Cable Clutch vs Hydraulic

[TKDMitch]

Cable clutches.

Bikes had them for years. They seemed to work. Cables lasted for donkeys and if you kept an eye on it you could watch for wear and change before it snapped.

I imagine they are lighter weight too, compared to all that plumbing and fluid.

I even seem to remember that when I first went from cable to hydraulic I prefered the feel of the cable.

So, can some of the more technically minded members of the forum enlighten me? Just what are the advantages of a hydraulic clutch?

And where can I get orange clutch fluid?

Mitch

[ronenige]

easier than routing a cable in a lot of cases

food dye ?

[TKDMitch]

I haven't figured out quoting multiple posts in my reply so,

@Ronenige

I sort of see your point but I just don't think this is that big a deal. It's just not that difficult on bikes, is it?

@Zak

I think a hydraulic gives consistent pressure throughout lever travel, which helps the clutch if not the rider. The fact that Durbahn offers a cable conversion seems to confirm my idea that a cable set up is lighter. Or at least appeals to German monomaniacs.

Mitch

[ronenige]

on some bikes it would be a reet 'mare , things like a pan 1100 where the clutch actuator is on the front of the engine you would end up with an exposed mechanism behind the front wheel and a bitch of a job to run a cable , bearing in mind every turn on a cable increases the effort needed to pull it . depending on the layout of the bike it is a more reliable / practical / easier solution

[TKDMitch]

on some bikes it would be a reet 'mare , things like a pan 1100 where the clutch actuator is on the front of the engine you would end up with an exposed mechanism behind the front wheel and a bitch of a job to run a cable , bearing in mind every turn on a cable increases the effort needed to pull it . depending on the layout of the bike it is a more reliable / practical / easier solution

Good point.

But are there VTwins that have cables? I think so, TR1 for example.

For other layouts it should be easy. If not, the total weight of moving the actuator shouldn't be too much of an issue should it?

Mitch

[roadracer]

I *think* it's to help clutch actuation for the rider too, on higher powered bikes which will get clutch slip under load if softer springs are used(so they need stiffer springs, making it physically hard to pull the clutch).

A good example of this is Honda's new Fireblade, which has reverted to a cable clutch. The reason for this would be the new slipper clutch that compresses the plates together under acceleration, so softer springs can be used without clutch slip. The softer springs also give the slipper clutch more slip on downchanges.

[addiction269]

dunno - my zx7r had hydraulic never caused a problem but then never have any of my cable ones.

[Mr.Incredible]

The hydraulic clutch on my 750SS has been a right pain in the arse. The hose inner fell apart and filled the slave cylinder with black goo, causing the clutch to seize.

In my experience (2 bikes with hydraulic, all the others without), hydraulic clutches are pointless and something else to go wrong.