| Author | Message | ||
     Mark_weiss |
For a regularly lubed and adjusted cable, apparently 47,209 miles. It snapped at lever end just short of 47,209. Fortunately clutchless shifts were easy and I made it to work with little trouble. I tried to pop the transmission into neutral as I stopped but missed twice. Just held the rear brake hard and stalled to a stop. Not graceful but effective. The old cable was still at home so I can ride until the newly ordered cable shows up. | ||
| Giarcg |
Good info...thx. I just bought a spare recently. Can you describe how it failed? Chaffing on the handle itself by chance? | ||
| Ourdee |
I am guessing here based on past failures that the button at the end of the cable was not lubed where it sits in the lever. If it binds in the lever, the cable gets bent back and forth, failing like when we would bend a coat hanger back and forth to break the wire. It is wise to lube that button often. | ||
| Shoggin |
"It is wise to lube that button often." Yes. Yes, it is.... | ||
| Mark_weiss |
Right at the button at the clutch lever. Initially I blamed myself for not adequately lubing the cable end, but then I checked my maintenance records and noted that I'd lubed the end and adjusted the cable slack just 4700 miles ago. There was plenty of grease evident at the cable end. I did not notice any warning. As I squeezed in the lever to to shift years, the cable snapped and the lever went completely slack. I had not had a clutch cable break in about 30 years. No reason to panic, just really inconvenient. If traffic had been heavier, it would have been a bigger concern. For whatever reason, there must have already been some broken strands. I generally check for any free ends when I check the cable. | ||
| Shoggin |
Meh, 50K on a clutch cable? More mileage is possible for sure, but they are cheap, and easy to change. I wouldn't blame maintenance. I bought one for the heck of it at 50k on the STT and even though I'm good with cable lube (NOT WD-40...) the clutch effort was WAY reduced with the new one. Besides being completely worth the peace of mind when I'm way out in no-wheres-ville. Heck,100% of the time I buy a used bike the brake fluid is OEM  (Message edited by shoggin on May 18, 2019) | ||
| Sharkguy |
I replaced mine at 30000 just because and kept the old one as a spare. At the time a guy on ADV rider was making a trip on his Ulysses towing a boat to Alaska. His clutch cable had snapped in Florida and he wanted to continue his trip and was having trouble locating a replacement. I offered up my used one and he picked it up installed it and finished his journey. So keep it lubed it should last a long time. | ||
| Shoggin |
I forgot all about that! Did he ever make it? | ||
| Sharkguy |
Yeah, he made it. | ||
| Shoggin |
The southern hemisphere makes some intriguing people, lol | ||
| Mark_weiss |
Although the cable end was still pretty greasy, I do ride in dusty environments so maybe that played a role. I've picked up the new cable and also bought a clutch perch boot that fits the 2019 XG models. Less dirt should help and I will try to remember to replace this cable before I hit 125k miles. |
