360 Clutch adjustment frustration...

3DogNate

"You Meet the Nicest People on a Honda"
So, I'm putting my bike back together.. the factory clutch cable it practically siezed up and useless. So I ordered a Motion Pro Clutch cable. I'm adjusting the clutch according to the manual... but I can't get away from this issue where there's a pop when I squeeze the clutch lever and the "pop" and the lever goes limp.

I've looked at some other posts regarding this and it sounds like the 360 clutch adjustment is a bit finicky. Any thoughts on how to get this thing to adjust out right?
 
This happened to me when I was reassembling my bike. I redid the clutch adjustment about three times before I got it right. The popping is because things are too tight. Loosen it up a bit and it should be OK. A properly adjusted clutch has about an inch of free play in it (when measured from the bars to the end of the clutch lever).
 
Sonreir said:
This happened to me when I was reassembling my bike. I redid the clutch adjustment about three times before I got it right. The popping is because things are too tight. Loosen it up a bit and it should be OK. A properly adjusted clutch has about an inch of free play in it (when measured from the bars to the end of the clutch lever).

I think you are right about needing to loosen it up. But, I've got no more slack to introduce in the cable, I've tried sneaking up on the adjustment, but when i get the adjuster to where it will disengage the clutch, it will still pop at the last bit of lever travel.
 
You really have to just f^^k with till you are red hot and ready to throw your bike in the lake, then step back drink a 6 pack of beer and go to bed. Repeat this process for 3 days, and on day 5 it will magically fix itself and then, and most importantly, NEVER TOUCH THAT part on your bike again!!!
 
vtwin650 said:
You really have to just f^^k with till you are red hot and ready to throw your bike in the lake, then step back drink a 6 pack of beer and go to bed. Repeat this process for 3 days, and on day 5 it will magically fix itself and then, and most importantly, NEVER TOUCH THAT part on your bike again!!!

In all seriousness... is the little bastard of a ball bearing in the right place? and is there enough grease on the part and on your hands...? This is the worst part on the entire cb360! After screwing with this part on 3 different bikes, and none of them "adjusting" quite the same, the best lesson here is that you will have to learn it yourself...sorry. :'(
 
Follow the procedure in this post at Honda Twins. It cures the pop. http://www.hondatwins.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=49&t=8963
 
iContango said:
Follow the procedure in this post at Honda Twins. It cures the pop. http://www.hondatwins.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=49&t=8963

Yep, already found that last night....

So here's where I'm at... the original cable is too gummed up to actually use. But using some wd40 a vise and pliers I worked it until I could move the cable in the sheath with some effort. Then, I went and installed the old cable on the bike and did the adjustments... works like a charm, no pop... engages and disengages the clutch just fine. Just is too gummy on the return to consider using.

So, I know I'm doing the adjustments just as I should. That's a good thing...

The bad thing is that my new cable needs about 3/8"-1/2" less sheath to introduce enough slack in the system to make this thing adjustable.

Anyone know of a replacement cable that is not by Motion Pro? I either need to have this one modified or use a different maker.... Does Honda still sell a replacement part?

I have an option of a shop here in town to have him shorten my cable and have him add the extra slack I need in the process. I may go down this road if there's not another replacement option.
 
I just put the Motion Pro cable on my 360. Works fine. No issues at all.

The only difference from the original I had is that the corrugated rubber cover on the exposed cable inside the cover housing area isn't there.

Did you have the lever adjustment all the way in before adjusting?
Did you start with the adjustment at the housing fully loose?

Unless you got an odd one, or maybe I have the odd one, it worked exactly as it should for me. The lever adjustment is all the way in, but the play is right and the clutch works great.
 
Yep the adjuster at the lever is all the way into the lever housing, and the lower adjuster is all the way in as far as it'll go.

