clutch cable breaks!

[benhur]

Guys,

was on tour with the missus in sicily last weekend, and I suddenly felt the clutch lever go really loose....i quickly checked the "gizmo" used to adjust the cable free play and i saw that the whole assembly was loose....sorted in a jiffy of course, just tightened it up to specs...

Now, however I am thinking about what i could have done should the clutch lever had snapped while driving...what is the correct procedure to slow a bike going at 70MPH to a standstill from top gear with no clutch!!!!...

dont relish the thought of the knocking and engine stalling at that speed

R.

[AlanH]

You can either ride using clutchless changes (takes a bit of work to achieve downchanges) or just find somewhere safe to stop, brake and hit the killswitch so the stop is smooth. It's no big deal. Give it a try sometime.

[piguglyshandydrinker]

Simple, don't run the cable to the point of it snapping!
Ensure it is free & correctly adjusted and for Phils top tip of the day ensure the centre cable enters the outer sheath centrally (at the engine end) bend/adjust the bracket until it's perfect. Bad adjustment here will frey the cable.

Phil

Sent from my HTC Desire S using Tapatalk 2

[Rubberchicken]

Another very simple one: Put some grease on the bit that goes in your handle, as it tends to minutely flex whenever you pull it if you don't. At least on elderly bikes where everything isn't showroom-fresh anymore.

And carry a spare. I got a set of emergency inner cables with screw on wotsits. Takes no space at all and has saved the day more than once.

[AlanH]

Lots of people advocate strapping a spare cable alongside the original just in case. Personally I think that's a bit OTT and there are inner cable repair kits around if you are a bit paranoid about it.

[benhur]

thanks guys....

lots of good advice. my personal preference is ensuring that the cable is well maintained and lubed....nothing like preventing problems

top thanks goes to Alan though....i just wanted to know there is a way to make a "controlled" halt in such a scenario...

thanks guys as usual!!

[Rubberchicken]

Lots of people advocate strapping a spare cable alongside the original just in case.

Good way to get the unused one rusty and knackered too.

[AlanH]

Good way to get the unused one rusty and knackered too.

That depends whether you have the foresight to grease the ends and tape corners of heavy duty polythene bags over them or whether you are a numpty

[621andy]

I've got a spare cable tied to the existing one...but then I am riding sometimes in places where no-one​ goes for weeks