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How to adjust the clutch lever?

Posted: Fri Jul 05, 2013 1:24 pm
by jo
I took my bike for an MOT last week and the guy who tested it adjusted my clutch lever so that I have to have my hand at full stretch before I get the biting point. Is this normal? I'm struggling to pull away now as I have a smaller handspan than his. How can I adjust it?

Re: How to adjust the clutch lever?

Posted: Fri Jul 05, 2013 1:51 pm
by KennonNC29
mine was super stiff so I just got a set of adjustible levers for my bike.

Kennon

Re: How to adjust the clutch lever?

Posted: Fri Jul 05, 2013 1:58 pm
by jo
But it wasn't like this before! Is there not a way I can adjust it back again?

Re: How to adjust the clutch lever?

Posted: Fri Jul 05, 2013 2:00 pm
by gavins
+ 1 for adjustable levers, i have smallish hands as well and find the stock lever a stretch when adjusted to the book.

To adjust the lever:

Image

Undo the larger round knob (clockwise i think).

Wind the smaller adjuster in until you are happy with the span.

Tighten the large knob back up.

Ideally you want about 1mm of free play before the lever pulls on the cable and this is probably what the guy adjusted it to for you without asking. If theres too much free play you run the risk of the clutch not disengaging completely which will cause the bike to creep with the clutch in in gear and also increase the wear rate on the plates.

Theres also a 2nd adjuster on the cable down by the generator cover but it's unlikely he played with that as you have to removed the fairing mid panel and/or lower.

Hope that helps.

Re: How to adjust the clutch lever?

Posted: Fri Jul 05, 2013 5:06 pm
by Neosophist
jo wrote:I took my bike for an MOT last week and the guy who tested it adjusted my clutch lever so that I have to have my hand at full stretch before I get the biting point. Is this normal? I'm struggling to pull away now as I have a smaller handspan than his. How can I adjust it?
The stock clutch lever is non-adjustable.

There is a set range for adjusting the clutch cable, via the adjuster at the lever end and the locknut where the cable meets the sprocket cover.

These are to take out slack only, proper adjustment method is given in the Honda service manual. Off the top of my head it should be 10 - 20mm of slack in the cable (double check this)

Unless the guy has adjusted the cable too tight then I would assume that you didnt keep the cable adjusted before so there was too much slack in it, this would cause the biting point be much "lower" (you need to pull the clutch lever in much further to get it to bite, and thus loose it out less"

If you want to adjust the span of the levers then the best way is to fit some adjustable clutch levers.

Not sure off top of my head but I believe I used a VFR750 clutch lever on my NC24, it was adjustable.