Topic: Cb400 Four heavy clutch

[morristhe999]

Hi everyone,
I rebuilt my wifes old honda 400 four, and the clutch is too heavy for her to comfortably use. So far I have tried two separate new cables - correctly routed and lubed, and one of the in line cable easy pull devices where i shortened the clutch cable so that it was the correct length. It was a little better with this and i have also tried a dog leg lever.
I dont think its got HD clutch springs in it so,  options:
Hydraulic clutch conversion anyone done this, cant find a kit so it looks like this may need to be a one off thing - anyone know who could help with this?
Poss slightly softer clutch springs, anyone done this?

Many thanks

[Nurse Julie]

As you're in the UK, it may be worth you joining the UK branch of the forum and asking on there.
Personally I never had an issue with the clutch on my 400/4, it was lovely and light and I have very small weak hands.
Here's the link to us here in UK.
www.sohc.co.uk

[Tim2005]

They are hydraulic conversion kits available in Japan, try MC-Again's website via a browser with translation enabled, https://www.mc-again.com/. However a hydraulic clutch isn't necessarily lighter, as it is just a different way of actuating the same springs that may offer better leverage. Stock springs with new cables are generally pretty light, I suggest getting some new stock springs (David Silver sells them) and trying it again, as a past owner may have fitted the wrong ones. It will also save you several hundred £s over the hydraulic conversion

[jakec]

If you use a brand new genuine honda cable it should pull like nothing. Are you using Honda brand? You don't use lube on them you only clean them if needed.

[morristhe999]

Hi everyone thanks for the thoughts and advice, yes tried honda and venhill cables and just lubed with gt85, had not yet looked at the springs - but guess that I need to now, will order a set of stock springs and see how that goes. If its still too heavy do you know what other model springs may be compatible and possible lighter, but importantly not slip?
Thanks

[bryanj]

If you lubed a Honda cable you ruined it, the inner is rubber coated and the outer nylon lined any lube swells these and makes cable tight

[Mark1976]

If you lubed a Honda cable you ruined it, the inner is rubber coated and the outer nylon lined any lube swells these and makes cable tight

Couldn't agree more, have seen several clutch cables that have suffered just this problem...

[jakec]

400 Clutch springs are already barely strong enough in my opinion. Unless you're babying it. My clutch slipped under hard acceleration some times.

But yeah. You aren't supposed to lube the Honda cables. I don't know if it's permanently ruined though.

[Bodi]

Mine has HD springs and the pull is not at all light. Clutch was slipping after the 466 kit. Definitely the cable routing is critical, as shown in the service manual. I plan to get an OEM cable and see if that's an improvement. I did get a hydraulic actuator off some other bike and looked at modifying a spare clutch cover to use it, but without a machine shop at my disposal I never followed through on it although it looked definitely doable.

[jakec]

That reminds me I have a spare 400 clutch cover I've been saving ever since they became so expensive a few years ago. Seems the prices have gone back down now.

[morristhe999]

Many thanks everyone - its ptfe lube -cable slides fine and doesnt stick at all. Will order some OE springs and give that a try.

[morristhe999]

Sorry its teflon based