Check Your Clutch Cables!

"Mercedes Streeter" (smart) 07/14/2019 at 20:20 • Filed to: Two Wheels Good

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The GS is down!

Today I went to Kenosha Pride to round out my year of Pride celebrations. While riding the GS around I felt two “thumps” from the clutch lever. Didn’t think anything of it. Then I found myself having issues getting into Neutral and just downshifting in general. While trying to figure it out I discovered the source of my problems...

Gee, that cable is holding on by a thread! There are literally just three strands holding it together.

I nursed the bike the 35 miles to my mom’s garage and decided to swap it for the Goldwing. I didn’t want to chance the 50 miles ride home and instead I opted for the 35 miles . I’ll daily the Goldwing until I can replace this $11 part in a few days.

While pulling out the Goldwing it spilled coolant from... somewhere. Never found out where the coolant came from. I assume the overflow tube.

Upon start the Goldwing smelled of coolant and out came a steady stream of white smoke out of the right side pipe. I was about to cry because not only would two of my bikes be out of commission but my beloved Goldwing would need a new headgasket. Thankfully it was just condensation and both the coolant smell and smoke disappeared. And through the bike’s James Bond smoke screen I learned my right pipe has a rust hole. About as I expected considering I rode it through the end of winter..

Whew... just... what a day of anxiety! How are your weekends going? Have a couple more Keno Pride pics!

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > Mercedes Streeter 07/14/2019 at 20:34

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Did you feel the thumps will pulling on the cable? Like a sudden snap?

Mercedes Streeter > gmporschenut also a fan of hondas 07/14/2019 at 20:52

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Yep! One thump happened while shifting into second, the other shifting into fifth. Felt like a rubber band or zip tie breaking.

CRider > Mercedes Streeter 07/14/2019 at 22:13

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What's your stable looking like now? 

glemon > Mercedes Streeter 07/14/2019 at 22:16

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Don’t feel bad, I changed the clutch on my UJM Kawasaki many years ago in the Arby’s parking lot, clutch still didn’t work, turned out to be an internal fray in the cable.

Mercedes Streeter > CRider 07/14/2019 at 22:54

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‘72 Yamaha U7E

‘72 Yamaha DT175

‘80 Honda Goldwing Standard

‘82 Suzuki GS850G

‘96 Honda CBR600F3

:)

CRider > Mercedes Streeter 07/14/2019 at 23:46

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That's a good mix. What’s next? 

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Mercedes Streeter 07/15/2019 at 01:40

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idk I think i have you beat.

beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard > Mercedes Streeter 07/15/2019 at 05:54

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time to start practicing clutchless shifting.

beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard > Mercedes Streeter 07/15/2019 at 06:15

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time to start practicing clutchless shifting

Mercedes Streeter > CRider 07/15/2019 at 06:50

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I have a strong want to try a Triumph and a BMW! Got so close to buying a K75 the other day. 

Mercedes Streeter > beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard 07/15/2019 at 06:55

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Thankfully clutchless shifting is pretty easy on that bike...Easy enough that I've accidentally done it when the clutch lever was perfectly fine. My only concern would be having to come to a stop. It doesn't like going into Neutral when clutchless shifting, so that means stalling if I can't game the lights.

beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard > Mercedes Streeter 07/15/2019 at 20:04

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That’s pretty normal in my experience.  It’s more of a practice so you know you can do it when you have no clutch.

I lost my clutch lever after getting nudged by a taxi and just killed the ignition at each set of lights. Then got a running start before starting the engine in 1st.

CRider > Mercedes Streeter 07/15/2019 at 21:20

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You’ve got a thing for 80s standards, huh? I don’t blame you. Hopefully you get a good example of what you're looking for, Triumphs are a project just to keep running but definitely worth it.