Clutch nipple

[Erol EKH]

Having difficulty in getting my clutch nipple through the gearbox housing, is it supposed to be super tight? Do just need to use some brute strength and wrench the bugger in!

 

[ashman]

They can be a bit tight if it don't go through then the nipple might need a bit of a file so it will go through the hole some nipples have a bit more build up than others my last cable I had to clean it up to get through, but its been a very long time since I have replaced a clutch cable.

Ashley

 

[Erol EKH]

They can be a bit tight if it don't go through then the nipple might need a bit of a file so it will go through the hole some nipples have a bit more build up than others my last cable I had to clean it up to get through, but its been a very long time since I have replaced a clutch cable.

Ashley

Thanks, a bit of fettling then, of course its a Norton.

 

[eskasteve]

As part of this years procedure in taking my 850 out of summer storage I replaced the clutch cable. Both ends needed a bit of "attention" with the 200 grit to fit properly. Nothing major, just a bit of persuasive dressing. This is only the second cable that need such fine tuning and they were both purchased within the last couple of years from two different sources. One was from Old Britts and the other was from NW European Cycle. Bothe were in AN packaging. I'd rather that they were a bit too large as it's a whole lot easier to remove material instead of adding it.

 

[Torontonian]

Yes just file the end until it pops through being careful not to nick a strand of cable core.

 

[Tornado]

I purchased the Venhill Teflon lined cable as per high recommendations in these forums for improving clutch pull. It also needed some filing to fit the clutch lever on tranny. I also recall being concerned about not removing sufficient material to allow proper removal at a later time.

 

[KiwiNeill]

Erol EKH & Tornado
Luck of the draw if the nipple goes through OK, but fettling the obvious fix. I broke a cable at the handlebar end in a small German town in August, luckily had a spare Venhill in the panniers.
Broken cable had around 12,000 miles use from new.
Pushed the bike a few feet onto a sunny, secluded paved area by some shops and replaced it without fettling in a leisurely 40 minutes.
Well worth taking a spare but my winter project will be a home brewed hydraulic clutch conversion. Just replaced the original clutch seals on my Yamaha after 94,000 miles from new and I bet there are plenty who have got more than that...

 

[ashman]

I found out a long time ago if you want your cables to last a life time without any breaking at the lever then put a dab of grease where the cable runs throught the slack adjuster, I use to break cables at a regular every few months from new and got very good at riding home without a clutch cable then I started to put the grease on that part of the cable and haven't broken one since so thats about 37 years now, my last cable was replaced after it done over 100k miles on it but it was still good and hanging in my workshop if ever I need a spare.

Ashley

 

[XTINCT]

I cringe every time that I here a riding instructor state that you should keep your bike in gear at a stop in traffic so if someone is going to hit you from behind you can make a quick getaway. When ever I hear or read that advice I think to myself that this guy (or gal) wasn't around in the old days when clutch cable breaking was common.
BTW I like big nipples.

 

[Dutch]

This is great to hear there is something called a clutch "Nipple".
It's right up there with "Petcock".

 

[Tornado]

This is great to hear there is something called a clutch "Nipple".
It's right up there with "Petcock".

And if you are German, perhaps you'd like to refer it is as the "Clutch 'Breast-Wart'"?!?