| Author | Message | ||
     Bcool83 |
So I was out for a ride on Wednesday, when I noticed my clutch lever "clicking." When it gets to about 1/2" to 3/4" from the bar, there's a distinct "click" feel (and sound I think, though maybe I just made that up). It's not a continuous clicking, it just happens once. Also, it doesn't happen every single time, but it can happen multiple times in a row, and then it would not happen for several pulls of the lever, then start up again. Any thoughts? 03 XB9S with 7400 miles on the clock... | ||
| Ulynut |
Clutch cable gone bad? Did you look at the lever itself?  | ||
| Bcool83 |
I was thinking it could be the cable going bad...but is there any way to test that for sure? | ||
| Ulynut |
Take it off and pull the cable back and forth inside the sleeve. It should move smoothly. | ||
| Ben782 |
If the cable has too much free play it can be slipping inside the clutch perch, or if the perch itself is wore out (the hole for the cable is rounded out). So check everything out around where the cable runs through the perch. Feel the perch and the cable as it makes the clicking sound, you should be able to "feel" where the sound is coming from. I would try lubing the cable and see how much better the pull will feel. | ||
| Randomchaos |
When I felt a clicking in mine, the cable was fraying at the lever. Pretty easy thing to check. | ||
| Iamarchangel |
Also look at the bushing in the lever end. It's easy enough to check while you're checking the other suggestions. It wears, mines gone and it's the same year as yours. Can't replace it without buying a new lever, but if that's all it is, you don't really have to change it. Check everything over, you know you'll find out in the middle of nowhere if you don't. | ||
| Pkforbes87 |
Does it happen all the time or only when the bike isn't running? My X1 gives an audible click inside the primary cover if the clutch lever is pulled when the engine is off.. I've never known why. | ||
| Juniorkirk |
my 12R did it with 14k miles on it and just about 200 miles later when i was going down I-5 it snapped on me. I would recommend getting a new one for about $35 and have it on stand-by | ||
| Gentleman_jon |
Whether or not the "click" is caused by the clutch cable or not, it is still a good idea to replace it now. The reason is the new version of the clutch cable is teflon lined, and you won't believe how much easier it makes the clutch action. In addition, the reduced friction will most likely make the cable last longer. Replacing the clutch is a bit tricky at the motor end. So make sure you have shop manual and have studied the Knowledge vault on this site before starting. | ||
| 2008xb12scg |
new version of the clutch cable is teflon lined When did that start? | ||
| Drivinjoe |
Mine was severely frayed at about 10k. Replacing it was pretty simple with the manual and the knowledge vault. | ||
| Xl_cheese |
The cable end will slip and stick in the clutch handle. When I say cable-end I'm refering to the metal ball on the end that hooks into the lever. Spray a lil lub on that peice and you'll be smooth again. The design is a low cost solution. | ||
| Bcool83 |
Well whatever it was, it went away. Perhaps something was just caught up under the lever end of the cable last week (I had been riding in the rain, maybe a piece of road salt got kicked up and wedged in)... Yesterday I went out for 115 miles (including about 10 mi in traffic) and nary one click the whole time. I'll still look at replacing the clutch cable sometime soon, just to be sure. Thanks for all the info guys! | ||
| Iamarchangel |
I hate clicky noises that go away. You really should pull it out and look. It's not hard at all. If it was frayed and the loose bits stopped catching, it would stop clicking. Then it stops clutching. | ||
| Juniorkirk |
When i replaced my clutch cable about 800 miles ago, i had NO problem changing it out. It was actually REALLY easy....considering i had it on its side when i took the part in the motor out, so i didnt have to worry about the balls flying away on me. The only problem i did have was not having the right tool to take it out of the crank case. i stripped the shit out of the old cable and just hand tightened the new one in until i was able to get a wrench that fit it. | ||
| Bombardier |
That click is probably just the cables snapping one by one. Nothing to worry about. | ||
| Sharkytattoo |
Lube them cables young man | ||
| Ratbuell |
I lube my cables after EVERY trip out in the rain, ever since my FLHP's cable snapped on me, during engine-start, in the rain, 100 miles from home one day years ago. Upshifts were OK, but clutchless downshifts on wet roads....<pucker>  Dri-slide is cheap and easy, compared to fiddling with a cable replacement....and I'm too dumb to come in out of the rain, lol. | ||
| Bcool83 |
OK then, I'll at least lube it. With what, and how? | ||
| Ulynut |
http://www.protectall.com/cable_life.htm | ||
| Jdubxb |
Mine also clicked. It turned out to be the individual strands of the cable snapping, all at the lever end. I was down to 4 strands before I realized what was happening. If you pull the clutch lever, you should be able to see whether the strands are intact at this vulnerable location. What prompted me to take a closer look was a sudden increase in the amount of clutch lever play. The play was due to the cable stretching as it unraveled with each broken strand. I promptly replaced the cable and the new one is much improved with the cable being coated in plastic. (Message edited by jdubxb on December 17, 2008) | ||
| Bcool83 |
I lubed up the cable but haven't ridden it since. In fact, i'm not even positive I lubed it correctly, or well enough. I bought the tool and everything, but couldn't get enough of the cable out of the sleeve to fit properly in the tool...but I think/hope it worked. Perhaps I should've loosened the turnbuckle adjuster first? Regardless, I'm installing the Custom Chrome Clutchlite plate this weekend, so I'll have to loosen the adjustment then; maybe I'll just relube. Question about the install though. For anyone who has ever taken the inner and outer ramp assemblies off inside the primary, did you use a new retaining clip when reinstalling, or just use the original clip? |
