Clutch Arm Went Limp While Changing Cable — Can I Fix This Myself?

[lalan45]

Hi all, I ran into a problem while changing my clutch cable. After getting the cable ends connected at both the lever and the clutch arm on the engine, I pulled the clutch lever and noticed there’s no return action — the lever just goes limp.
I’m guessing it’s the clutch return spring that has come off or isn’t functioning correctly. Has anyone experienced this before?
I’d like to know what could be wrong and if there’s a way to fix it myself without taking it to the dealer. Any step-by-step advice or tips would be really appreciated.

 

[TURBO200R4]

Post pictures of the lever adjustment and at the bottom cable adjustment and the arm position

 

[wjb]

This kinda sorta happened to me. I had to replace a broken clutch lifter piece and had a devil of a time getting everything to line up upon assembly. I could get the clutch lifter to engage the lifter piece but that return spring gave me fits trying to line it up at the same time as the lifter. After lots of attempts I finally gave up and switched to what Triumph should have done in the first place, put a coil return spring on the end of the clutch cable working against the clutch arm on the outside of the engine case.
It was easy and is very effective. I'd love to say I came up with the idea myself but I got the idea from someone on this forum, might have been O'l Bull??? Or maybe one of the other old (wise) timers here. He came up with this fix and gave me the dimensions for the spring and I picked one up at the hardware store.
I tossed the lousy stock spring as far as I could.

 

[Idaho Red Rocket 3]

@wjb Woody can you attach pictures or a link to see this ?

 

[wjb]

clutch cable change gone wrong

I hope there is an easier fix to this problem other than take it to stealer to fix!....... While changing the clutch cable, the clutch arm ( the one down on the engine) went limp on me and by that I mean after getting the cable ends into both sockets I then went to pull the clutch lever and I...

www.r3owners.net

After thinking about this I believe @warp9.9 came up with this idea and this is the thread that has an explanation of it and pictures.
I won't be able to grab a pic of my bike until I get home in about a week.
Here's a pic from the thread.

 

[Idaho Red Rocket 3]

Thanks Woody. That is so simple and I'm sure it works well. I've owned bikes that had a spring like that.

 

[warp9.9]

Hi all, I ran into a problem while changing my clutch cable. After getting the cable ends connected at both the lever and the clutch arm on the engine, I pulled the clutch lever and noticed there’s no return action — the lever just goes limp.
I’m guessing it’s the clutch return spring that has come off or isn’t functioning correctly. Has anyone experienced this before?
I’d like to know what could be wrong and if there’s a way to fix it myself without taking it to the dealer. Any step-by-step advice or tips would be really appreciated.

Hey bud been pondering your post a bit and I keep asking myself did he break the lifter piece or the lifter shaft. The so called return spring is more there to keep contact pressure between them two components low for lubrication.
So I'm assuming from your post you did not remove the clutch cover or perform any internal clutch work ? So I also have to ask when you changed the cables did you remove the lifter shaft crank arm. Removing it from the splines of the lifter shaft? If so when you put it back on did you make sure you got the alignment mark on the lifter shaft and the crank arm lined up when you went back together ?
Now if you did not remove the lifter arm from the lifter shaft to change the cable. And there is no slack in the cable. I'd say reach down there on the lifter shaft arm and pull it out of the clutch cover. If she comes out all the way it might be a little broken. If you can pull it out some like 1/4 to 3/8 inch then most likely the lifter pieces head has snapped off the lifter piece.

Pictures would be helpful like the lower cable mounting bracket cable sheath adjustment the lifter arm alignment marks. And what the cable adjustment looks like on the hand grip.

 

[Steff]

I've never had to change the cable. I don't understand how it can lead to problems. It's just a matter of slackening off the lever and the lifting arm, is it not? What have internals got to do with it?

 

[wjb]

I think it's because of the symptoms he's having. The limp clutch arm (if it had not been removed from the lifter shaft) kinda indicates there might be something wrong with an internal part of the clutch actuating mechanism.

 

[Steff]

I think it's because of the symptoms he's having. The limp clutch arm (if it had not been removed from the lifter shaft) kinda indicates there might be something wrong with an internal part of the clutch actuating mechanism.

Oh right, ta