Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums General Tech correct cable adjustment.

Guys, what's a good way to see if you have correctly adjusted your cables? My clutch cable broke today and I happened to snug it up since I was noticing a little slop compared to when I installed it. Maybe something had already started to go? I don't know, but it broke. I anslo took some slop out of my throttle, but now I'm seccond guessing myself big time!! Words of wisdom please

P.S. Anyone got a spare clutch cable handy?

Benny, you did not do anything wrong it was time for that cable to go. By the way, lube the cables at least every six months or once a year.

Just crank on them really tight until they break, then back off 3mm.
Seroiusly though, the little thrust arm should be pretty much at a 90º angle. The play at the clutch grip should be no more than 3mm. The little adjuster rod on the engine case should have the threaded part pretty much centered. Everyhting centered gives the max adjustability.
I was also told that we do not need to lube our cables either. Can't say for sure, but I have never lubed any of mine and they all work just fine. (knock on my wooden head)

Only thing is, that cable is less than a year old! It's the braided stainless replacement. Starting to think that getting the inner cable replaced locally is the way to go... Wondering if anyone else had that problem. I thought it seemed tight when I installed it... and I've also thought lately that my clutch engages real close to when I fully release the clutch lever... thinking new springs are in order too. It definitly broke right at the handlebars. Anything that may have frayed it I should look out for?

On installation, it seemed to me that increasing RPM caused some tightening of the cable, then a slight slackening when I let off the throttle (of course, it could be my imagination), but I got in the habit of making sure there was a little bit of play in the lever at speed. More to take care of the clutch than the cable.
Once you get the new one installed, look carefully at the swaged ball fitting and cable. Actuate the lever and make sure the cable doesn't catch on the cable slot on the lever or the tube holding the adjustment rotator. If the slot on either end becomes slightly pinched or the swaged end doesn't rotate in the fitting, the cable will suffer. If the swaged end doesn't rotate, the cable will flex at every lever pull (seen this in a failure). If the cable slot is pinched, the cable will rub against the slot at every lever pull and eventually fray and break (seen this). Then again, a poor job of swaging the ball on the cable could allow the cable to eventually pull out of the ball (never seen this).
Man, I'd lube the cable regardless. There's almost been fistfights over at the Delphi Bonnie forum on this (among other things). Some say that lube will deteriorate the cable lining. I can't help but think lube could never hurt a cable.
Anyway, good luck and keep us up on what's going on with it.

One of the advantages of hydraulic clutches... no mechanical cables.

Believe me, I started thinking about the mechanics of a hydraulic clutch while waiting for a tow!! Thanks for the tips. I'll check out my handle slot. I can always de-burr it, or open up the slot if need be. Dremels rule. Could be that it was so snug at first, that the little ball/disc didn't rotate enough and frayed... I'll check it out.

Hi Guys
Sorry this may sound stupid but, how do you lube the cables, cannot see anywere you can get the lube in ? and what lube would you use.
i also thought there was no need to do this
Thanks Guys

Hi Benny,
If I remember correctly, your cables are not Speigler cables are they?. I am just wondering here, since I need some new ones soon.
Ride Safe,
Dennis

I got these cables from BelleCorse. They are BCE I guess. I got these because they were the same price basically as having Barnette do them, but they have chrome fittings, instead of re-using my black ones. Throttle cables work fine, and the clutch one did too, till it broke... Still think it may have been my fault...

I got the same cables from Bellacorse , only +8"
I have not had any trouble, but they only have about 1000 miles on them.

I snugged my cables up the day it broke... Wondering if I twisted it or something, ya know?