How-To: Clutch Cable Care

Checking and replacing the clutch cable is often an overlooked maintenance practice, even though it’s a critical part of the machine.

Did you know the prescribed inspection interval for checking cable operation outlined in most service manuals for cable operated clutches is after every race or 2.5 hours? To some this may seem excessive, however, ensuring the clutch cable is working correctly is an incredibly important maintenance task. An Improperly adjusted clutch cable can lead to poor clutch control, slippage, or inconsistent operation. In this article, we’ll dive into clutch cable inspections that should be performed and walk through the necessary steps required to replace the cable and install a new one.

Your service or owner’s manual should provide all the pertinent cable adjustment information you need for your specific make/model of machine and should be used to complement the advice and recommendations provided in this write-up. Within the service manual, you should find free play specifications, clutch cable routing information, lubrication info, and the prescribed setup procedure.

Cable Condition

The clutch cable should be visually inspected for damage. Cracks, kinks, corrosion, and severely worn areas due to rubbing should all be cause for concern. Systematically inspect the cable from the handlebar grip to the engine as best as visually possible.

Visually follow the clutch cable through its entire routing and inspect for any visible damage.

Checking Cable Free Play

Clutch cable free play is typically checked by measuring the distance the clutch lever moves before the clutch begins to disengage. Most makes/models specify 8-13mm of clutch lever free play.

To check free play, the large hexagonal adjuster, if equipped, should be slid out of position so the area where the cable end and adjuster meet can be viewed. Confirm the cable end is fully seated against the adjuster. Lightly pull on the clutch lever and measure the distance the end of the lever travels before you start to feel resistance. The point resistance is felt is the point where the lever starts to disengage the clutch. A ruler, calliper, or scale can be held at the end of the lever to measure the free play.

To check clutch cable free play, pull the rubber adjuster and dust covers aside and measure the distance the lever moves when pulled before resistance begins.

Checking Clutch Actuation

Some insight into how the clutch is working can be gained simply by pulling the clutch lever. The lever should pull smoothly through its range of motion and return to its original position consistently. Occasionally, the lever can be obstructed by handguards that have been bumped out of position, which can lead to partial clutch disengagement. Any notchiness felt may be indicative of kinks or tight spots in the cable or clutch basket wear. If the lever does not return consistently, one of the cable ends may not be seating correctly.

Clutch Cable Adjustment

Clutch cable free play can easily be adjusted to correct for too little or too much free play. Most makes/models utilize two adjustments points. The first adjustment point is at the clutch perch, and usually features a large hexagonal adjuster knob that can be turned to increase or decrease free play. The second adjustment point is typically located near the handlebar end of the cable and features a lock nut and adjuster. The adjustment point at the clutch perch is typically utilized when making on the fly adjustments and minor refinements to cable free play. The adjustment point spliced into the cable is usually used to make large adjustments.

The adjustment at the clutch perch will usually have a large rubber knob for easy, on-the-fly adjustment. While our specific project didn’t have a secondary adjustment point, many models will feature an intra-cable adjustment with a lock nut as well, such as the one pictured here for the hot start.

Small Adjustments at the Clutch Perch Adjuster

Simply turn the adjuster knob in or out to increase or decrease free play. Once an adjustment has been made, recheck free play as previously discussed. Occasionally the adjustment knob may slip and spin independently of the cable adjuster. This can be a common problem on older machines. If this happens, changes to the free play will not occur. To remedy this issue, simply pull the adjuster knob out of the way and adjust the cable adjuster directly to induce free play changes.

If the rubber cover is spinning on the adjuster, simply pull the cover away and make your adjustments with the metal knob directly.

Large Adjustments at the Spliced in Adjuster

To alter the free play, simply loosen the lock nut and screw the adjuster in or out to increase or decrease free play. If adjustments are carried out using this adjuster, it is best to attempt to reset the handlebar adjuster so that it is in the beginning to middle of its useful range. This way, if further adjustments are required, the adjustment knob can easily be utilized without fear of running out of adjustment. Once any adjustments have been carried out using the cable adjuster, the free play should be checked, lock nuts tightened, and any dust covers slid back in place.

