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Author Topic: fixed a stiff clutch lever  (Read 8800 times)

Offline dougrs

  • Motobrick Curious
  • Posts: 45
fixed a stiff clutch lever
« on: March 19, 2015, 07:38:09 PM »
My new to me '94 K75 had an extremely stiff clutch lever. I did a bunch of reading about the clutch cable and replaced it today. I included a picture of what the old cable looked like. It appears that a lot of lube had been applied to the cable. The new one feels so much better. Looking forward to taking the bike for a spin and not having to really muscle the clutch lever. And the clutch activated sidestand retraction works now too.
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  • MD
  • '89 Yamaha FJ1200, '94 BMW K75

Offline Motorhobo

  • +25 years of K75
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  • Posts: 1530
Re: fixed a stiff clutch lever
« Reply #1 on: March 19, 2015, 08:58:49 PM »
Clutch cable needs no lube except a touch of grease at the ball end at the lever where the cable meets the ball...friction can ensue there causing the cable to fray and snap. All of my snapped cables have been at that point.
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1994/1995 K75 ABS Frankenbike: original engine 136k miles, frame from Gary Weaver (RIP), 173k miles -- Current Odometer: 198k miles
1994 K75 since 2013, 82,000 mi (19k mine) w/California Sidecar Friendship II Sidecar & Black Lab 'Miss B' - RIP

Past: 1974 Honda 550/4 (first bike), 1994 K75 (sold), 1995 K75 ABS (parts bike), Sidecar Dog & Best Bud 'Bo' - RIP

Online rbm

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Re: fixed a stiff clutch lever
« Reply #2 on: March 20, 2015, 07:27:21 AM »
I've also read taht the feltring 32721231610 should be used to prevent cable fraying and snapping at the handle.  #9 in the diagram below.
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  • Regards, Robert
Toronto, Ontario

1987 K75 - Build Blog @http://k75retro.blogspot.ca/

Offline Motorhobo

  • +25 years of K75
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  • Posts: 1530
Re: fixed a stiff clutch lever
« Reply #3 on: March 20, 2015, 09:11:21 AM »
The felt piece was included in the last OEM cable i got last year -- about 70 bucks but the lever travels more easily on the black brick with the OEM cable than the red brick with a new aftermarket cable.
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1994/1995 K75 ABS Frankenbike: original engine 136k miles, frame from Gary Weaver (RIP), 173k miles -- Current Odometer: 198k miles
1994 K75 since 2013, 82,000 mi (19k mine) w/California Sidecar Friendship II Sidecar & Black Lab 'Miss B' - RIP

Past: 1974 Honda 550/4 (first bike), 1994 K75 (sold), 1995 K75 ABS (parts bike), Sidecar Dog & Best Bud 'Bo' - RIP

Offline dougrs

  • Motobrick Curious
  • Posts: 45
Re: fixed a stiff clutch lever
« Reply #4 on: March 20, 2015, 11:00:24 AM »
My new cable does not have the felt piece, but it still feels way better than the old abused cable.
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  • MD
  • '89 Yamaha FJ1200, '94 BMW K75

Offline The Mighty Gryphon

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Re: fixed a stiff clutch lever
« Reply #5 on: March 20, 2015, 12:48:07 PM »
If I am not mistaken, the felt is in the sleeve of the adjuster.  If it isn't there I would get it and put it in.  Keeps dirt out of the cable.

I don't know what other owners do, but I have a small oil can on a shelf next to where I keep my bike.  I put a drop of SAE 30 oil on the barrel at the end of the cable at least once a week. 
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  • In my garage in Marilla, NY
  • '91K100RS White/Blue
Current:
'91 K100RS16V "Moby Brick Too"

Past:
'94 K75RT "Ilsa, She Wolf of the SS"
'92 K100RS16V "Moby Brick" (RIP, deceased in a vehicular assault)
'94 K75S Special Edition Dakar Yellow "Cheetos"
'89 K100RS Special Edition "Special Ed"

Offline johnny

  • TrailBrakingThrottleWhacker
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  • Posts: 7652
  • Whacking...n...Chopping Sliding...n...High Siding
Re: fixed a stiff clutch lever
« Reply #6 on: March 20, 2015, 12:59:47 PM »
my 94 11 hundert rs clutch cable broke at the top at 80k...

my 96 11 hundert rs clutch cable broke at the top at 100k...

both frayed cable inside the jacket a few inches from the top...

