Adjusting Your Clutch Cable

Written by Bill DeFord (Sax, Sax50)

Friday, 11 June 2004

Reprinted by Permission of RoadStarMagazine.com

Your clutch should be adjusted so that there is about a nickle's worth of play in the lever, when slight tension takes up the slack in the cable. NOTE: better a little loose (more than a nickel's worth of play) than too tight.

Step 1. Shows the orginal way it will look when you start and when you're done.
How the lever will look

Step 2. Simply pull the rubber boot back to expose the locking wheel and adjustment screw.
Remove rubber boot

Step 3. Loosen the locking wheel by turning it counter clockwise (when you put it back...finger tighten only...just snug it!)
Loosen the locking nut

Step 4. After you check the gap to see how it is, then adjust the screw to loosen or tighten the cable. If you turn the screw CCW, it will be backing out of the hole and will make the gap smaller/cable tighter. CW does the opposite (loosens the cable). If I need to tighten mine (the cable will usually get loose because it stretches), I like to put slight pressure on the lever to open the gap and watch it as I back the screw out. Then when I think I have it where I want it, I work the lever a few times to make sure it stays there. Then put the locking wheel back down.
Adjust to required spacing

You should be able to slip in a nickel

It's not hard and it would be helpful to know how to do this for when you are on the road. I had to pull over in the middle of a parade and adjust mine, because the constant starting and stopping stretched the cable, which was new.

Bill "Sax" DeFord
May 2003

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DISCLAIMER: This information and procedure is provided as a courtesy and is for informational purposes only. Neither the publishers nor the authors accept any responsibility for the accuracy, applicability, or suitability of this procedure. You assume all risks associated with the use of this information. NEITHER THE PUBLISHERs NOR THE AUTHORs SHALL IN ANY EVENT BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, PUNITIVE, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, OF ANY NATURE ARISING OUT OF OR IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH THE USE OR MISUSE OF THIS INFORMATION OR LACK OF INFORMATION. Any type of modification or service work on your motorcycle should always be performed by a professional mechanic. If performed incorrectly, this procedure may endanger the safety of you and others on your motorcycle and possibly invalidate your manufacturer’s warranty.

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Comments (3)

shifter
Written by Newf1, on 11-30-2017 08:27
how do you adjust the shifter

Clutch Cable Replacement
Written by TECK, on 07-17-2009 10:55
Is There an article with step by step instructions and pictures on how to replace a clutch cable?

Thanks,

TECK

dave
Written by xcopper, on 04-12-2006 19:29
I would like to oil my cables ,but i'm new at this ,do you have pictures and step by step on how to do this ? I know alot of guys out there don't know how to oil there cable's. Pictures would help. My e-mail address is xcopper@netsync.net

Thanks Dave

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