Topic: Taking a 330mi trip through WV.. should I replace my clutch?

[Mitchm114]

Hi everyone.

I'm taking a trip from Ohio down to the West Virginia/Virgina border for a weekend conference. I have a 74 CB550 with 20k miles on it. My clutch lever is pretty stiff, but it shifts just fine. I got the bike with 13k on it 4 years ago and have used it as a daily driver, and taken it to Gatlinburg last summer for vacation and the Tail of the Dragon.

The bike is almost 100% stock with the exception of the muffler and the seat (and I'm missing the right side cover in orange, but don't want to spend $$$$ to buy one off eBay.)

I have a second CB550 engine that came with the a parts bike that I bought from a junkyard. The engine is free and seems to be in good shape, and it had 16k on it when I got it.

My question is twofold..
1. Should I inspect my clutch and potential grease the lifter to ease my clutch lever tension? It's tough to pull.
2. Would swapping the other clutch out of the other motor into my current one worth it if they seem in better shape or just go new after my trip?

I'm leaving on Friday, so I realize I'm asking this question a bit late in the game.

Also, if you have any other things I should def check/bring with me, please feel free to give me advice!

Thanks everyone.
Mitch

[Bodi]

Clutch pull stiffness is rarely from the clutch itself. Check cable routing and lubricate it before you go deeper.
The clutch itself can't do much except get easier to pull as the springs age and lose tension. I suppose the throwout mechanism could stiffen up but I've never seen that. Engines that use a pushrod through the transmission can have that rod break and this can make it hard to actuate as the broken end grabs in its hole.

[Mitchm114]

Thanks for the advice. I've been using WD-40 to try to get it to loosen up, but I'll try some legit cable/chain lube to see if that helps a bit better, unless y'all have a better option.

I rebuilt the bike from the frame following Sohron's CB550 assembly guide a few years back, so I could have routed the clutch cable incorrectly when putting it together.

[JLeather]

WD40 is a terrible cable lubricant.  Buy a cable lube spray, preferably one with the little clamp-on adapter to force lube into the cable sheath (assuming you don't have a cable with a teflon liner...).  As for the clutch, only reason to replace it is slipping.  Put the front wheel up against a wall and try to let the clutch out in 5th.  Motor stalls?  Keep riding...

[Alan F.]

I've used WD40 on cables before, it's good for cleaning out old lubricants and dirt but doesn't do much else. I'd recommend a good cable specific lube and a cable-luber tool like this one:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/383444267712?_trkparms=ispr%3D1&amdata=enc%3AAQAFAAAAkM5vJkP0cGvv5TO2taUDQin82eChYYLYHAFM%2Bl9vsdsq4mIdocI3zBRSViRE653wGLT2CxvHkLx2duW%2BiqJl0nG3CDKhY5pNtVu4JbQnCnZ0R0%2B%2BwgG3hXqGbjv8%2BJcTss5iABhiGedi7ydWZzHXkDjIedT274piT1WvUhoIa5%2FlqhWJR4bEYFPpMmNTerrLfw%3D%3D&chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-117182-37290-0&mkcid=2&itemid=383444267712&targetid=1192081308224&device=m&mktype=pla&googleloc=9001887&poi=&campaignid=12873833212&mkgroupid=116682564850&rlsatarget=aud-622524042678:pla-1192081308224&abcId=9300536&merchantid=101490114&gclid=Cj0KCQjws-OEBhCkARIsAPhOkIbIAwWOSlV87pI3jd9NiCWD1vK1RUSqMgifvSKgljEOOLRBJI2n2TgaAm4QEALw_wcB

[Don R]

 I liked my drive through W. Virginia a couple years ago. I took a car to pick up a diecast engine but the scenery was great and the roads were fun. I would not make any big changes if it's working now.

[madmtnmotors]

If you're going to be near Elkins, WV the I highly recommend US Highway 250 from Elkins, WV down to Staunton, VA. This will take you through the Monongahela National Forest. Monterey, VA is about halfway between Elkins and Staunton, with the leg from Monterey to Staunton the absolute best. Monterey to Staunton makes the Tail of the Dragon seem like a trip to the grocery store. Tail of the Dragon takes about 30 minutes? From Staunton to Monterey took me 1-1/2 to 2 hours of constant switchbacks with steep elevation changes. I'm hoping to get back there and ride it again soon! 

