Author Topic: Mysteries of the CB500 Clutch...REVEALED! (Read 52984 times)

cafepenguin · « **Reply #100 on:** June 08, 2012, 11:22:01 AM »

And I'm right there with this problem....

First, hello and yes, I'm a noob on this.

I have a 73 CB500 that the clutch has of course been giving me problems. First, it seemed like it was locked in permanent engagement. Meaning, I pulled the lever in, then it was stuck and the cable was all slack. It wasn't releasing so that I could drive, though I could shift through all the gears. What might cause this? I pulled the left case apart and fiddled with it, not seeing anything wrong and put it back together. It worked fine for a short while, then same problem again.

What I've check and done....
1.) New clutch Cable.
2.) Pulled rod and inspected, looks good. (though I haven't measured it yet to see if it has worn down.)

I put it back together and tried riding, the clutch seems to be extremely tight, and if I adjust and loosen it, while clutch is pulled in and I'm in first, even if I have it pulled all the way in, it seems to want to pull forward as if I had let it go...

One more thing, after riding for just a bit, the clutch is very clunky, meaning, it takes a lot for me to push or pull the shifter to get it into gear. What might be causing this? Is it possible that the clutch plates are worn and I just need to replace those? Could that be causing this?

Thanks so much for any assistance anyone might have on this.

james

Anghil · « **Reply #101 on:** June 13, 2012, 04:15:27 PM »

Sounds like a similar problem I was having on top of my lifter rod issue. Inside the left crank case is the clutch adjuster, where the cable connects to. The point where the cable connects on mine was so worn down that the clutch cable wouldn't and couldn't disengage completely, making it want to go in gear even with the clutch lever pulled in all the way.

Buzzard Toast · « **Reply #102 on:** June 21, 2012, 11:52:35 AM »

After not finding any issues with the lifter rod, cable, or adjuster; I moved over to the other side of the bike. Pulled the clutch case cover and inspected the clutch basket. From what I could see, everything on that side was operating as expected with the exception of the tension on the plates releasing; hence the heavy clutch pull on the lever. The plates are not stuck and the bike shifts smoothly, just too hard to pull the lever and actually broke a cable at one point. I believe the problem is with the springs. The springs look far too heavy duty and could definitely be the cause of the heavy pull on the lever. Who knows if someone swapped them out to prevent slippage, or even used the right ones at all. I will be placing an order for some new ones from Slingshot-Cycles.com; and let you guys know if this solves my issue. The ones they have are 10% stronger to prevent slippage, but look less heavy than what I currently have. I advise anyone else having heavy clutch issues check their springs during their next oil change.

BT

brett008 · « **Reply #103 on:** June 23, 2012, 08:35:29 AM »

One more mystery. I am in the process of chasing oil leaks on my 73 CB500. I have found the oil seal for the shift lever but can not find a part number for the clutch push rod on the left side. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

dave500 · « **Reply #104 on:** June 23, 2012, 01:28:54 PM »

the rod is 22850-323-000.

brett008 · « **Reply #105 on:** June 23, 2012, 07:04:39 PM »

Thank You. I unfortunately left out two very important words. I meant "clutch push rod oil seal". After further research and tracing backwards and sideways, I found it. For anyone who wants to know it's 91203-292-005. Listed in the transmission section.

dergs713 · « **Reply #106 on:** May 29, 2013, 09:18:15 PM »

Anyone out there fix there clutch...? I found a broken pushrod as well but everything else seems ok...totally stumped...
Matt

dave500 · « **Reply #107 on:** May 30, 2013, 12:01:37 AM »

is yours a 500 or A 550 dergs?

dergs713 · « **Reply #108 on:** May 30, 2013, 04:25:07 AM »

Mine is a cb500.
Matt

dave500 · « **Reply #109 on:** May 30, 2013, 12:47:58 PM »

once you replace your broken shaft de glazing the clutch steels helps,youll also be able to look at the frictions and replace them if they are worn,post a picture of your clutch cover.

dergs713 · « **Reply #110 on:** May 30, 2013, 01:53:07 PM »

Ok will do.
Matt

planecrazy47 · « **Reply #111 on:** February 09, 2015, 10:23:37 AM »

Hello All,

I recently bought a 1972 CB500K. I replaced several parts and got it to a stage where the engine starts. I wanted to get it on the road for a test ride when I noticed that my clutch does not disengage. The cable was rock hard so I opened the left crankcase. (I replaced the cable). The push rod seems to be in a good condition without damage to it. The ball bearing looks to be attached to the push rod. Is it supposed to be that way? I have not measured the length of the push rod and am planning on doing it tonight.

