Maintaining Your Motorcycle Clutch Cable

    • 5419 posts
    February 25, 2009 3:26 AM PST

    Is your clutch getting harder and harder to pull in? Well, here's a couple pieces of good news: 1) You're probably not getting arthritis and 2) It shouldn't require any costly repairs to get it moving smoothly again.

     

    In most cases you can make your clutch lever operate as smoothly as new by simply lubricating the cable. In extreme cases of cable wear or fraying, the cable may require replacement.

     

    Lubricating the clutch cable:

     

    Step 1 - Loosing the Cable

     

    The first step is to loosen the clutch cable and remove the cable ferrule from the clutch lever housing, giving access to the open end of the cable shield.

     

    Depending on your motorcycle, your clutch cable adjustment will most likely be one of three types: 1) In-line cable adjuster, where the cable adjustment assembly is located within the cable between the clutch lever and the transmission (normally in an easy accessible spot), 2) Clutch lever housing adjuster, where the clutch adjustment assembly is located at the top of the cable where it enters the clutch lever housing, or 3) Lower clutch cable adjuster, where the adjustment is located at the transmission end of the clutch cable.

     

    In all cases, the adjuster will consist of a jam (locking) nut or wheel, and an adjustment nut or thumbscrew. Loosen the jam nut and turn the adjustment screw to completely loosen the cable (normally clockwise).
    Note: on motorcycles with a clutch lever housing adjuster, align the slots on the jam wheel and the adjuster with the slot in the clutch lever housing.)

     

    Once the cable adjuster has been loosened, remove the cable ferrule from the clutch lever housing. To do this pull the ferrule and cable outer shield away from the lever housing and slip the inner braided cable thought the slot in the cable housing.

     

    Step 2 - Lubricating the Cable

     

    Hold the outer cable shield down and away from the lever so that the opening where the inner cable enters the shield is facing upward. Use a very thin lubricant (Bike Aid Film Lubricant, Dri-Slide, PJ-1 Cable Lube or similar lubricant) and apply directly into the cable shield opening while shaking the cable. Wait 30 seconds or so for the lubricant to flow down the cable and repeat.
    Caution: Protect and completely wipe away any overspay and excess lubricant from all hand controls, foot controls, tires and brakes!

     

    Step 3 - Re-installing & Adjusting the Cable

     

    Re-install the cable by reversing the steps taken to remove it... pull the cable ferrule back and re-insert the inner cable into the slot on the lever housing. Re-seat the ferrule into it's opening in the lever housing.

     

    To re-adjust the cable, turn the cable adjustment nut counter-clockwise until the clutch lever regains tension. Squeeze the clutch lever several time and ensure the ferrule is properly seated.

     

    Adjust the cable until there is a 1/16" to 1/8" gap* between the ferrule and the lever housing or the lever and the lever housing, whichever is easier to see. (in-other-words, the clutch lever should move 1/16" to 1/8"* at the beginning of travel without feeling any tension)
    (*Note: 1/16" to 1/8" of free play is a standard adjustment for most motorcycles. Check your motorcycles service manual for adjustment specifications.)

     

    Your clutch lever should now operate as smoothly as it did when it was new. If your clutch is still hard to operate, the cable may be worn or frayed and should be replaced. For cable replacement, refer to your service manual or take your motorcycle to an authorized service center.

     

    As with the completion of any service, you should test ride your motorcycle in a controled situation before traveling in traffic.

     

     

    • 1 posts
    February 26, 2009 2:40 AM PST

    Good article. You would not believe how many people come in thinking they have a clutch problem just because the lever is hard to pull.

     

    Good recommendation on the lubes to use too. Do NOT use oil based products for this. They actually attract and absorb dirt and become gummy.

     

    Just before you lube the cable you can spray a litlle engine degreaser in there to get rid of old oil and crap. Don't worry, a little spray will not hurt the transmission, that's where the other end of the cable goes and the spray and crap come out. But if the cable is really dirty and you need to spray a lot, just do it right before a trans fluid change.

  • July 19, 2009 5:54 AM PDT
    Thanks for the tip. Just cleaned and lubed the clutch cable on the Ultra Classic and wow what a difference. Was getting ready to take it in to the shop (just like BailOut said) until I read this.
  • November 16, 2009 1:13 PM PST
    Hydraulic clutch here. Smooth as a babie's backside.
    • 6 posts
    February 20, 2010 3:39 PM PST
    Clutch on the hawk has always been silk; thought something was wrong at first because it was so easy to pull, but it's been like that for almost a year with no change, so I guess I just got lucky on that one lol. Great tips though!
    • 834 posts
    November 22, 2016 9:40 PM PST

    Going through some old posts and came across this. Wish I would have done that a couple months ago when I changed a clutch cable that was probably still good.

    • 3006 posts
    November 25, 2016 2:28 PM PST

    I broke my stock cable after about 70000 on my current ride.It broke in my criveway. lol talk about fortunate!!! When I examnined it,the fray was up near the clutch handle.When I installed the new cable I made sure to give it plenty of lube,probably over did it 

     

  • November 27, 2016 2:11 PM PST

    Here's another sweet tip as I found out the hard way back in the 70's while living and riding in Southern California. If you have a place to carry a SMALL set of vice grips just in case the clutch cable breaks you will have a home made clutch lever, proving it breaks at the ferrule on the clutch lever.

     

    Stay safe out there

    Night Dragon

    • 1855 posts
    November 29, 2016 9:32 AM PST

    There are things I replace automatically after a certain # of miles.  The clutch cable is one of those; between 25K and 30K miles.  The vise grip is a must IMHO, even if the cable doesn't break at the ferrule. 

    • 58 posts
    November 29, 2016 12:00 PM PST

    I couldn't believe it when the clutch cable on my 2011 FLHTK broke at about 30k.  I have never had one break before.  I was, however, pleasantly surprised when the whole repair, in my brother in law's garage,  only took me 3hrs to accomplish


    This post was edited by RufCut at November 29, 2016 12:04 PM PST