Hey guys
I have a 74 CB550 that I've had about a year, it's always had a stiff clutch release, like if you can imagine when taking off from a stop as you gradually release the lever, there's no movement, a little bit of creeping forwad, then a harsh grab as you take off. Not much of a "friction zone" in between fully in and fully out like you'd expect.
I replaced the clutch cable hoping it was just stiff and binding, didn't really make a difference. Seems like once it's warmed up the problem is worse, which makes it kind of embarassing to take off from a light, creep forward a little bit then bang forward quickly, or be paranoid of stalling and rev up too high. Clutch doesn't slip at all once engaged, it just doesn't really "feather" much when releasing it like any other bike I've ridden. I adjusted it at the handlebar side before I knew you were supposed to adjust it at the clutch side first, but I could never really get it to feel right, just moved the engagement point around the lever. Also don't know if it's related but I've always thought the clutch took more force to squeeze than it should, are they all like this or will a cable clutch just never be as nice as a hydraulic clutch?
Next time I get to work on it which won't be for a few days, I'll try adjusting it at the clutch side.
I'm bored at work and don't have the bike here, but does this sound like it could just be an adjustment issue?
I have a 74 CB550 that I've had about a year, it's always had a stiff clutch release, like if you can imagine when taking off from a stop as you gradually release the lever, there's no movement, a little bit of creeping forwad, then a harsh grab as you take off. Not much of a "friction zone" in between fully in and fully out like you'd expect.
I replaced the clutch cable hoping it was just stiff and binding, didn't really make a difference. Seems like once it's warmed up the problem is worse, which makes it kind of embarassing to take off from a light, creep forward a little bit then bang forward quickly, or be paranoid of stalling and rev up too high. Clutch doesn't slip at all once engaged, it just doesn't really "feather" much when releasing it like any other bike I've ridden. I adjusted it at the handlebar side before I knew you were supposed to adjust it at the clutch side first, but I could never really get it to feel right, just moved the engagement point around the lever. Also don't know if it's related but I've always thought the clutch took more force to squeeze than it should, are they all like this or will a cable clutch just never be as nice as a hydraulic clutch?
Next time I get to work on it which won't be for a few days, I'll try adjusting it at the clutch side.
I'm bored at work and don't have the bike here, but does this sound like it could just be an adjustment issue?
