Clutch Cable '81 1100

[AApple]

Before I start scouring the 'net, I thought I'd beg and see if anyone here might have a spare clutch cable for my '81 Innerstate. Dang thing snapped on me right as I turned in the driveway this evening. :rant:
Also, if anyone has any info on good/bad suppliers(ones to stay way from), that would be most beneficial, too. :thanks:

Bike Bandit lists one from Motion Pro for $14 & change. Motion Pro lists the same cable for $16 & change.... I could order direct from Motion Pro, and prolly get it quicker, for a couple dollars more....

 

[detdrbuzzard]

get a new cable don't mess around with a used one

 

[AApple]

Yeah...I'm gonna call the local Bike shop and see do they maybe have one in stock. Just wanna get back to ridin asap!! If they don't have one, I'll just order one from Motion. :Egyptian:

 

[dlslick]

+1 on the buy new clutch cable. IMHO cables cannot be brought back 100% after they have rusted inside. No amount of lubing can make them work smoothly. Again, this is my experience. Others may have had better luck. A used one is great for a spare for an emergency but not for a daily rider.

 

[AApple]

:yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo:
Local Bike Parts place had one in stock! I asked Mama to go fetch it for me. I'll be riding agin tomorrow! :Egyptian:

 

[dlslick]

Sweeet !!!! :Egyptian:

 

[AApple]

Ya, right? :Egyptian:
It's weird. I've never had an issue with the clutch, or ever felt that the pull on the lever/cable was tight at all....it's always been really smooth. I turned into the driveway, and SNAP! Broke right at the ball end at the lever. Nice, clean break. The bike now has aboot 80 thou on it, so I guess it was just time. Sure glad it didn't happen while I was on the road! :shock:
Anyway, Mama's already picked the cable up, and got an oil filter for it too, while she were there. I'll be sweatin to the oldies in the ge-raj tonite! :builder:

 

[dlslick]

Well, that cable was probably taken care of over the years. I had one do that and it is a real stupid feeling when it lets go. Makes you want to go out and check all of them on your bikes so that it doesnt happen at a stoplight some time and



Ok,,, I am back. Mine are all fine.
:salute:

 

[AApple]

:rant: Yeeeeeesh! I thought swapping the cable would be a 30 minute gig. NOT! Try 2 hours! :heat: Trunk, seat, shelter ALL have to come off. Then I screwed up and connected the top all nice & purdy, then found I couldn't hook the bottom up. :rant: :builder:
I finally got it, tho. Feels just like it did before...no smoother/easier. Old cable is in good shape, no rust/corrosion, or kinks anywhere. :headscratch: Oh well...I got it handled. :clapping: :yahoo:
Cable is a Motion Pro like the ones I looked at above. Cost $19 & change, and is a perfect copy of the original. :good:

 

[dan filipi]

Glad it worked out for ya Joel.

When I replaced my throttle cables I neglected to measure the new against the old.
Got them all routed nice and connected at the throttle only to pull them out because they were about 6" too short.
Lesson learned:
Step 0ne: Compare against the old!

 

[54Greybeard]

Now I'm worried. I've heard that what causes the end to break off of the cable is lack of lube where it sits in the lever. I lubed mine yesterday after reading about AApple's troubles. Mine works nice and smooth also. Now I'm thinking I outa get a new one and carry it around or go ahead and change it and carry the old one as a spare. What was the part number on that cable, AApple?

 

[AApple]

:shock: Didn't mean to scare anyone! The cable I got is from Motion Pro # 02-0034. I did actually get it from a local supplier, so the part # may vary. The cable came with no bag or packaging...just the # ink-stamped on the outer sheathing. Ya know, for $20 or less, it might be a good idea to have a spare. :good:

I did put a smear of Moly lube on the ends where they fit into the handlebar lever, and the bottom, as well as sprayed the inner cable down with some lube first.

