MT Riders Club

I, like several other MT owners, have had their bikes clutch cable fail, usually at the lever end. I have also never been happy with the route the cable has to follow.
Could this hydraulic clutch lever be the way forward as a replacement? It still has a short cable and the quality (Chinese) is questionable and being for a dirt bike it doesn't have provision for a mirror. But the idea appeals. It would be interesting to hear what others think about the idea of replacing the cable by hydraulics. Cost £29
Dave

Venhill also do a kit which might be feasible

I'm sure someone on here has done it on a CanAm

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A Chinese made kit can only lower the reliability of clutch operation.Also there will probably be no spare parts available
If the cable is routed correctly I cannot see anything wrong with position,as it is just a long sweeping curve.

I would rather replace a clutch cable in the back end of nowhere than a slave cylinder seal.

I'm fanatical about cable runs but don't have a problem with the MT's. I've seen far worse.
Keep your nipple greased (fnarr fnarr, yeah yeah) and you'll prolong the life of the cable enormously.

I also can't help feeling that those hydraulic conversion kits with the short cable length are gimmicky. If the slave cylinder acts directly on the pressure plate, your primary mechanical advantage is gained hydraulically, making the most of the minimal friction. With these systems, most of your mechanical advantage will be achieved with the existing clutch release mechanism and all its attendant friction. Probably isn't that much of an issue in real life but the principle troubles me. I have toyed with machining the clutch cover to accept a direct acting slave cylinder but it would be a little vulnerable and still leads back to my first point.

Dave, I to struggled at first with being happy with the cable route and operation. However if a spare cable is carried and you have practiced the change it is easy and quick in comparison to faliure of a hydraulic system.

The cable system is simple, cheap to replace, and can be done at the roadside with minimal tools.

I have found the trick with cable routing is not to strap everything down/to something else, not getting to anal about how perfect and neat the run is - The more ties/clips the less 'natural' the cable run will lay.

Otto

Don't know if it's possible (or desireable) on MTs, but some of the Laverda boys tie a spare cable alongside the one in use for a quick change if it breaks on the road - having said that the roadside repair to replace is a bit more involved on a Jota.

Rick900 wrote:Don't know if it's possible (or desireable) on MTs, but some of the Laverda boys tie a spare cable alongside the one in use for a quick change if it breaks on the road - having said that the roadside repair to replace is a bit more involved on a Jota.

Yes its common practice among the previously fallen.

woodruff wrote:Dave, I to struggled at first with being happy with the cable route and operation. However if a spare cable is carried and you have practiced the change it is easy and quick in comparison to faliure of a hydraulic system.

The cable system is simple, cheap to replace, and can be done at the roadside with minimal tools.

I have found the trick with cable routing is not to strap everything down/to something else, not getting to anal about how perfect and neat the run is - The more ties/clips the less 'natural' the cable run will lay.

Otto

This is correct, it shouldn't be tied in tight, it needs freedom to move all along its length as the bars turn from side to side.

Always worth carrying a spare cable.
I snapped a cable once without having a spare , got a push start then a hairy 20 mile journey home with clutchless gear changes and not stopping at junctions

not sure I would want to try an unknown Chinese hydraulic one though , but would be a good experiment