Topic: Stiff Clutch leaver on my CB 400

[Geoff C]

Hi Guys

  This my first post so be easy on me  .I have just bought a 1976 Honda CB 400 and the clutch leaver is very stiff I have lube the cable and that is free but when its all attached back up its still very stiff . Its routed ok any one had this problem or is just me.

[newday777]

Welcome aboard the forum Geoff C

Routing plays big into it.
Is the bike stock with the original bars? Pictures of the bike and how the cable is routed??

[newday777]

As you are in the UK there is also a UK SOHC forum


https://www.sohc.co.uk/index.php?PHPSESSID=f4fs0aukvkunghcfrs64c285oq&/topic,26995.msg249049.html#msg249049

[Mark1976]

   While your at it, pull the cable off and check to see that it slides eaily within the housing, if it's an original or older cable, the cable will bind up within the housing making the clutch lever feel sluggish or stiff. Replacing the cable is your only option if that's the case. Pretty common issue on the 400f....

[Bodi]

The 400F just has a fairly stiff clutch pull when everything is perfect, compared to many other bikes with cable or particularly hydraulic clutches. You can try running a new or well lubed cable looped directly from the lever to the clutch with none of the routing bends to feel what the best possible pull is.
Routing is critical, the service manual shows where the cable should go and if it's where yours goes that's the best you get. If you have non stock bars your cable length might not be ideal.
Some cables have teflon or something lining that does not like being lubed. But otherwise, using a cable lube attachment and flushing with brake cleaner before adding lube can help a lot.

[Stev-o]

+1...if you dont know how old the cable is, it may be time for a new genuine Honda cable.

[bryanj]

If you lubed an original Honda cable you wrecked it.
Original cables have rubber coated inner cables and nylon lined outer cables so oily lube swells the coatings and makes them worse

[Mark1976]

If you lubed an original Honda cable you wrecked it.
Original cables have rubber coated inner cables and nylon lined outer cables so oily lube swells the coatings and makes them worse

+1
Seen it more than a few times... Once removed, if the cable doesn't move freely within the cable sheath, toss it, it only gets worse.

[bryanj]

And freely means the inner falls out more or less under its own weight

[Tim2005]

I agree about the cable is mostprobably the cause, as you're in UK, try one of these cables, very good price and I've been running one on my 400 for 18 months & it seems much better quality than most pattern ones. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/155411558104