Lack of power after "tweaking" clutch cable

NinjaMonkey · L Plate Warrior Joined: 22 Apr 2013 Karma :

Heya folks,

First post of hopefully many on the forum!

I was wondering if I could ask a question to all the tinkerers out there. My clutch cable has been a little poop for quite some time and i finally thought I would attempt to tweak it recently.

Firstly the problems I was finding whilst riding the bike was:
1) the clutch lever was very loose and "sagging" if that makes sence?
2) the screw adjuster looked like it didnt have much room to tweak any further.
3) changing gears was clunky and horrible.

I decided I would twist the screw adjuster the entire way in which made the lever even worse, i then proceeded to use 2 spanners to adjust the cable at the other end to try and try and rein in some of the slack.

I done so quite well and have solved problems 1 2 and 3... however now when i ride i feel like i'm not getting much power to the bike. I ride a Kawasaki Ninja zx-6r 2001 J2 model. Shes got quite a bit of torque on her and normally goes like s*** off a shovel! After the tweaking in the first few gears I feel like my bike revs are going to almost 4-5k but my speed in relation is really slow around the 20-40 range. I'm sure it never used to be like this.

Do you think that my clutch cable has just stretched over time? - I have no records in the history of the bike as to ever having the cable changed and its an 11 year old bike. Is it likely that my tweaks are the issue to my now smooth gear changing but under powered problems?

Hopefully this makes sense and I would appreciate any help anyone may be able to give!

Kind regards
Matt

Hetzer · Super Spammer Joined: 19 Feb 2007 Karma :

It doth sound to me like you've tightened the cable so much your clutch is permanently semi disengaged. I bet you're cooking the plates, if you haven't killed them already.
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"There's the horizon! Ride hard, ride fast and cut down all who stand in your way!"

NinjaMonkey · L Plate Warrior Joined: 22 Apr 2013 Karma :

mudcow007 · World Chat Champion Joined: 01 Feb 2012 Karma :

can you not just screw the "barrel adjuster" back in to see if its any better-er?

Turkish · Crazy Courier Joined: 09 May 2012 Karma :

As above. Just back off the adjuster until of have a few mm of freeplay in the lever. This is very basic routine maintenance, worth tackling yourself.
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CBR125R RW6

Efes123 · World Chat Champion Joined: 08 Sep 2011 Karma :

As above, it will be like riding with the clutch pulled part way in, permanently slipping. Just adjust it back a bit and see if it runs OK. Then buy yourself a new cable as it sounds like that one has stretched to its limit.
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NinjaMonkey · L Plate Warrior Joined: 22 Apr 2013 Karma :

Hi guys,

Thanks very much for the replies. I decided to get it looked at professionally. They replaced the cable, noticed that my chain was as tight as a guitar string and also ended up adjusting my head bracings (which stopped my clunking) and cleaned my calipers + put new pads on the front.

All in all i'm out of pocket by just under £220.. but I know have my bike back, it runs like a beast and when i lightly tap my breaks i almost go arse over tit!

Never have i had my brakes work so well!

Must say.. mega chuffed!

Thanks for ur help guys

Matt

Pete. · Super Spammer Joined: 22 Aug 2006 Karma :

Money well-spent for you I think. Clutch packs aren't cheap and a too-tight chain can snap and take out your rnginr cases, or knacker the output shaft bearing.
____________________
a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good Very Happy

smithyithy · Spanner Monkey Joined: 15 Feb 2013 Karma :

Can I hijack? I have a very similar problem to the OP's clutch.. Bike is a 1990 CBR400RR.

I had a lot of play / slack in my lever, the clutch engaged fine but with the lever being so loose it wsn't nice to use.

Over the past week or so the clutch has started to slip; when I'm in the mid rev range and accelerate with any amount of gusto, the revs increase more than the engine speed, as if the clutch is half-in.

Riding very gently can avoid this, but it was becoming a problem, so via Haynes manual I adjusted the cable same as the OP did. At the lever and on the engine casing, so the cable and lever now feel fine, next to no play etc. However the clutch doesn't engage any more! I can put it in first, let the clutch out all the way with no throttle and it won't stall, I can only very slightly feel a pull.

My thought initially were to replace the cable. But due to the previous slippage, could there be a bigger issue?

Cheers.

Pete. · Super Spammer Joined: 22 Aug 2006 Karma :

Since your clutch has no clearance adjuster the only thing I can suggest is clean the cable. Disconnect it both ends then take hold of one end and push it in and out. It should be completely free-moving with very little drag. If it's sticky or gummy or downright tight - this can cause the clutch to slip. Flush it out with some degreaser until it moves freely or just buy a new one.
____________________
a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good Very Happy