CHOPPED clutch cable---
Thread Starter
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2009
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From: Texas
CHOPPED clutch cable---
Ok, I made a post on here a few weeks ago and got no help. I want to do a suicide shifter on my 06. I'm going to hand fab everything. The shifter will be 1" OD to warehouse the original clutch handle and grip. Kinda drag-race style. So with the clutch lever being on the shifter, I will need to shorten the clutch cable to somewhere around 14"-18" I'm thinking. I know shortening a clutch cable can be done - so how? No one sells a cable this small. I've googled my *** off, talked to HD, looked through catalogs - even stopped at a Yamaha dealer today. Nada. I know there are popular foot clutch/jockey shifters for Sportsters, but you need forward controls and I don't have them, nor do I want them - so rule that OUT. What's the cable made of? Wire/metal? I want to section out the middle so the primary side can still bolt in and the clutch lever side can too. Can it be sectioned out and then welded? Soldered? Crimped? Brazed? Gonna try and do this in the next couple of weeks. Any info would be awesome.
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 765
Likes: 1
From: Maryland
The clutch cable is twisted steel. You can cut it and crimp it if you like. I guess. I'm not sure about welding or soldering it. I have the setup from Rager Built Choppers. It is the simplest setup I could find. However, it requires forward controls!
You have to be careful of the weight of the shifter lever and also take into consideration the fact that the shift lever will have a long swing. If it were a clock it would be from about 10-2 so the cable will have to be long enough and have enough play to accommodate that. I was surprised at how far I had to move the rod to shift! I would consider a smaller shifter rod with maybe some sort of bushing to attach the clutch perch. When I did mine I was concerned with the weight on the shifter shaft so I made mine from 1/2" metal tube.
I have a firend that has a snap on breaker bar as his shifter lever. However it is a custom chopper with a 103". I'm not sure it makes a difference but I would assume the shifter shaft is more heavy duty on that motor
You have to be careful of the weight of the shifter lever and also take into consideration the fact that the shift lever will have a long swing. If it were a clock it would be from about 10-2 so the cable will have to be long enough and have enough play to accommodate that. I was surprised at how far I had to move the rod to shift! I would consider a smaller shifter rod with maybe some sort of bushing to attach the clutch perch. When I did mine I was concerned with the weight on the shifter shaft so I made mine from 1/2" metal tube.
I have a firend that has a snap on breaker bar as his shifter lever. However it is a custom chopper with a 103". I'm not sure it makes a difference but I would assume the shifter shaft is more heavy duty on that motor
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 11,068
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From: Texas! Ya mean there's someplace else?
Barnett's will make a clutch cable any length you want.
Oh, and get ready for the primary leak that will happen due to the extra weight on the shifter shaft bushing.
One last bit - it ain't a suicide, just a hand shift/hand clutch. I'd really recommend doing a "real" suicide clutch & hand or jockey shift instead of what you're contemplating. I've seen a Sporty shift itself when the hand lever was too heavy and the bike went over a good bump.
Oh, and get ready for the primary leak that will happen due to the extra weight on the shifter shaft bushing.
One last bit - it ain't a suicide, just a hand shift/hand clutch. I'd really recommend doing a "real" suicide clutch & hand or jockey shift instead of what you're contemplating. I've seen a Sporty shift itself when the hand lever was too heavy and the bike went over a good bump.
Last edited by pococj; Sep 9, 2010 at 09:48 PM.
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 367
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From: yankton SD
. I've seen a Sporty shift itself when the hand lever was too heavy and the bike went over a good bump.[/quote]
i've had this idea in my head for a year now but what you said is the only thing keeping me from doing it. im also worried about when you accel or decel the weight of the lever would swing the shifter i think. i wont do a foot clutch cuz i absolutly hate forward controls and i want both feet free when stopped.
i've had this idea in my head for a year now but what you said is the only thing keeping me from doing it. im also worried about when you accel or decel the weight of the lever would swing the shifter i think. i wont do a foot clutch cuz i absolutly hate forward controls and i want both feet free when stopped.
Thread Starter
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Outstanding HDF Member
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From: Texas
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Elite HDF Member
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From: Kentucky
I wonder if you couldn't overcome that by mounting the lever forward, using the linkage for a forward foot shifter. That would also hep when using the jockey shift with mid controls.
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man ur bike looks fvcken mean dude! nice job with it. can't wait to see what you come up with.
