Tool for Adjusting Clutch

I am gathering up tools to take on the road. I would like to be able to adjust the clutch without taking off the primary cover. What do people use to tighten the nut WHILE holding the threaded center from turning? I could grind a couple of flats on a deep 3/4"socket to allow me to to both hold the center and lock the nut. Or use a chainsaw 3/4" socket wrench with the handle welded on the side that allows you to get a screwdriver through the center? What do folks use?

Stephen Hill

I use a 3/4 deep socket ..... "it is in the way that you use it" .... to loosen nut I put socket on and tap ratchet with rubber hammer .... then make my adjustment with screwdriver fed through socket .... once it's set I tighten nut with socket and fingers as much as I can .... then remove screwdriver and tap on ratchet a few times to get it tight , keeping an eye on the slot of bolt .... sometimes it takes a couple tries but it works for me .... I can carry the stuff needed with me along with other essentials in a small bag strapped to back of seat ... no doubt there are other better methods , this is how I do it quick and easy ...
Craig

If your clutch is set up right you shouldn't need to go in there while on the road most problems with clutches is the oil in the primary, you can get a lot of ajustment just on the clutch lever ajuster, I have been ridding my Norton for over 40 years now and have never gone into the clutch while on the road and I am still running the orginal clutch plates in mine, but you still need to maintain your clutch on routine maintenance when servicing your bike.
If you worry about things like that while ridding, then something will happen, I just carry basic tools with me when traveling, my Norton has only broke down once on the road in the 40 years and that was just a chain joining link that diappeared, I had a spare link on my clutch cable but after 35 years there it was the wong size link for my chain, still laugh about that one.

Ashley

I thought he was asking for a simple method to use in a pinch on the road .... sorry ... I guess I misunderstood the question ...
Craig

Thanks Craig. Yes, I was asking about a simple method, or simple tool, for adjusting On The Road. I am off on about a 1200 mile trip tomorrow, and since I just installed a new primary chain a couple of days ago, and rebuilt the clutch while I was at it, I may need to make a minor clutch adjustment along the way. Good to know you can fudge it with just a socket and screwdriver. In my box of junk tools I found what looks like a chainsaw spark plug wrench that will allow me to torque the nut while holding the center shaft with a screwdriver.

Stephen Hill

If all that primary/drive is new, you might want to adjust both those at some point on your trip too. Make sure you have tools for those, they can really play havoc with the clutch if the primary gets too tight.

Thanks for the good advice DogT. I am packing all the tools I need to adjust the primary. One of my many projects in the last two weeks was the installation of the oil filter, which meant rerunning the oil return line, and sliding a heavy anti-chafe spring over the oil line. Guess where all this new bullshit ends up? Right smack in front of the adjuster for the primary chain. It was a horrible job before, now near impossible. Not looking forward to adjusting the primary chain with a flashlight (and bugs) in my teeth.

Stephen

I use a normal 3/4" socket with a ratchet handle. Just make sure you do the nut up finger tight while holding the adjuster in place with a screwdriver, then tighten fully with the ratchet. It's worked for me for years with no issues.

I made a tool by welding a lever on a deep socket cost me under $10; I have also used a manual impact tool in the past with the same socket, but found that it wasn't necessary and that such force may damage clutch components.

The clutch adjustment lock nut, given the rotational direction of the primary chain, has a natural tendency to tighten. If you make the lock nut reasonably tight, as suggested from previous posters, it won't move unless your primary drive comes to a catastrophic stop, in which case you will have considerably more sever problems.

Adjustment and the check: Unlock the jam nut and turn the adjustment in until there is no clearance, set the clutch lever so that it just has no clearance also, now all parts are at zero clearance. Back the clutch adjuster out 1/4 to 1/2 turn and lock it down; your clutch lever should now have some movement, if not the clutch adjustment is too tight, redo. Repeat until goodness is achieved.

If you do some "hot laps" you may condition your primary chain such that a single pre-trip adjustment will help it prevail on your trip without further attention?? Leave the bugs on your face shield...

Bill.

At my local motorcycle wrecking yard I found a deep socket like the spark plug socket that's included in the factory tool kit. It has a hole in the end for inserting a screwdriver for leverage. I think it was $0.50. Small, packs nice, and I've never had to use it in over 65,000 miles of travel. I think that having it on board works like the spirit bells that folks attach to their bikes.

I think Steve is correct you never need what you pack .... the more tools the less troubles ... always nice though ... you can stop and help some one else ...
Craig

Just got back from a 1600 mile trip. Never needed to adjust the clutch or the primary chain, despite rebuilding the clutch and putting in a new primary chain before I left. Only adjustment needed was the rear chain.

Stephen Hill

I suppose if you adjust your clutch properly before you leave home you probably won't have to adjust it on the road. I didn't do that so on the way back from Quincy I had to adjust my clutch. What made it a lot harder was that the pressure plate was spinning because I had completely run out of clearance. I think the clutch was lifted very slightly and that was causing slip. The center nut was pretty tight so instead of coming un done the pressure plate just spun. I didn't have any of the correct tools, but a spark plug socket 6 point did grab the 3/4" nut even though really it was 1/16" too big. Anyway I managed somehow to get the center nut loose. A bit of hammering was involved to loosen the nut. Often hammering on a nut does amazing things. Yesterday at work we had a bolt that would not come out with a 3/4" impact. When I hammered on the side of the bolt while using the impact it came out right away. If I had had a 3/4" deep socket, the type that has wrench flats near the top I would have been a lot better off. I will try to remember to bring one the next time I am traveling. I had brought two nice tools made from small scraps of aluminum flatbar to unscrew the inspection covers without damaging them. I was really glad I had those.
It is this type of minor road side repair that makes these old motorcycles fun.