Stretching Service Intervals

Well, this is a cautionary tale if there ever was one.

I picked up my SV at 21k on the clock and have been actively using it since March this year. Now, I've been meaning to service it ever since it hit 25k on the odometer. This was, admittedly, about 900 miles ago. You probably would have never met a worse example of an "I'll do it tomorrow" person like I.

Would have. No more.

My change in philosophy is, regrettably, only due to what can only be described as a sudden onset karmic catastrophe.

Lately, my clutch hadn't been disengaging properly and getting into neutral was an utter ballache. To remedy this, I'd been adjusting the cable at the lever, which would solve the problem for a bit. I had barely anything left to adjust with and I knew I should probably take a look at the clutch end of the cable... but hey, tomorrow, right?

Unfortunately, roughly three hours ago, I couldn't find neutral as I reached the head of a stationary queue. So, I'm sitting at the lights, clutch pulled in, resigned to the fact that there's no way I'm getting the bike into neutral now, when...

Clonk.

The bike inexplicably stalls and the clutch lever goes as floppy as a pensioner without a Viagra prescription. I pull back the rubber cowl to expose the cable adjustment at the lever and behold - both the locknut and the other adjusty bit (technical term in the absence of my Haynes manual) are practically falling off with the cable hanging loose.

I look down to the left side of the bike and notice the other end of the clutch cable sticking out of the fairing. Now, I'm a complete novice with the ol' mechanical stuff - I could probably operate a spanner with about as much technical dexterity as a three legged rhinoceros - but even I know something is a bit amiss here.

Turns out the bloody thing has snapped. I eventually work out how to get the bike into neutral (queue a lot of rocking back and forward with a simultaneous twitching of my foot that probably made me look like I was having a minor epileptic fit) and, sadly without breakdown insurance (ironically, there was a nice AA man in Morrisons the other week, who I of course promptly ignored when he asked if I had said breakdown insurance already), I proceed to push my poor neglected bike the two point one miles back to my girlfriend's house.

The ironic thing is, I had a service booked for tomorrow morning. I don't think I'll be pushing the service intervals much more in the future...

So, with this new found shiny resolve to learn more about motorcycle maintenance, how easy is it for a numpty like me to fit a clutch cable?

What a fascinating tale!

It is very easy to fit a new clutch cable, especially with the help of old Haynes.
By the sounds of if the cable has already detached itself from the nipple holder in your sprocket cover?

First things first I would take off your sprocket cover. It is 3, 8mm bolts holding it on.
Once that is removed you can see if there is any extra damage which has been caused.

If not and the cable is in fact still attached simply; slacken the lower 12mm lock nut so the cable is fully slack and them remove the cable nipple out of its holder (may need to pliers if it is a bit stiff).
Once the cable is removed you should be able to simply pull out of the cable holder above the sprocket area, all the way to your clutch lever. (Remember how the cable is routed for re-fitting)

At your clutch lever, fold back the rubber, wind out the adjuster screw and you should be able to feed the clutch wire out of the adjuster screw and nut and take it out of the nipple holder on your lever.

It is not so hard. So don't worry.

Fitting is the reverse of removal. Bearing in mind that the may need the slack taken out of it as it is new. To do this,wind in your clutch lever adjuster fully, adjust the 2 12mm nuts where the cable fits to near your sprocket. This gives you plenty of future adjustment on your clutch lever when needed to be adjusted. Also I would spray some white PTFE grease or just some multi-purpose lithium grease to keep the area lubed.

See....easy peasy.

However I so feel it may not just be your cable, I would have the intent to check your clutch wear as well as you have left it so long haha.

Enjoy

Kieran

[Sid Squid]

Fit the cable and then do this:

Originally Posted by Me! Many many times now.

Slacken off cable adjusters at top and bottom, loosen lifter locknut, back out screw a bit, ensure that lifter arm is as far down as it will go, gently turn screw in until it contacts pushrod, back it out a bit, (~1/8th of a turn), then nip up the locknut, roughly adjust cable with lower adjuster - not too tight - then with top adjuster ensure that there remains a little slack all the way from lock to lock.

Wiggling the adjuster at the lever end does NOT adjust the clutch - it can only alter the cable slack, which is not the same.

Might want to oil the new cable before you install it.

I'd have been so tempted to bump it in 2nd or 3rd and ride it home.
I have *never* pushed a bike 2 miles and don't expect to start now.

Hmmm, I may need use of this thread.

Could have ridden it home BTW...

Correlation does not imply causation.

Indeed, but espial may have followed perusal.

Shug

[Pete7]

Whilst you have the spanners out I suggest an urgent oil and filter change too, now that you have done 5k miles since buying it and the oil may not have been new then.



Pete