[bryanj]

DO NOT lube a genuine Honda cableespecially with WD. The inner is rubber covered and the outer nylon lined and lube will swell both making it worse.
For a long ride i would take spare clutch and throttle cables especially if you have never changed them in the time you have owned it

[RAFster122s]

Replace cable with genuine Honda cable. They are worth every penny. Stiff lever could be caused by Barnett's heavy duty springs or a stiff cable inneedof replacement or lube or both ...

[Mitchm114]

If you're going to be near Elkins, WV the I highly recommend US Highway 250 from Elkins, WV down to Staunton, VA. This will take you through the Monongahela National Forest. Monterey, VA is about halfway between Elkins and Staunton, with the leg from Monterey to Staunton the absolute best. Monterey to Staunton makes the Tail of the Dragon seem like a trip to the grocery store. Tail of the Dragon takes about 30 minutes? From Staunton to Monterey took me 1-1/2 to 2 hours of constant switchbacks with steep elevation changes. I'm hoping to get back there and ride it again soon! 

I am planning on going that route! I'm not going all the way to Staunton, but I will be passing through Elkins down south past Monterey. I'm heading more towards Lynchburg, so I'm not swinging that far East, although I'm tempted now though..

[Bodi]

WD40 is not a lubricant: it contains a hydrophobic thick goo and volatile solvents. Once the solvents evaporate you have that thick goo which just gums up whatever you wanted to lubricate. Plain old motor oil works well. And yes, some cables are not friendly to some lubricants, silicon based oil won't react with the plastic but it's not so easy to find.

[BenelliSEI]

Before leaving, check the cable wire where it joins the cylindrical slug that fits into your clutch lever. It will most likely break the cable off there, if it’s stiff. If you see any wires parted from the small cylinder portion, forget lubricant and replace it now. Safe travels.

[madmtnmotors]

If you're going to be near Elkins, WV the I highly recommend US Highway 250 from Elkins, WV down to Staunton, VA. This will take you through the Monongahela National Forest. Monterey, VA is about halfway between Elkins and Staunton, with the leg from Monterey to Staunton the absolute best. Monterey to Staunton makes the Tail of the Dragon seem like a trip to the grocery store. Tail of the Dragon takes about 30 minutes? From Staunton to Monterey took me 1-1/2 to 2 hours of constant switchbacks with steep elevation changes. I'm hoping to get back there and ride it again soon! 

I am planning on going that route! I'm not going all the way to Staunton, but I will be passing through Elkins down south past Monterey. I'm heading more towards Lynchburg, so I'm not swinging that far East, although I'm tempted now though..

Even if you turn South at Monterey you will have covered some excellent territory. I imagine as you venture further South you will have no shortage of excellent routes to chose from. Ride safe and enjoy the ride! 

[Bankerdanny]

I went through WV on my way back from SC on my 750F in 2019. I spent the night in Huntington.

Stiff clutch pull is a bad cable or bad routing. When I replaced the cable on my '75 550F it made a huge difference.

Do you have a lower than stock handlebar? That can cause some issues because the cable is too long and sometimes has bends where it shouldn't behind the headlight shell.

[Mitchm114]

I went through WV on my way back from SC on my 750F in 2019. I spent the night in Huntington.

Stiff clutch pull is a bad cable or bad routing. When I replaced the cable on my '75 550F it made a huge difference.

Do you have a lower than stock handlebar? That can cause some issues because the cable is too long and sometimes has bends where it shouldn't behind the headlight shell.

I don't think they're lower than stock, but I can't be sure.

I have the wires run through the handlebars and they look like the originals, but that doesn't mean they aren't too low!

I've gotten some chain lube and that's improved it slightly, although I still think it might be binding a bit at a point.

[bryanj]

Did you not read thebit about do not lube the cable!!

[RAFster122s]

At this point, unless the cable is routed wrong, lubing the cable is unlikely to harm things further as cable. Sound like it is on its last legs.
Go ahead and lube the cable, aftermarket cables can be lubed with cable lube safely...

[Mitchm114]

Trip went very well. Clutch cable was fine. Maybe I was just being finicky about it.

Ran about 700 miles total from Central Ohio down to Goshen, VA. Ran like a dream, and as much crap as WV gets, it’s a beautiful state.

Thanks for all your help everyone.


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[wolf550]

That is more than double the miles I have put on both my 550's since 2018. Thumbs Up!

[Mitchm114]

Hit a bit of rain on the way out, but it was a nice ride.


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[Don R]

 We went through WV on a rainy foggy day. There was smoke coming out of the timber in lots of places even though it wasn't really cool out. My wife noticed and wondered who was doing all of that cooking. I hesitate to speculate but it might have been a good day for the revenuers.