SuzukiSavage.com - Clutch Cable

Paladin.

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Clutch Cable
05/07/05 at 00:06:26

9pm or so, need to make a run to the supermarket. Hop on the bike and don't even make it to the first traffic light -- as I'm shifting I grab the clutch and it slams against the grip.

Downshift clutchless to neutral, pull to a stop. Check it out -- the cable at the lever end is frayed and unattached. Figure without a clutch it would be rough stopping at traffic lights, so I scoot the bike forward give it a little gas slap it into first, ride home, garage it and take the Beetle to the store.

At least I know why I the clutch developed so much play - the cable was about to go.

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Savage_Greg Serious Thumper Alliance Member Offline Don't go around your ass to reach your elbow... Posts: 7844 SW Washington State Gender:	Re: Clutch Cable Reply #1 - 05/07/05 at 06:05:27 Yep, and you have a '00 model like mine. Why did it fray and break? Not long ago, I lubed mine and I didn't see any damage yet.
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Oklahoma_Mike Senior Member 2005 No Login Offline With two on the ground love can be found Posts: 426 Tulsa Oklahoma Area Gender:	Re: Clutch Cable Reply #2 - 05/07/05 at 06:23:21 Paladin. wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:05: , garage it and take the Beetle to the store.. Sorry to hear about the cable man. of the subject but what kind of beetle you got. I have a 1969 all custom. 8)
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Paladin.

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Re: Clutch Cable
Reply #3 - 05/07/05 at 08:03:57

The Beetles consist of a 1966 with about 380,000 miles that needs to have a lot of work but has it's own web domain. And....

When the kids got older Wendy went back to work so wwe could afford replacements for our '70's cars. She got herself a 2003 New Beetle. And....

When the kids got older we put them in AAA driving school and got a 2004 New Beetle. (the salesman of the '03 was the salesmanager of the '04)

Back to the bike -- little knobbie thing on the end of the clutch cable came off:

As this is not something I can fix in a minute on the side of the road with no tools so I rode it home. While I am willing to waddle the bike forward for enough speed to slam it into gear once, it is not something I am willing to do on a three mile round trip with eight passes thru traffic signals.

BikeBandit lists the cable for $18 and change. Will call the two local stealers later this morning.

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Savage_Greg

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Re: Clutch Cable
Reply #4 - 05/07/05 at 08:09:43

Paladin. wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:05:

The Beetles consist of a 1966 with about 380,000 miles that needs to have a lot of work but has it's own web domain. And....

When the kids got older Wendy went back to work so wwe could afford replacements for our '70's cars. She got herself a 2003 New Beetle. And....

When the kids got older we put them in AAA driving school and got a 2004 New Beetle. (the salesman of the '03 was the salesmanager of the '04)

Back to the bike -- little knobbie thing on the end of the clutch cable came off:
http://savage.andruschak.net/Paladin/broken_clutch_cable.jpg
As this is not something I can fix in a minute on the side of the road with no tools so I rode it home. While I am willing to waddle the bike forward for enough speed to slam it into gear once, it is not something I am willing to do on a three mile round trip with eight passes thru traffic signals.

BikeBandit lists the cable for $18 and change. Will call the two local stealers later this morning.

Yep. That's the animal. Did it pull out of the soldered hole in the end piece, or did it break off? I actually resoldered the cable back in the hole once a few years ago because it pulled out.

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Paladin. Serious Thumper Offline Hamster Posts: 4929 Sunny Southern California Gender:	Re: Clutch Cable Reply #5 - 05/07/05 at 08:17:50 The thing that is supposed to be on the end is probably somewhere on Marine Avenue.
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Savage_Greg Serious Thumper Alliance Member Offline Don't go around your ass to reach your elbow... Posts: 7844 SW Washington State Gender:	Re: Clutch Cable Reply #6 - 05/07/05 at 08:22:55 Paladin. wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:05: The thing that is supposed to be on the end is probably somewhere on Marine Avenue. That cable doesn't look that frayed because the wires aren't bent, and they usually break loose one at a time. You could always find a small piece of 1/4" rod and braze the cable in a hole...or spend $18 bucks.
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Paladin. Serious Thumper Offline Hamster Posts: 4929 Sunny Southern California Gender:	Re: Clutch Cable Reply #7 - 05/07/05 at 09:26:54 It's $25, less than a buck more than bikebandit's shipped price. Avaialble NOW. While there is a lot of grief that goes with living in the middle of L.A. it does have shopping advantages.
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Paladin.

