Stock CB360 -- ways to make clutch easier for little hands?

scottyhypnotic

scottyhypnotic

New Member
Hello. A female friend of mine just bought a CB360 and working the clutch causes her a lot of pain within minutes of riding the bike. The shop slacked the stock lever as much as they said they could, and everything has been lubed up, but its still a huge issue.

What options are there to make the clutch action easier for little hands on a 74 cb360?

I have a cx500 with a gsxr front end on it, so it has the levers from the GSXR, and that whole mechanism seems to make clutch pull a little easier on my bike. Is that an option? Or is the clutch and cable itself just that tricky on a cb360?

Any help would be very appreciated!
 
Is the bike stock? handlebars and everything dealing with the clutch. I know that when I replaced my handlebars with more tracker style ones the cables had to be routed differently as to not bind. I would look to see if there are any tight turns the cable is making and possibly re-route them a bit to ease the curve.
 
Good question. The handlebars are, in fact, new tracker bars. The guy who installed it made sure that the line was run correctly, and it doesn't have any sharp turns. So I'm thinking thats not the problem.

I find the lever somewhat stiff, but nothing too too crazy. I don't think that its far off from what its supposed to be from stock. But that being said, its still barely useable for her.
 
Not sure if you could adapt one of these to fit a 360, but it's probably the only option:


http://www.ebay.com/itm/Chinese-Dirt-Pit-Bike-Clutch-Lever-Hydraulic-Cable-125cc-140cc-150cc-Gold-Color-/181731799469?hash=item2a500f31ad:g:ERIAAMXQH-pRBjbc&vxp=mtr


s-l400.jpg
 
Interesting. Thank you.

I also found this one: http://www.ebay.com/itm/45-Universal-Chrome-HYDRAULIC-CLUTCH-LEVER-MASTER-CYLINDER-PITBIKE-MX-V-LV41-/160948981119

Notice its talking about a certain "main shaft mounted clutch. Referred to as 'Start in Any Gear'". I notice that its the type of system I had on my Sym Wolf Classic (basically a cb125), which is different than the way the cable in the CB goes straight into the rear left crankcase cover.

I realize that this is different, but does anybody know if that this would still be able to be modified to work? Somebody on a board somewhere was saying there are "pull action" like what I think the CB uses, and a "push action". This eBay one is still presumably a pull, right? I wonder if it would work with some modifying.
 
It's pull action - you cant push a cable 8)


The problem you will most likely have is changing the length of the cable and the nib on the end to suit a 360 mechanism. Not sure if that's even doable without pulling the slave cylinder apart and having a look at how the cable is mounted.
 
Whoa... now this is interesting as well.

http://www.constructorsrg.com/levers/sc2.html

They have selectable ratios for their action. Presumably a ratio set on the softest-- or most leverage per pull, it would make the pull lighter than stock.

What do you think?
 
I realize that I'm replying with answers to my own thread, in case somebody else searches for the same issue. And also I'd love people's opinions, as well.

But this seems like an option as well... although normal shifting is fun.

http://www.efmautoclutch.com/index.shtml
 
There are ways of making it work. :D

This conversion was done by Andrew at Littlehorse Cycles in Portland, OR. You can check in with him to see if he can do another.
 

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hillsy said:
Not sure if you could adapt one of these to fit a 360, but it's probably the only option:


http://www.ebay.com/itm/Chinese-Dirt-Pit-Bike-Clutch-Lever-Hydraulic-Cable-125cc-140cc-150cc-Gold-Color-/181731799469?hash=item2a500f31ad:g:ERIAAMXQH-pRBjbc&vxp=mtr


s-l400.jpg
Click to expand...

I did exactly this on a 360, and it was uncanny how well/easily it adapted and how well it worked.

the threads on those is THE SAME as the threads on a cb360 clutch cable, so the portion that threads on and fits into the case cover swap right over.

the rest is even easier...route your line, mount your master/lever/perch, fill and bleed, make clutch adjustments as per manual, and enjoy.

the lever feel is softer than stock, but has the same feedback as a cable would as far as feel of engagement/disengagement. I would do this again in a heartbeat.
 
Sonreir said:
There are ways of making it work. :D

This conversion was done by Andrew at Littlehorse Cycles in Portland, OR. You can check in with him to see if he can do another.
Click to expand...

That looks pretty damn cool.

If everything has been done to make it work properly, and she's relatively new to riding, you can also reassure her that she'll build up strength as she goes.
 
Thanks very much for all your replies guys! Great ideas, and encouraging.

Glad to know that this is a helpful forum as I have a 360 of my own as a bin of parts. I look forward to tapping you folks as a resource.
 
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