Lever bearings

[donebysunday]

upgrade, has anyone here put bearings in the brake and clutch lever pivot ?

[donebysunday]

Bearings

in the levers.
Sorry if this is a re-post, can't seem to find my thread I just started about installing needle bearings in the levers to take up slop and smooth out the pull.

[3Phase]

upgrade, has anyone here put bearings in the brake and clutch lever pivot ?

I was thinking about getting some levers with bearings because half of my left hand is dead; only have pull-strength now in my thumb, ring and pinky fingers.

I did read your Lever post so I stopped by the dealer while I was out trying to get rid of the fuel in the tank so I can rebuild the fuel taps. They didn't have any but we had a nice talk about changing the clutch perch to a Honda bearing-style lever and ratio.

[3Phase]

in the levers.
Sorry if this is a re-post, can't seem to find my thread I just started about installing needle bearings in the levers to take up slop and smooth out the pull.

It's not Bearings, it's Lever.

Timely subject for me.

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Scott,

I didn't know/realize about your hand strength deficit. Have you thought about a hyrdraulic setup instead? I remember a member doing that, I even helped with making the adapter plate for the clutch housing for the slave piston, but I don't know the final amount of lever pressure required to activate it vs. a cable lever setup?

T.C.

[3Phase]

I'd really like some levers with bearings, they look good!

So I looked at MotionPro levers with bearings, different perches and lever ratios, Harley mousetrap clutches, the older XS11 hydraulic mod with the 1/4" plate and the newer mod with the inline hydraulics. I'm still looking but to tell the honest truth I still have the same "new" clutch lever on my '80G that I put on back in 2008. The lever hasn't nearly worn out yet but the Barnett clutch springs made it harder to pull so that may kill it off in another five years if I don't put on a bearing-style lever like Don Sunday has suggested or I'm forced to use something completely different.

Progressive nerve damage from a wreck back in '94 has begun to catch up to me as I was told would happen and it's begun to kill off my right hand and fingers too. (shrug) I woke up on the right side of the dirt again this morning so I'm fine and the sun came up on the right side of the planet so the universe is fine, anything else is petty stuff.

[donebysunday]

Levers

Scott you can't see the bearings ? ? ?
But if you want to install bearings in the levers your self, Torrington B-55 and B-56, my local place about $4.50 and $4.80.
I can send you some too if you can't find them local.
You could buy fancy levers if your after the look ?
Thanks, Done

[ViperRon]

Don
Can you send a picture and I am wondering do you drill out the lever or put a different pin in-between for the bearing to fit. With my clutch and the new Barnett springs I'd worry about a thinner pin.

[donebysunday]

Drill

the hole in the lever to 1/2", then use a rat tail file to fit the bearings snug in the lever. They can be forced into the new holes with a clamp after just using the 1/2" drill but I worry about distorting them.
I installed them in the XJ already. Use the original pivot pin just fine.

Don
Can you send a picture and I am wondering do you drill out the lever or put a different pin in-between for the bearing to fit. With my clutch and the new Barnett springs I'd worry about a thinner pin.

[3Phase]

Scott you can't see the bearings ? ? ?
But if you want to install bearings in the levers your self, Torrington B-55 and B-56, my local place about $4.50 and $4.80.
I can send you some too if you can't find them local.
You could buy fancy levers if your after the look ?
Thanks, Done

No, I don't see any pictures of the bearings. I know what bearings you mean but I've tried five browsers and none of them show any pictures.


Amazon.com | Koyo B-55 Needle Roller Bearing, Full Complement Drawn Cup, Open, Inch, 5/16" ID, 1/2" OD, 5/16" Width, 8300rpm Maximum Rotational Speed
Price: $6.09


Amazon.com | Koyo B-56 Needle Roller Bearing, Full Complement Drawn Cup, Open, Inch, 5/16" ID, 1/2" OD, 3/8" Width, 8300rpm Maximum Rotational Speed
Price: $4.87

[hamjam]

what exactly is this supposed to accomplish the amount of real difference in lever pull would be minuscule . not changing the angles of the lever means no change in pull strength, a bearing and even a plastic plain bearing will make the lever move more smoother maybe ,but will not change the pressure needed to pull it so why??





I like my hydraulic clutch and brake

[motoman]

Hey Scott,

I didn't know/realize about your hand strength deficit. Have you thought about a hyrdraulic setup instead? I remember a member doing that, I even helped with making the adapter plate for the clutch housing for the slave piston, but I don't know the final amount of lever pressure required to activate it vs. a cable lever setup?

T.C.

I remember when the member here did the hydraulic clutch. It worked, but the problem created was the thin clutch cover flexed from the force of the slave cyl..

[IanDMacDonald]

I don't have any shorty levers on any of my bikes. Have a mixture of hydraulic and cable-pull clutches, the difference is very little. My Triumph has the stiffest clutch, and u get used to it.

[jetmechmarty]

Don't knock it until you try it. UD knows his stuff!

[donebysunday]

Thanks

Marty !
The difference between my LH that had the mod and XJ that did not was dramatic, the bearings made up for much of that pull friction.
Then some PTFE in the cable really did the trick, pulls so easy and smooth it's hard to believe it's the same clutch..
I learn by trying things some are a success, this was a success, IMHO.

Don't knock it until you try it. UD knows his stuff!