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Re: Clutch Cable
Reply #8 - 05/07/05 at 13:29:47

The knob thing was still in the lever, which I found out when I tried to install the new cable.

Installing the new cable was a snap. It was disconnected at the lever. Disconnected at the clutch, tape a pull string to the clutch end, eased back the reusable wrap-tie near the right rear of the tank, pulled out the old cable, taped the clutch end of the new cable to the string, taper-taped the nuts, pulled the new clutch cable in. Re-tightened the reusable wrap-tie, connect the two ends to the clutch and the lever, done!

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Oklahoma_Mike

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Re: Clutch Cable
Reply #9 - 05/07/05 at 23:37:15

Paladin. wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:05:

http://savage.andruschak.net/Paladin/broken_clutch_cable_3.jpg
The knob thing was still in the lever, which I found out when I tried to install the new cable.

Installing the new cable was a snap. It was disconnected at the lever. Disconnected at the clutch, tape a pull string to the clutch end, eased back the reusable wrap-tie near the right rear of the tank, pulled out the old cable, taped the clutch end of the new cable to the string, taper-taped the nuts, pulled the new clutch cable in. Re-tightened the reusable wrap-tie, connect the two ends to the clutch and the lever, done!

I like those easy ones. and so close to home man you lucky 8)

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Paladin. Serious Thumper Offline Hamster Posts: 4929 Sunny Southern California Gender:	Re: Clutch Cable Reply #10 - 05/08/05 at 00:19:15 I envy those of us who live in the country where they can take a relaxing spin without the constant paranoia required to remain rubber side down on the mean streets of L.A.. On the other hand, there are advantage to living in the big city -- such as 11 Suzuki dealerships within a 25 mile radius.
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Oklahoma_Mike Senior Member 2005 No Login Offline With two on the ground love can be found Posts: 426 Tulsa Oklahoma Area Gender:	Re: Clutch Cable Reply #11 - 05/08/05 at 00:23:23 True sir but you can always cruze out this way plenty of good roads where you can go for 1hr or more without seeing a cage. just watch out for the Wild life (ME) and Nature two 8)
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WD

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Re: Clutch Cable
Reply #12 - 05/08/05 at 01:29:57

At least it was just the clutch cable. Mine got stuck in second gear when the shift linkage snapped in half. In traffic. On the way to a bike show.

Gotta love those cut-rate parts. Angry

And, for what it's worth, my cable catalogs don't even list the LS. It's a current catalog too. Suzuki is almost as bad as Toyota with dealer only this and that parts... Angry

-WD

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On 2 wheels since 7/87

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Savage_Greg

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Re: Clutch Cable
Reply #13 - 05/08/05 at 06:06:58

Paladin. wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:05:

http://savage.andruschak.net/Paladin/broken_clutch_cable_3.jpg
The knob thing was still in the lever, which I found out when I tried to install the new cable.

Installing the new cable was a snap. It was disconnected at the lever. Disconnected at the clutch, tape a pull string to the clutch end, eased back the reusable wrap-tie near the right rear of the tank, pulled out the old cable, taped the clutch end of the new cable to the string, taper-taped the nuts, pulled the new clutch cable in. Re-tightened the reusable wrap-tie, connect the two ends to the clutch and the lever, done!

Well, that sure is broke. It didn't pull out of the hole. Oh well. I still wonder why it broke.

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Paladin.

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Re: Clutch Cable
Reply #14 - 05/08/05 at 08:30:05

Savage_Greg wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:05:

Well, that sure is broke. It didn't pull out of the hole. Oh well. I still wonder why it broke.

Gremlins! I don't have a Gremlin Bell!

I actually don't mind the Gremlins -- everything breaks eventually, and my Gremlins seem to be considerate enough to break things when and where I am not totally up a creek. This time it was 800 yards from the house on a non-urgent run.

I don't need a Gremlin Bell, I have a Troll.

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