w/ 38 pilots, middle needle position, airscrew 7/8ths out, 122 main jet
Stock airbox w/ drop in K&N, Hooker 4-1

Don't trust me alone with a claw hammer and some pliers

Offline MarshallCS

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Re: clutch adjustment question
« Reply #3 on: March 21, 2014, 12:21:01 PM »
I have the same experience with my 750f. I too would love to know how to fix this
First and Only Bike
1978 Honda CB750F Supersport

Offline bjbuchanan

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Re: clutch adjustment question
« Reply #4 on: March 21, 2014, 05:09:07 PM »
I have the same experience with my 750f. I too would love to know how to fix this

You don't

You either play with a bunch of slop and make sure it still totally functions when pulled all the way in or you deal with it. Some guys run dogleg, myself included to bring the lever closer but the clutch still is far out comparably
The dirty girl-1976 cb750k, Ebay 836, Tracy bodykit
Round top carbs w/ 38 pilots, middle needle position, airscrew 7/8ths out, 122 main jet
Stock airbox w/ drop in K&N, Hooker 4-1

Don't trust me alone with a claw hammer and some pliers

Offline MarshallCS

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Re: clutch adjustment question
« Reply #5 on: March 21, 2014, 05:14:12 PM »
I think we are both talking about the engagement point being at the end of the lever travel instead of the distance of the lever to the bar
First and Only Bike
1978 Honda CB750F Supersport

Offline HondaMan

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Re: clutch adjustment question
« Reply #6 on: March 21, 2014, 08:13:47 PM »
The normal (OEM) engagement on these clutches is a small movement zone. This is due to having barely enough oil in the plates, relative to the amount of spring pressure on the plates. This makes them, in a word, "grab" quickly. See below for 'fixes' to this issue...

The adjustment on the 750 is simple: set the handlebar adjusters all the way in for some slack, then adjust the arm at the clutch for 1/4 turn from the "stop", which is: loosen the 12mm nut and adjust the slotted screw head in until it touches the lifter, then back out 1/4 turn and hold it there while you tighten it. If there is slack you dislike at the handlebar then, adjust the nuts and thread at the cable adjuster adjacent to the clutch housing: the lever should freely move between 1/2" and 3/4" as measured at the outer end. This method will let the clutch start to grip at about 1/3 of the travel from the grip, and fully engage by 2/3 of the travel.

If the clutch feels too sudden for your taste, you're not alone: in the early days of these bikes, the clutch was often described as an "in-out box" such as was found in go-karts of those days. To make the grip more progressive over a wider lever range (and smoother), you can add up to 4 holes in the inner clutch hub to increase the amount of oil in the plates, or you can cut down the tiny "dam" that is in front of the rearmost 4 holes, and cut sipes in a "v" shape in front of the remaining holes to gather a little more oil. It doesn't take a lot more oil to smooth them out. Pictures of this appear in the "clutch" section in my book. ;)
« Last Edit: March 22, 2014, 03:05:45 PM by HondaMan »
See SOHC4shop.com for info about the gadgets I make for these bikes.

The demons are repulsed when a man does good. Use that.
Blood is thicker than water, but motor oil is thicker yet...so, don't mess with my SOHC4, or I might have to hurt you.
Hondaman's creed: "Bikers are family. Treat them accordingly."

Link to Hondaman Ignition: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=67543.0

Link to My CB750 Book: https://www.lulu.com/search?adult_audience_rating=00&page=1&pageSize=10&q=my+cb750+book
Link to My CB500/CB550 Book: https://www.lulu.com/search?sortBy=RELEVANCE&page=1&q=my+cb550+book&pageSize=10&adult_audience_rating=00
Link to website: https://sohc4shop.com/  (Note: no longer at www.SOHC4shop.com, moved off WWW. in 2024).

JWExperience

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Re: clutch adjustment question
« Reply #7 on: March 22, 2014, 08:25:44 AM »
It's a 76 750k. Thanks for the responses, I'll take a look at that

Offline lucky

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Re: clutch adjustment question
« Reply #8 on: March 22, 2014, 08:27:37 AM »
You cannot "adjust" a clutch.

You can only adjust the point when it engages.
The handlebar lever is also adjustable.

JWExperience

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Re: clutch adjustment question
« Reply #9 on: March 22, 2014, 05:08:42 PM »
That's the point of my question.

Offline bjbuchanan

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Re: clutch adjustment question
« Reply #10 on: March 22, 2014, 06:20:52 PM »
You can alter how grabby the clutch is with the hub mod, I have done it myself and it works. You get more of a smooth transition, less on/off feeling to the clutch.

What you can't do, without sacrificing in some way is to effectively move where it engages. Your bike is fine, it is just the way it is. Get an 8$ dog leg lever, dip it in plastidip because it looks cool with the rubber tip and run it. It helps
The dirty girl-1976 cb750k, Ebay 836, Tracy bodykit
Round top carbs w/ 38 pilots, middle needle position, airscrew 7/8ths out, 122 main jet
Stock airbox w/ drop in K&N, Hooker 4-1

Don't trust me alone with a claw hammer and some pliers

JWExperience

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Re: clutch adjustment question
« Reply #11 on: March 22, 2014, 10:15:19 PM »
I'm ok with how my clutch feels, I'm just so used to a quicker engagement point that I was hoping to change that. I'll just get used to it how it is, it seems to function perfect so I'm not that worried about it anyways. More of a preference thing. Thanks for all the replies.