I opened the right crank case to find that the clutch plates were stuck together. I ordered a new clutch cable and new clutch plates (friction) and some heavy duty springs. I replaced those, but could not get any motion in the clutch plates. I went back to the older springs which were less stiff than the heavy duty ones. The clutch plates move a bit, but it still does me no good.

I've also tried loosening the springs and pulling the cable, to find out if the springs were too stiff. If take pressure off the springs, the clutch plates move and the clutch disengages.

When I took the clutch basket out, I did not find a spacer in it. Is there supposed to be a spacer in there?

I am at a loss of ideas right now. Could any one of you guide me in the right direction?

Thanks

-AK.

strynboen · « **Reply #112 on:** February 09, 2015, 10:53:50 AM »

the press /push plate must fit the kontra..it does only fit in 2 aut of 4 posibel posision...so look for marks..think it are round marks..if it not are lined korrekt up..it bloks for movent

its pos 3 and 8 ,,vho must be lined up..thek for align marks..

photo are 550 but most are the same...klick on photo ,to get it bigger

Deltarider · « **Reply #113 on:** February 09, 2015, 01:53:11 PM »

Quote

When I took the clutch basket out, I did not find a spacer in it. Is there supposed to be a spacer in there?

Not necessarily. Some may need one, mine for instance don't.

Stev-o · « **Reply #114 on:** February 09, 2015, 07:33:00 PM »

The ball should not be attached to the rod.

jvandyke · « **Reply #115 on:** March 22, 2016, 06:38:46 AM »

Just a big "me too".
72 500
Clutch was always stiff, did a cafe job on it, clip ons. Clutch hand fatigue was so bad I couldn't ride more than 20 minutes or so.
Clip ons were too brutal for me, moving to superbike bars, redoing the cable (was running a shortened one for clip ons, now back to stock length).
After fabbing it all up last night I was bummed that the clutch lever was even stiffer than before.
Bike only has 9000 miles or so and I know it's history and am 90% sure it's all original bits.
I had the whole mechanism out and lubed, rod looks fine, ball bearing is present, new clutch cable, not binding that I can tell. I haven't been into the basket for a couple years but I have had issues with sticky plates in the past.
I can try different oil, new springs (although that would seem to make it worse).
I guess I'll take it all apart again and double check the lifter and sleeve.
On another note, the new cable doesn't seem right, where the end goes into the case, should't it fit "into" the hole and not rest on top of it? That part is about 12mm diameter on the new one but was 10 on the old, wrong cable?

jvandyke · « **Reply #116 on:** April 24, 2016, 08:24:29 PM »

Redid clutch cable for new bars, ended up keeping the old one that I had shortened for clip ons, was still long enough for the superbike bars.
Really didn't change anything but cleaned and lubed it all, made sure nothing was broken. Seems much better anyway.

dodursley · « **Reply #117 on:** October 18, 2017, 05:18:04 AM »

about to delve into the heavy clutch on my 75 CB500 I see that David Silver(UK) lists repro parts for
22810-323-000
22841-266-000
22850-323-000 (or used)

jvandyke · « **Reply #118 on:** October 18, 2017, 07:34:49 AM »

Report back if you improve this, it's still very demanding on mine and I've been through it several times (going in again it seems as now I notice oil on the floor under that side, there's a seal on the rod maybe (different by '75 I think, mine's a '72).
I have another bike now, '99 Intruder vl1500. Polar opposite of the CB, it has hydraulic clutch which is much more user friendly with two exceptions:
adjustablilty, hydraulic clutch release point and "feather" zone isn't very good (this bike is known for this issue it seems)
in a traffic jam and immense heat the hydraulic fluid wiill boil and you'll loose the clutch entirely, this happened to me this summer (should switch fluid type)
The cable clutch is more adjustable and despite broken cables (which is a maintenance thing and should never happen if you're good about maintenance, which I'm not so I've experienced a few snapped cables on trips) it's reliable.
It's way too fatiquing though. If I get caught in heavy stop and go traffic with the CB I'm screwed, I cannont operate the clutch after a couple minutes and have to pull over and instigate cold therapy to my left hand (by holding a beer for a while).

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Author Topic: Mysteries of the CB500 Clutch...REVEALED! (Read 52984 times)