Topic: CB500 Clutch cable install and adjustment

[ataylor136]

Finishing up a first time cafe project, when i got the bike there was no clutch cable. I have looked at online shop manuals and could'nt find the info I was looking for. Can someone give me a brief walk thru for installing and adusting the cable or direct me to a thread or source. I am glad to know that I have the ball in the adjustor mechanism in the sprocket cover, one problem down.

[dave500]

you have the little ball sorted,make sure the rod is still in one peice they can break,also check that the adjuster in the side cover can rotate freely,if the cable has the correct free length/travel range it should be easy to set up,,make sure you dont get a 550 cable,,it wont work it has a different free length.,on the 500 just install the cable and have the handlever end fully slack,have the cover end mostly slack,wind the adjuster in the direction so it takes up slack between the ball and tries to disengage the clutch,just let it touch taking up that internal slack,then with the cover end of the cable adjusted a little more,, adjust the handlever end till it feels ok,if the worm threads in the bottom end mechanism are worn it can be difficult to get it to disengage fully,,it loses throw.

[ataylor136]

Thanks Dave, your always good as money.

[dave500]

ha,,no worries,it might take a little final adjustment if the engine hasnt been run in a while,,or you dont know how the clutch was in the first place because it came with no cable?fingers crossed for you its all good to go,it may have the frozen clutch syndrome where when you first start the bike cold and select 1st it stalls,,the clutch didnt de-clutch,,if you get this happening select neutral,,switch of the ignition and using the kicker with the clutch lever pulled in kick it over and over and the clutch should break loose and not kick the engine over,that or jump off the bike,engine off and select 1st,,then with the clutch lever pulled in rock the bike back and forth trying heavily against the resistance to unstick the plates.

[Tugboat]

^ +1

Worst case scenario, you have to take the clutch apart and free the plates. But luckily that's not hard