Clutch Cable

[purenergy]

I recently acquired a '79 xs1100 from a friend of mine. I am new to the cycling world but have full intentions of restoring this monster if it can be done without having to sell my kids to pay for cost of parts and repairs. Anyways, I brought the beast home yesterday and I have already found the clutch cable is definitely not right. It seems like it is stuck and will not engage or disengage. Is this a major problem? Or could it be an easy fix? I'm really anxious to crank it up and ride. Please help me.

[oldnortonrider]

?? IS the clutch cable, going in and out of the clutch cable housing ; AND clutch lever going to the grip and back, acting
like a normal , proper functioning lever and cable would
act ??
Sounds like you haven't started it up yet........(?)

[TopCatGr58]

Re: Clutch Cable

Originally posted by purenergy
I recently acquired a '79 xs1100 from a friend of mine. I am new to the cycling world but have full intentions of restoring this monster if it can be done without having to sell my kids to pay for cost of parts and repairs. Anyways, I brought the beast home yesterday and I have already found the clutch cable is definitely not right. It seems like it is stuck and will not engage or disengage. Is this a major problem? Or could it be an easy fix? I'm really anxious to crank it up and ride. Please help me.

Hey there confused,
Well, since the bike has probably been sitting for quite a while, the cable may have just gotten corroded, rusted, oil/grease dried up, so that the cable is sticking inside the sleeve? You can take it off of the handlebar lever, and then remove the 2 screws from the right side cover, then bend the little tang up that keeps the other end in the lever arm at the clutch housing, remove it, and then see if it slides easily inside the sleeve, if not, then get some cable lube, or just penetrating oil and spray it as best you can into the opening of the sleeve, it's a tight fit, they have special tools for lubricating cables, but you might be able to work the cable enough to get the lube to slide down it. IF that frees up the action of the cable within the sleeve, then just put it back on, get a manual to see how to set the tension of the lever at the housing as well as at the handlebar lever, and then see if it doesn't work a little better!?

The clutch has 8 friction and steel plates, 2 pressure plates all within the clutch assembly, and they too can get stuck together after sitting a while. Search this forum for another clutch thread, I posted a message about setting the tension, and how to try to get the plates unstuck, how to test to see if they are stuck, etc.!
Good luck, you'll love it.

PS: you'll want to check the other tech tips about things you will want to check/change before attempting to start this bike if it's been sitting for a year or more!!!!

[purenergy]

Clutch Cable

I know this bike runs good. I've been over to his house several times and know this. He told me that he was riding one day and it just got stuck. I won the bike on a bet so I'm not out any $, yet.
The clutch cable isn't going in and out of the housing as far as I can tell and it's not returning to the handle like it normally would. I'm not a mechanic by any means but common sense tells me something's not right.
Thank you for all the tips. Now I have a starting point where I can start troubleshooting this problem.

[purenergy]

Thanx, TopCat. It is the cable. I took it off and it's sure enough stuck. I've tried to work some oil down the cable for about an hour and 1/2 now and it's only freed up about an inch. I might have to buy a new one. Have any ideas where I can find one?

[sixtysix]

These are made by the after markets so any cycle shop can get you one, about $10, not even worth messing with the old one.

[Bob Falter]

If you want to spend a little more Yamaha still has them. I just got one local dealer. He had to order it. I think it was $14-15.

Bob

[strom]

There are ppl that make these cables.. not too expencive.
A friend of mine makes them for himself (and me)...
All u need is a metal pole of the right diameter to cut out as ends of the cable, buy a cable and wrapping, drill holes into the end bits, another hole for a screw/bolt thread, insert the cable and secure it with a screw (tighten till the head brakes off, then file till it's smooth). It works. Takes bout 30 min to an hour to make.

LP