Newbie Crisis - Clutch Cable Snapped

[Stiffler]

Hello Everyone,

Sorry if this should be in Workshop, but I'm also in search of some advice. This morning on the way to work my Clutch Cable snapped. I was in the centre of Manchester and still a fair old way from where I work. I couldn't ride the bike without the clutch I've left the bike outside an office I used to work at where is should be relatively safe...

Anyway I really need to get my bike fixed but I've no idea how to go about it. I also don't have the spare parts I need. What should I do? Is there a break down service that will be able to sort my bike out?

Any suggestions welcome! My brain is very much stuck in the box at the moment and I've lost all ability for rational thought, it's all confused panic atm.

Tim
____________________
Current Bikes - Kawasaki ZX-6R (636) | BMW G650GS

[BFG]

A bike can be ridden without a clutch. But if you've never done it - "in traffic" is not the time to learn.


You can move the gear lever between gears without the clutch and it will change fine if you are gentle on the revs. Pulling off and stopping are the hard bits.

To pull off, sit on the bike with engine running in neutral. Paddle forward with your legs, once you are moving at walking pace, drop it into 1st - easy on the throttle.

Avoid coming to a complete stop - hang back at lights etc. There will be times when you have to, so get into second and tap down into neutral. Or, just brake and let it stall, into neutral, restart etc.


Fix:

You need a replacement clutch cable. The toolkit in the bike should be adequate to fit one to get you home. You don't need to extract the old one from under the tank right now (you'd need extra tools), you can route it on top of the engine.

A recovery service would only take you to a dealer or to home. Try calling your local dealer, they can probably pick the bike up for you and repair it. You'd probably need to be with the bike when they arrive.

Good luck!

[finpos]

Depends on a number of things;

Easiest is to get it recovered. you may have recovery as part of your insurance (e.g. standard policy from "ebike" does that). if not, ring the aa/rac, join on the spot and get the bike recovered - they'll charge you a bit more than usual for doing this.

Next, get a new cable inner and some basic tools. At worst, you'll have to take off the clutch lever so you can pull the old cable out of it's sheath and feed the new one in, then there's a couple of nuts at the other end and final adjustment. It's not too hard, if you can get the part.

Finally, ride it home. That will involve bump starting it and stalling it if you actually have to stop, but will do wonders for your anticipation because you'll be trying not to. See also clutchless gear changes

finpos.

[st3v3]

first, calm down...





deep breath,



now, as your probly more focused, you should be more rational, call your nearest dealer, wo will order youyr part and could do work for you, or you could do this, depending on whether or not you mind getting your hands dirty.

then pay the bill.

Simple.

good luck.
____________________
Roger wrote: Women don't get damp for clingy puppies. Get some better happy pills, hit the gym & buy a medallion the size of a dinner plate. Job done

[davidimurray]

Where has the cable broken? If it is an end then the RAC/AA may be able to fit a new end which would get you going. They did this once for me on a car.

If not I would get recovery to take your bike home. You can then get a cable yourself and fit it. I'm not sure what it is like on the YBR (girlfriends YBR won't be home until late) but if it is anything like the old SR it is a 10 min job with a couple of spanners.

Cheers

Dave

[Gazdaman]

A lot of it depends on where the clutch lever connects engine side.

Like on the R6 it's in plain sight and easy to work with. But on the bandit it's under the sprocket cover undoubtedly covered in 10 tons of shite.

Still, a clutch cable is easy to change, just order one and do it yourself. Maybe bring a friend with a decent set of tools.

If you're worried about the security of your bike where it is, then yeah, get it recovered. I get it free with my insurance, and it's really top notch.

Gaz

[Itchy]

Stiffler , order some parts online , failing that ask Gaz at Regent (in Bury) ask his dad to make you a cable he'll do it there and then and charge you £20 for it , fitting is a piece of piss I'll do itfor you if you want.
____________________
Spain 2008France 2007Big one 2009 We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will. In the end, your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it is worth watching.

[Itchy]

also On Ya Byke has lots of common cables for sale ,

clutch cables are very specific though so if they don't have one don't buy! ,

if you need a ride home , giz a call , long as you have a lid you can sit on the back.

depending on where it is and if you can kick it into Neutral , I'll even give you a tow (more like a push) home , if you push it out of the city centre I'll push you home its not particularly legal so I don't do it in CCTV infested zones.

EDIT:

if you have some pliers and or a ring spanner and some gaffer tape you can use your foot to activate and deactivate the clutch , I did this recently
____________________
Spain 2008France 2007Big one 2009 We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will. In the end, your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it is worth watching.

[Stiffler]

Thanks for all the hints and tips, I managed to get it sorted. Sorry for the late reply as well.

I rang almost every single bike place in central-ish Manchester but the response to "Have you got a Clutch cable for a Yamaha YBR 124" was "a who?" or "What the heck sort of bike is that?". A couple of places did however offer to make one up if I took the old one to them and one guy took some extra time to talk me through how you go about riding a bike without the clutch.

I finally took a bus over to the Sale Yamaha Centre on my lunch and picked up the correct cable for the YBR. Fitting turned out to be a pleasant surprise, not requiring any tools at all apart from some common sense and the ability to copy the old cable. Had a quick fiddle with the tensioner and I was away! I'd prefer to be known as Bike Mechanic Extraordinaire from now on

Special thanks to Itchy for offering to rescue me! That would have been legendary.

Tim
____________________
Current Bikes - Kawasaki ZX-6R (636) | BMW G650GS

[Ariel Badger]

Tim.
Now you need to disconnect the cable at the lever end and run some oil down it.
I make little paper cones and tape them around the cable fill with oil and just let it run in under its own weight.
Where the cable goes into the lever also needs regular lubrication, I squirt chain lube in there. This stops the cable binding and bending at the nipple.
If you lube up the cable will last for ages.
It may be worth buying a spare cable (throttle as well) and running them through the frame but not connecting them. They will be ready for quick connection next time you experience snapage.
____________________
Bikers make great organ donors, get 115 on your licence today.

[Stiffler]

Thanks Ariel, while I was driving home I'd planned to ask about whether or not I would need to lube the cable. I'd totally forgot about it sat here though!

Does it matter what sort of lube I use?
____________________
Current Bikes - Kawasaki ZX-6R (636) | BMW G650GS

[TheDonUK]

As said before it would be very handy to have a spare, depending on your bike AA/RAC should be able to fit a tempory clutch cable,

They did for my GS500, get brake down cover if you havent got it... for the 35 quid or whatever a year its well worth it.

[Ariel Badger]

Three in one is ok it needs to be thin to get down the hole .
Is your cable nylon lined? Some people advise against lubing nylon cables as they say it can swell the liner but I lube them anyway, I would rather oil down there than water
____________________
Bikers make great organ donors, get 115 on your licence today.

[Kickstart]

[Rob]

My emergency rucksack contents are a can of tyre weld, a new clutch cable and a leatherman tool. Those 3 things get you out of most situations!!
____________________
Love is 1050cc