If the clutch seems stiff ...

[LCS249]

Would a new clutch cable be the answer?

The clutch on my 1982 XJ11 (which I've had for about a year now) has always seemed hard to squeeze, and then a friend came over who said, "boy, that's a hard clutch."

Thoughts?

thanks,

Leon

[randy]

Lube the cable

[XSPastor]

It's possible that a previous owner modified it with heavy duty springs and or extra plates but if all is stock, it shouldn't be that hard of a pull. I agree with Randy - lube it! It's definitely harder than most modern bikes I've ridden though. I kind of like it; good forearm workout!

[edgo]

Squeeze a tennis ball with your left hand thirty minutes each day

Ed

[cruiser]

My xj pulls hard too. Put in new clutch 2yrs ago without the extra plate but did heavy duty springs and new cable. Pull effort is the same as before I did these changes.
I really don't notice it anymore as I've gotten used to it.

[LCS249]

Thanks all for your thoughts.

randy: have heard that lubing the cable may be a very bad idea if the inside is teflon-coated, since lube breaks down the teflon.

edgo: ha-ha-ha-ha-ha ... actually, you're right. building up strength is a good thing. but I turned 59 this year and likely have arthritis in both hands.

XSPastor: I'm going to look into that. the PO did a lot of updating, including steel-braided brake cables. And I may try lubing. If it breaks down the cable, then I'll know I need a new one.

cruiser: I'm kind of resigned to "it is what it is," where you're at. my friend who got me thinking has ridden every kind of bike, and currently rides a 1970s airhead beemer.

best,

Leon

[randy]

Thanks all for your thoughts.

randy: have heard that lubing the cable may be a very bad idea if the inside is teflon-coated, since lube breaks down the teflon.

If lube breaks down the teflon, then why are the best brake lines lined with it?

Don't be silly, lube it. Or, if you insist, replace it.

[madmax-im]

This past summer at TC's when we did the tranny fix TC measured my clutch springs...they were barely in spec,so he added an additional clutch plate...it made shifting better with an easier effort and feel.I actually only need to pull the clutch lever halfway to actuate the clutch.Another thing TC did was loosened the lever assy and lowered the angle the lever was setting at...this put less pressure on the hand/wrist...did this to the brake lever as well,so that I was pulling the clutch with my fingers instead of the whole hand.The result is a better angle and easier effort...sometimes the simplest solutions yield the best results

[LCS249]

... so he added an additional clutch plate...it made shifting better with an easier effort and feel. I actually only need to pull the clutch lever halfway to actuate the clutch. Another thing TC did was loosened the lever assy and lowered the angle the lever was setting at...this put less pressure on the hand/wrist...did this to the brake lever as well,so that I was pulling the clutch with my fingers instead of the whole hand. The result is a better angle and easier effort...

This sounds like heaven.

My last bike was a Triumph Trophy. One guy in the group who was in England and got bad arthritis finally gave up and bought a Yamaha FJ1200 with the automatic clutch.

I gave up because of the arm strain from constant forward-leaning position. I was only ever happy riding uphill ...

So, lube first, TC drill second.

thanks,

LCS

[trbig]

What I have found to be best (For me anyway..) is silicone spray. I cut the bottom corner out of a ziplock, stick the end of the cable inside the hole, tape the bag tight around the hose, spray in a good amount of slicone, and hang up the bag so it slowly drains down into the cable. Also.. what gets sticky a lot of times is the little ball on the end in the clutch handle as you pull it. Don't forget to put a couple drops there also.

The last can of good silicone spray cost me over $7. I just bought an aftermarket replacement clutch cable a couple days ago for $15 and change..

So... my sugggestion is to get a new one and see if it is any better. If it is.. you know the problem. If it isn't.. having a spare one isn't a bad plan since mine always seem to break on late Sundays when nobody is open.. lol.


Tod

[webbcraft2150]

Pull the pivot pin out of the handle assembly, clean well, lube and reassemble. You would be surprised how much this helps and costs nothing. Most bike shops will sell a cable luber, clamps to the end of the cable and you shoot WD, silicone or what ever till it runs out the bottom of the cable at the clutch. Make sure the routing of your cable has no sharp bends also.

trbig, silicone and plastic bags? Is this something you adapted from an item designed to do somtething else?

[LCS249]

I'm going to do it all, damn it.

LCS

[fredintoon]

What worked for me

Hi LCS,
my XS11SG clutch lever was kinda hard to pull and using a clamp-on oiling gadget to first clean the cable with a spraycan of penetrating oil and then re-lubricate it with a spraycan of white grease only gave what I felt was a partial easement. Then I removed the gas tank for access and freed the clutch cable from under the metal clips that held it tight to the frame. Now the clutch cable runs in one clear swoop from the lever to the clutch housing. No constraints, no tight turns and only 50% of the effort. OK, it ain't neat & tidy, but it works.

[egsols]

Good point Fred,

Doesn't matter how free a cable is, if a cable has too many bends it will always pull hard. Routing is key.

[Brent]

If lube breaks down the teflon, then why are the best brake lines lined with it?

Don't be silly, lube it. Or, if you insist, replace it.

I agree.
I am always amazed at how MUCH Easier the clutch pull is after lubing the cable & wonder how I could have put it off at all.

Any lube is better than none. I like "Dri Slide" it is a moly or graphite lube in a non pressurized bottle. Cable life works too.

Corn oil works well on teflon frying pans in my kitchen, but I have found it makes bad spots on the XS exhaust pipes if it drips and cooks on them.

Good luck wrenching & let us know.