Clutch paw arm/shaft slop?

[DaveW]

Greetings, I adjusted my clutch (1st time ever 24,000 mi) over the weekend due to excessive cable play - not fully disengaging. When I broke loose the lock nut , I noticed the shaft has a lot of slop/play and wiggles/moves quite a bit.
Wondering if anyone else has noticed this, as it seems abnormal - like I have a bad bearing/bushing?

Thanks in advance for your help!

Dave

80 XS1100SG

[CatatonicBug]

IIRC, that arm should have a bit of slop to it once the cable is disconnected. It should take quite a bit of convincing to get the cable inserted back onto the arm though. When you adjusted the screw, did you screw it all the way in until it hits resistance, then back off 1/4 turn before re-tightening the lock nut? Remember to do this with the cable disconnected from the arm.

[DaveW]

Thanks and yes I did. I adjusted the nut/screw 1st and then the cable adjustment up top. I probably should re-check it again - but with the metioned slop, I may not get it right without dissassembling and replacing the worn part/s.

The play/slop I'm refferring to is not the arm movement that is the normal cable travel as if you pulled in the hand-lever. If you are looking in the cover head-on and grap the arm/nut assembly where is goes into the housing, I can grab it and move it up-down and side-to-side... and this play seems to be way too excessive - again the movment is not the direction that the cable pulls. When I had the cable slacked this movement was really noticable - again like a bad bearing/bushing.
I'm thinking that that cover will need to be removed and bearing/bushing replaced?

Dave

[CaptonZap]

The play you are feeling is because the shaft is fastened to a plate inside, that has three ball bearings that ride in sloped slots, that push out against the cover and in against the clutch pack when the shaft is turned in the direction that the cable pulls it when you pull the clutch handle.
In other words, when the arm on the shaft is rotated CCW, the play goes away. CZ

[DaveW]

Thanks for your guys help. I intend to take another closer look this weekend to make sure I have things adjusted correctly - I know I did the lower half of the adjustment corectly - was just concerned with the shaft-slop and at this point am just wondering if I have enough cable slack...

I had way too much before the adjustment where when the engine was cold, I could not put it in gear with the clutch engaged without it stalling. Now I think I may have it a bit too tight on the grip tensioner.

Thanks again ;

Dave