Grouch Posted May 1, 2013 Posted May 1, 2013 Well after a few weeks of trouble free riding, today my clutch cable snapped. The worst thing was pushing my bike home 3 miles. By the time I got home I was shaking and soaked in sweat. When I phoned the garage up to order a new cable the guy couldn't believe it. I can fit it myself, I only fit a new one about 12 months ago.
Moderator Cynic Posted May 1, 2013 Moderator Posted May 1, 2013 Why the hell did you push it. Ride without the clutch. Wont hurt as a get you home. I have even done it with a truck. Plonker..... 1
blackhat250 Posted May 1, 2013 Posted May 1, 2013 bugger me grouch"o. you are doomed,, . i would heve bumpstarted it, and rode home,,, but theres very little traffic up here,
pilninggas Posted May 1, 2013 Posted May 1, 2013 I rode my old RXS100 round for a whole month without the clutch, as I couldn't afford a new cable. paddle away from a stop, straight upto second. overall, you have some iffy luck.
Grouch Posted May 1, 2013 Author Posted May 1, 2013 I started to ride it but it was the school rush hour and it just kept stalling. There were too many traffic lights and junctions.
j0hn Posted May 1, 2013 Posted May 1, 2013 Have you been oiling your cables? I just ordered one of these to oil my cables.
slice Posted May 1, 2013 Posted May 1, 2013 I can beat you this time Grouch, Just got back from 4 hours waiting for the AA to get me and the bike home, a small problem that became a BIG problem about 40 miles from home , I am now doing the Grouch dance to ward off anything else that might come my way.
carlmt Posted May 1, 2013 Posted May 1, 2013 They never teach you USEFUL stuff at bike-school these days do they............. My old man taught me how to ride without using the clutch back in 1980 when I got my first bike at 17 - as a get you home its a no-brainer.........even if you have to detour a few miles to avoid traffic lights/jams/school runs etc. Just means you have a longer 'play' on the bike before getting home!!!! CT
Moderator drewpy Posted May 1, 2013 Moderator Posted May 1, 2013 I use a hydraulic cable oiler, those little things are not very useful as they depend on the propellant from a maintenance spray. I use proper oil in mine
Tommy xs Posted May 1, 2013 Posted May 1, 2013 I use engine oil, before i put cable on bike i hang it upright and shape a small funnel out of bluetac or similar, pour oil in and leave for an hour or two till i see oil drip out at bottom & yes drewpy I have done me choke, ha ha
j0hn Posted May 1, 2013 Posted May 1, 2013 Is engine oil the best to use when lubing your cables? I'm seeing a mix of products that people use (WD40, GT58 etc.) but not really sure which is better.
Grouch Posted May 1, 2013 Author Posted May 1, 2013 I can beat you this time Grouch, Just got back from 4 hours waiting for the AA to get me and the bike home, a small problem that became a BIG problem about 40 miles from home , I am now doing the Grouch dance to ward off anything else that might come my way. Haha the Grouch Dance, hilarious. So how do you ride without a clutch?
Moderator Cynic Posted May 2, 2013 Moderator Posted May 2, 2013 Once your moving its easy. With you having a leccy foot its easier. 1st gear push with your feet and the starter and you should be off. Changing up.. Let the revs increase put pressure on the lever then reduce the throttle. The gear should happily shift up. Coming down. Right this gets tricky. What you have to do is slow the bike down and when the revs get low. And i mean low like 3000rpm again apply pressure to the leaver and eases off the gas and again it drops down one. The key is the throttle and revs combo. You want the gear speed to equalise the right way. Going up is easy engine speed over wheel speed. Going down its the other way, you want the engine driving the box enough to load the gears but ultimately the rear wheel driving the situation so when you close the throttle the gear slips in smoothly. You wont break any track records but its easy once you know and a bloody site better than walking. I have ridden and driven everything with bad clutches. A range rover. Land rover, severak motorcycles but my high point was bringing a truck back from oxford to northampton. Fitters wouldn't believe me. It will date me to any hgv people but anybody who could make a decent job of an ERF with a twin split can drive without a clutch.
Preload Posted May 2, 2013 Posted May 2, 2013 I use a hydraulic cable oiler, those little things are not very useful as they depend on the propellant from a maintenance spray. Tommy XS I use proper oil in minI use engine oil, before i put cable on bike i hang it upright and shape a small funnel out of bluetac or similar, pour oil in and leave for an hour or two till i see oil drip out at bottom & yes drewpy I have done me choke, ha ha e I use a combination of both. If in a hurry the Hydraulic Oiler, if restoring a bike several weeks hanging up and I use engine oil and have for years.
clarke Posted May 3, 2013 Posted May 3, 2013 A clutch cable in 12 months? You wear parts out quickly....
Grouch Posted May 3, 2013 Author Posted May 3, 2013 I know what's caused it, lack of lube, heavy handedness?
kenDAWG Posted May 3, 2013 Posted May 3, 2013 Lack of lube me thinks! Do as lads have said, oil it and hang in until you see the oil dripping out... Ken
Moderator Cynic Posted May 3, 2013 Moderator Posted May 3, 2013 Cheap cables. Mine are 25years old and have never been oiled. Shit no 32 years old
Grouch Posted May 3, 2013 Author Posted May 3, 2013 Wow, I need to pull my finger out now and spend time looking after my bike.
Tommy xs Posted May 3, 2013 Posted May 3, 2013 I know what's caused it, lack of lube, heavy handedness?i think your right grouch, you don't know your own strength, it must be all that bike pushing you've been doing.SUPER GROUCH!!
Recommended Posts