Clutch Cable Replacement

In the event that the clutch cable warrants replacement, this can be accomplished fairly easily. Selecting and sourcing a new clutch cable is equally as important as carrying out the work. Direct OEM components can be overpriced, but options from ProX offer OEM quality and specifications at a fair price. ProX clutch and throttle cables are made to exact OEM fitment specifications, and feature a PVC outer jacket, pre-lubricated nylon inner sleeve, and steel inner cables. They are made by the same OEM suppliers, so you don’t have to worry about fitment, smooth operation, or durability.

The ProX clutch cable replaced the Yamaha’s worn out cable easily thanks to OEM fitment and quality.

The architecture of your specific machine will largely dictate what must be removed to successfully replace your clutch cable. Typically, the following components will need to be removed:

Front number plate
Radiator shroud
Radiator screen (if equipped)
Radiator mounting bolts

In this Yamaha’s case, we also had to remove the hot start lever from the perch in order to remove the dust cover.

Once the necessary components have been removed, replacing the clutch cable is straightforward. Start by loosening the lock nut on the cable adjuster that is spliced into the clutch cable. Once loose, turn the adjuster all the way in so that cable sheath length is minimized, which will slacken the cable. Next, at the clutch perch adjuster, slide any necessary dust covers out of the way as well as the large adjustment knob. Turn the adjuster in to further minimize cable sheath length. Then, align the slit in the adjuster to the slit in the clutch lever. At this point, there should be enough slack in the cable so that the cable end can be pulled out and away from the adjuster. Once out, the cable end can be disconnected from the clutch lever by aligning the cable with the slit in the clutch lever.

With the adjuster all the way in, line all the slits up and remove the cable from adjuster side first, then turn and drop it out of the slit in the lever.

With the clutch cable free of the clutch perch and lever, the cable end can be disconnected from the engine. To do this, slide the cable sheath end back from the holder on the engine. Then align the cable end with the slit on the actuation arm to free it. At this point, the clutch cable can be carefully removed from the machine.

Now, we can remove the cable from the engine. Loosen the cable mount so it moves freely, then turn the cable end and slide it out of the slit in the actuation arm.

Prepare the new clutch cable by applying cable lube to both ends of the cable. Check the smoothness of the cable by moving it back and forth prior to installation. Using the old cable routing or service manual as a reference, guide the new clutch cable into position.

Install the appropriate cable end into the clutch actuation arm by aligning the necessary features. Next, install the cable sheath end into the cable holder located on the engine. Double check the cable routing, then install the remaining cable end into the clutch lever. Slide the cable through the slits in the lever and adjuster so that the cable sheath end can be seated in the adjuster on the clutch perch. Reinstall any components that were removed and torque corresponding fasteners to the specifications outlined in your service manual.

Be sure to route the new cable exactly as it was routed from the factory. Install the new cable the same way you took the old one off, starting with the actuation arm and engine mount, and ending with the clutch lever.

Set the cable adjuster on the clutch perch so that the adjuster is turned out approximately ¼ of its useful travel. Next, use the cable adjuster spliced into the cable to correctly set the free play. Reference the aforementioned instructions for setting and adjusting free play. Once the free play is set, confirm all lock nuts, dust covers, and adjusters are properly tensioned or in place. Turn the handlebars from stop to stop and check clutch lever operation at each stop. Any changes in lever operation may indicate that the cable is pinched or bound, and the routing should be double checked. Assuming everything checks out, the job is done and the bike can be test ridden. Check clutch and cable operation during the test ride and confirm the free play has not changed afterwards.

After adjusting the new cable via the same method outlined earlier in the article, be sure to replace all dust covers, knobs, and anything else that was removed during the process to its original position.