sloppy clutch lever

[riding free]

My 2007 Heritage has braided stainless steel cables, sometimes the clutch lever will get so sloppy it won't work. Then after a while it will tighten back up.My bike is maintained by a dealership so I assume the cable is properly lubricated. The mechanic said braided cables look good but don' always work right. Any thoughts would be appreciated. riding free

[Buzz Kanter]

When does the problem happen? Is it when the handlebars are all the way to one side or the other? If so it could be cable routing.

[aceharleywrench]

I think the throwout bearing might be headed south,you'll have to remove the tranny sidecover to check.

[cntrhub]

I'm with, ace. That cable is either frayed and 'hanging up,' or more there is a 'throw range' that is hanging up on the release.

Easy troubleshoot is to remove the cable off the lever and perch. Then run the outside cable up and down to the fitting end of the cable. Did it run smooth? Not the cable then...

Back to looking to where ace said to look. And if that cable is free spinning and all that... How can you bad mouth braided line?

[frisco-rigid]

Hmmm

If it were my sickle I would face the bars forward and adjust the cable for No Less than 1/16" of play at the Lever cuz I tend to agree with Buzz's Guess..

I trust Ace but I do not agree with a Throw-out bearing,,, hey could be but it's Not my first guess..
You have a Wafer-style Throw-out bearing.. It's 2 hardened steel Wafers with tiny needle bearings between, nothing mysterious.. There is nothing to "pump up" and there is No high side to rotate around and mess with the tolerance..

I suppose if the needle bearings are starting to lose Diameter, which I've never seen,, they usually are good OR they kinda Blow-up and dis-intergrate,, then the tolerance would just keep getting worse But Never better..

Tell us if it's as Buzz sugg's..
Can YOU do an adjustment job on the cable.?
It's real easy,, just do it to fix it OR eliminate it and get back to us and we'll all go from there again..

[riding free]

Thanks for all the advise. The handle bars were straight. The cable runs from the handle to the outside of the left frame down tube, crosses over to the inside of the right down tube, down under the right motor mount between the voltage regulator and the frame back to the clutch. No tight bends. I will trouble shoot it as cntrhub suggested and then readjust it as frisco-rigid says.Thanks again and I'll post the results.

[aceharleywrench]

Upon re-reading my reply I realized I was ASSUMING your mechanic has already set the correct freeplay at the clutch hub & at the clutch perch (he/she should have,before giving you that braided cables dont work right garbage) So,if those adjustments have been performed correctly,I will stand behind my cyber diagnosis and say the bearing is headed for the crapper.

[frisco-rigid]

Ooh Yeah Ace

I've never heard it put better-----cyber diagnosis-----

Being many miles away, unable to hear, touch, feel, or see the prob and going just off the info provided,,,, getting to the root of a prob can be a real adventure..

[aceharleywrench]

Originally Posted by frisco-rigid

Ooh Yeah Ace

I've never heard it put better-----cyber diagnosis-----

Being many miles away, unable to hear, touch, feel, or see the prob and going just off the info provided,,,, getting to the root of a prob can be a real adventure..

I hear ya,Frisco.
Put it in front of me & I'll figure it out lickity split,trying to fix them over the phone (or computer) is another matter.

[frisco-rigid]

Hmmm,,, Lickity Split,,, that reminds me,, I have some Homework to catch up on..