Do I need a new clutch cable?
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Road Master
Joined: Dec 2016
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Do I need a new clutch cable?
01 DX...as long as I've had this bike there's been a slight drip from the front end. It's not the oil filter, or motor, but everything in front (motor mount and frame area) gets oily from the spray back while riding.
The clutch cable is always wet and filthy and I'm pretty sure I've traced it to the connection point with the double nut slack adjuster that runs down the front left part of the frame.
My clutch lever at the bars gets looser and looser after a few hundred miles. I ride to work 100 miles round trip so I have to adjust the slack every 2-3 days. Pretty effing annoying.
Anyway, the question is: do I need a new clutch cable? Is there an o-ring or something in there? Also, if a new clutch cable is needed, would it be just the top half from the bars to the adjuster, or the whole damn thing back to the tranny cover? Thanks fellas.
The clutch cable is always wet and filthy and I'm pretty sure I've traced it to the connection point with the double nut slack adjuster that runs down the front left part of the frame.
My clutch lever at the bars gets looser and looser after a few hundred miles. I ride to work 100 miles round trip so I have to adjust the slack every 2-3 days. Pretty effing annoying.
Anyway, the question is: do I need a new clutch cable? Is there an o-ring or something in there? Also, if a new clutch cable is needed, would it be just the top half from the bars to the adjuster, or the whole damn thing back to the tranny cover? Thanks fellas.
Last edited by fxdx1985; Apr 9, 2017 at 01:46 PM.
Thread Starter
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Road Master
Joined: Dec 2016
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It's like a drop every two days, but the lever coming loose is what stumps me. If it dripped for all eternity I wouldn't care, but I'm doing an 800 mile ride in 3 weeks and want to not be on my hands and knees adjusting the clutch cable at every gas stop.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2014
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From: NW Ohio
I agree the adjustment is a problem, but I'm guessing it's unrelated to the oil. You may have a broken cable that's unraveling. Wouldn't be a bad idea to open up the trap door and check. Or just replace it.
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Road Master
Joined: Dec 2016
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When you say "trap door" are you referring to the tranny cover? I was in there 3 weeks ago to put a new gloss cover on, and that end looked ok. (The symptoms were going on long before the swap by the way)
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Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2014
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From: NW Ohio
Yeah, the cover that the clutch cable threads into. Has the ***** and ramp in it.
Have you checked the clutch adjuster screw in the primary to make sure it's not loose?
Have you checked the clutch adjuster screw in the primary to make sure it's not loose?
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Thread Starter
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Road Master
Joined: Dec 2016
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Yeah I was in there too when changing all the covers to gloss black. I think the oil or fluid makes it so the adjuster nuts don't sit tight and they're just vibrating loose from the road or the cable is slowly stretching/unraveling.
I'll probabaly just opt for a new cable since I'm on the original 16 year old one anyway. Couldn't hurt.
I'll probabaly just opt for a new cable since I'm on the original 16 year old one anyway. Couldn't hurt.