neither ever receivex lube other that some honda molly 60 at the nipple...

j o

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  • :johnny i parks my 96 eleven hundert rs motobrick in dodge county cheezconsin  :johnny

Offline mrt6644

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  • Posts: 61
Re: fixed a stiff clutch lever
« Reply #7 on: October 18, 2025, 02:48:11 PM »
I am a newish K75 owner.  Just got my 94 K75 on the road, and it rides great.  But catch lever has become super stiff and I am unable to pull it all the way in.
Im hoping its just the cable and not the actual clutch
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  • US
  • K75, R1200RTP, R1250GS

Offline frankenduck

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Re: fixed a stiff clutch lever
« Reply #8 on: October 19, 2025, 11:05:13 AM »
Is the side stand down?
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Once I had a Collie pup. Dug a hole and covered him up. Now I sit there by the hour. Waiting for a Collie-flower.
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Offline mrt6644

  • ^ Motobrick Curious
  • Posts: 61
Re: fixed a stiff clutch lever
« Reply #9 on: October 19, 2025, 11:13:30 AM »
Hmm. I think so.  Will check now.  Thanks
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Offline frankenduck

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Re: fixed a stiff clutch lever
« Reply #10 on: October 19, 2025, 11:31:44 AM »
The clutch lever retracts the side stand as a safety feature.
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Once I had a Collie pup. Dug a hole and covered him up. Now I sit there by the hour. Waiting for a Collie-flower.
New to K bikes? Click here.
K Bike Maintenance & Mods: Click here.
Buy parts here.

Offline mrt6644

  • ^ Motobrick Curious
  • Posts: 61
Re: fixed a stiff clutch lever
« Reply #11 on: October 19, 2025, 11:34:55 AM »
Yes, the side stand was down.  When its up its normal.  Thank you.
I looked and saw that lever that bumps into the side stand hardware.
Wondering if my side stand hardware is damaged.  The bike leans way past any sensible lean, even for a K75.
Also, the clutch lever has no effect on the side stand.  I try pulling and nothing.  Wondering if its all out of whack.
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  • K75, R1200RTP, R1250GS

Offline Laitch

  • Faster than a speeding pullet
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Re: fixed a stiff clutch lever
« Reply #12 on: October 19, 2025, 12:25:07 PM »
Quote from: mrt6644 on October 19, 2025, 11:34:55 AM
The bike leans way past any sensible lean, even for a K75.
.  Wondering if its all out of whack.
So you've seen a lot of leaning Bricks? Where do you live?  :laughing4-giggles:  Over here they as rare as dancing swans. Anyway, most new owners are appalled at the lean angle but try to push it over at that angle. Not happening. The side stand bushing or even the side stand itself could be worn but they're pretty tough. Put the Brick on the center stand, swing the side stand outward until it stops, grab the tip of it and see how much it wobbles on its bushing. Give us the grisly details in millimeters.

Watch the attached video and follow its instructions carefully—all of them. The clutch lever free play of a K75 is roughly 2mm. If the lever has no free play the clutch disc wears faster and shifting is no fun either. If you don't know what free play is, grab the bar grip, put one finger on the lever and gently pull the lever. The lever should easily move until the space between the lever and its mount is 2mm or so. If you feel immediate resistance, the clutch is out of adjust. Lube the clutch arm, lube the cable barrel at the clutch hand lever then perform a basic clutch adjustment in the sequence shown by the video. By the end of all this, you'll actually know what's what.

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  • Along the Ridley in Vermont.
  • 1995 K75 89,000 miles

Offline mrt6644

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  • Posts: 61
Re: fixed a stiff clutch lever
« Reply #13 on: October 22, 2025, 02:30:30 PM »
I replaced the clutch cable.  Feels better but the one I replaced wasn't awful.  But good to have a new one in anyway.

The video is great.  I was wondering how to add freeplay and fix the side stand retractor function.
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  • K75, R1200RTP, R1250GS

Offline Laitch

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Re: fixed a stiff clutch lever
« Reply #14 on: October 22, 2025, 04:01:40 PM »
Quote from: mrt6644 on October 22, 2025, 02:30:30 PM
The video is great.  I was wondering how to add freeplay and fix the side stand retractor function.
Setting side stand retraction is in the video; setting free play is in the video. How can we clarify those instructions?
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  • Along the Ridley in Vermont.
  • 1995 K75 89,000 miles
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