I also left the cable end out of the lever and did the adjustment and tried to attach the cable at the lever afterward.. not enough cable slack to connect it...about 1/4" from being able to tuck the barrel end in the lever. Maybe I got sent the wrong / odd cable? I swear... I'm not a dope and am just doing it wrong. The motion pro cable I have doesn't have as much free cable as the original and is a few inches longer overall too...


mydlyfkryzis said:
I just put the Motion Pro cable on my 360. Works fine. No issues at all.

The only difference from the original I had is that the corrugated rubber cover on the exposed cable inside the cover housing area isn't there.

Did you have the lever adjustment all the way in before adjusting?
Did you start with the adjustment at the housing fully loose?

Unless you got an odd one, or maybe I have the odd one, it worked exactly as it should for me. The lever adjustment is all the way in, but the play is right and the clutch works great.
 
You may have a 350 cable, they are 'almost' the same but not quite.
The adjuster does fit into the hole in cover and is completely backed off?
 
It's a Motion Pro #02-0005

yes completely backed off.

crazypj said:
You may have a 350 cable, they are 'almost' the same but not quite.
The adjuster does fit into the hole in cover and is completely backed off?
 
Also while I had the original cable installed I tightened up the cable at the lever and it began to pop just like the other cable... so no doubt that I need some slack in the cable.
 
You are very slightly over adjusted on the cover screw.
I've only ever had one 360 do the same thing problem went away after I re-assembled clutch plates (no idea why, which always worries me)
Been OK for several thousand miles though (not my bike, Brendon's)
 
crazypj said:
You are very slightly over adjusted on the cover screw.
I've only ever had one 360 do the same thing problem went away after I re-assembled clutch plates (no idea why, which always worries me)
Been OK for several thousand miles though (not my bike, Brendon's)

I've tried sneaking up on the adjustment too... Only way I can get that motion pro cable to disengage the clutch is to actually over adjust... I've not had the clutch stack apart on this bike... I've got a good stack from my parts motor that I've removed too. I've not got the motor filled with oil yet. So I might get in and check that out... But I think you would come to the same conclusion that I am. It might be a very unique situation that only is affecting me for some reason...

But the little lever that the cable pulls the ball retainer in the side cover is already almost at its midway point in the ramp when my cable is at its slackest point.

I'm going to give that cable to a guy tomorrow to shorten and add 1/2 inch of free cable to. He does this for just a few bucks... I'm probably going to have him shorten or make me a new set of throttle cables too. I might make a little video tonight if I get bored so that you can see exactly what I'm dealing with.
 
I posted pics of my cutaway cover, did you take a look at them?
It shows where lever should be with stock cable correctly adjusted.
Which way do you have cable routed?
I run mine above headlight bracket on left side then across to right side of frame, crossing back behind top engine steady
 
crazypj said:
I posted pics of my cutaway cover, did you take a look at them?
It shows where lever should be with stock cable correctly adjusted.
Which way do you have cable routed?
I run mine above headlight bracket on left side then across to right side of frame, crossing back behind top engine steady

Yes, that's a good pic... I can work with that... this might illustrate what I'm dealing with. I have my cable routed the same way.
DSCN4638-Cable-Delima.jpg
 
Really sounds like cable is about 1/2" too short or outer is 1/2" too long.
It's easy enough to shorten outer, you just have to be a little careful not to cut into inner wire .
I've used a junior hacksaw to cut through the flat coil after stripping outer sheath, probably easier to use a mini cut off wheel and a Dremel in modern technology ;D
 
Re: '74 CB360 cafe project - (Wiring complete - Video added)

I'm dropping it off today at a guy that can shorten the whole thing up, for me... I'm going to go this route so that I'll be able to route the down the left side of the bike, which will be nice.

Is it practical to ditch the push cable to go to a single throttle cable on this bike?
 
I've only used the pull cable since around 1978 on all my CB's (unless I sold them before it was removed)
 
Well the guy that i dropped my cable off to to have shortened turned it around quick and i picked it up on my way home from work. We shortend it 7.5" over all and left 1/2" of free cable. Worked like a champ!!! first try on adjustment... had to take a little slack out in adjustment but the clutch works perfect...

I knew something was up when I couldn't adjust the darned thing.
 
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