 

[detdrbuzzard]

Ya, right? :Egyptian:
It's weird. I've never had an issue with the clutch, or ever felt that the pull on the lever/cable was tight at all....it's always been really smooth. I turned into the driveway, and SNAP! Broke right at the ball end at the lever. Nice, clean break. The bike now has aboot 80 thou on it, so I guess it was just time. Sure glad it didn't happen while I was on the road! :shock:
Anyway, Mama's already picked the cable up, and got an oil filter for it too, while she were there. I'll be sweatin to the oldies in the ge-raj tonite! :builder:

a few years ago my niece was riding my cb450sc. she pulls up in my driveway and shuts the motor off and we start talking, she's still sitting on the bike. i pull the clutchlever twice and it snapped. she wasn't very happy but i asked her where would you be stranded if the cable hadn't broken here at my house

 

[dan filipi]

The Goldwings have good Karma or something.
I read all the time of similar stories something breaking in the driveway.

Myself I've had many times the same thing happen.

Once my son and I were 300 miles North of home camping for 3 days.
We were out site seeing on the bike in 100+ temps. As we pulled into camp an Oring on the right coolant crossover tube sprung a leak.

Had a head gasket let go but after I pulled into the garage.

Discovered a split in my rear tire at home AFTER a 200 mile ride, never leaked air.

Before I put an external alternator in I lost charge but had enough to get home, died in the driveway.

These are great bikes!
Hope I didn't just curse mine.

 

[mcgovern61]

Now I'm worried. I've heard that what causes the end to break off of the cable is lack of lube where it sits in the lever. I lubed mine yesterday after reading about AApple's troubles. Mine works nice and smooth also. Now I'm thinking I outa get a new one and carry it around or go ahead and change it and carry the old one as a spare. What was the part number on that cable, AApple?

Think about this for a minute......80k miles, well maintained, maybe 30 YEARS OLD!! :smilie_happy: :cheeky:

Assume the clutch is only pulled about 2.5 times per mile (assuming combination of road miles and around town stop and go) that would be about 200,000 pulls on the lever and cable. How long do we think these cables should last??? oh2:

Just sayin....these bikes last a little of forever, but we should expect that after 30 years or so that the cables might need to be replaced? :hihihi:

 

[54Greybeard]

Thank you for the part number.

 

[AApple]

Now I'm worried. I've heard that what causes the end to break off of the cable is lack of lube where it sits in the lever. I lubed mine yesterday after reading about AApple's troubles. Mine works nice and smooth also. Now I'm thinking I outa get a new one and carry it around or go ahead and change it and carry the old one as a spare. What was the part number on that cable, AApple?

I can see how the end of the cable that fits into the clutch lever could get stressed if it was dry. Each time you pull the lever in, the end of the cable is basically twisting until force causes it to straighten out. So, much like a piece of wire/coat hanger, if you bend it back/forth enough times, it will eventually break. With some lube in there, the cable end slides, instead of twisting, thereby living a longer life. The end that fits on the lower clutch arm runs pretty much straight, so that end shouldn't really ever have a breakage issue.
That's my story, and I stickin wid it... :mrgreen:

I noticed this afternoon, when I got ready to ride home, there was a small drip puddle under the 'Wing. Kinda skeered me a little, until I determined it was actually some of the lube I had put in the cable dripping out. :Egyptian:

 

[cmonSTART]

Clutch cables are one of those things I insist on doing genuine Honda. Several years ago the Motion Pro cable I had just installed suddenly stretched while I was waiting to pull into traffic. It was the weirdest thing. It felt like the clutch was letting out. Thankfully there was a break in traffic and I was able to jump into it. When I got home, sure enough the cable portion of it was too long and the adjustments couldn't take up enough slack to make it work. I'm sure it was just a fluke, but still I spend the extra money on the Honda cable.

I also carry a spare and a repair kit.

 

[dlslick]

+1 on the Honda cable. I have had luck with both but did have an aftermarket ( dont remember if it was Motionpro ) one that the ball end popped off once. Wasnt a dangerous situation because it did it as I was starting to adust it after installing it. :rant:

 

[Heath]

+1 on the cable letting go at the end of the drive. I switched to synthetic oil and the clutch started acting wierd, hard to shift, thought I screwed it up by switching oil. Then coming home just as I hit the end of the drive and pulled in the clutch the cable let go. Rolled up to the garage door and hit the kill switch. Replaced the cable switched back to synthetic and been happy every since.