spare clutch cable

Found an original lever still in the laverda marked bag so going to exchange the extended lever and go back to original once the new clutch cable arrives from Piet
It was fitted when I brought the TS1200 back in 85 so have no idea how heavy the clutch will be but compared with the SFC it can't be that bad.
I've never liked the clutch action on that triple. After 36 years of putting up with it I'll see how original compares
 
Never fitted one of those extended levers as never found the standard clutch pull too much of a problem,the biggest advantage to my mind would be ease of cable replacement.
Clutch cable failure/replacement whilst out and about just seemed to be part of Laverda life.At least it`s easy to do (as long as you carry a spare).
One of those extended levers at the crankcase end would make it even easier.
Modern bikes don`t need impromptu attention like this (usually) so riders today don`t seem to have the collective help each other out attitude as in the past,mainly because the efficiency of modern bikes have made that sort of attitude redundant.
Some do stop when they see a bike in a layby with the tank off and the toolkit out.The most amusing was a young kid who pulled up alongside when I was replacing the cable ,saw the tank off the bike and stared open-mouthed and said "Blimey mate,what`s gone wrong there"?
Anyone would think I`d decided to stop by the side of the road to grind in a new set of valves or something......
 
I also make brake, clutch and throttle cables to suit my oddball bikes such as AJS 350 with not stock levers etc, you cant buy what you want in those cases, but speedo cables are much harder, the square sections at each end are quickly and easily made if you have the right hydraulic equipment, (ther machines at Venhill go back to the 1930's) it might be possible to improvise some sort of clamp and a bottle jack/frame or pinch vise, (possibly) but I would rather not have to, for specials for cars, 4x4's and vintage lorries I always used speedy cable when they were in London, now they are in Bristol (? not sure) it seems they have lost the plot, but they never were any good with smaller stuff as bike cables anyway.
CLEM
 
Clem I know what you mean regarding rev counter cables as well.
The inners seemed either too short to engage properly in the rev counter head or at the other end.
With a new cable with nicely squared off ends and still no joy I convinced myself the problem was lack of engagement with the spigot that drives the cable off of the inlet cam,seeing it had been there forever and probably worn out.
Got a new spigot but still no good,not a worn spigot but undersized cable inner which would just spin inside the spigot,or rather the spigot would just spin around the cable end,failing to turn it.
 
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CLEMTOG said:
I also make brake, clutch and throttle cables to suit my oddball bikes such as AJS 350 with not stock levers etc, you cant buy what you want in those cases, but speedo cables are much harder, the square sections at each end are quickly and easily made if you have the right hydraulic equipment, (ther machines at Venhill go back to the 1930's) it might be possible to improvise some sort of clamp and a bottle jack/frame or pinch vise, (possibly) but I would rather not have to, for specials for cars, 4x4's and vintage lorries I always used speedy cable when they were in London, now they are in Bristol (? not sure) it seems they have lost the plot, but they never were any good with smaller stuff as bike cables anyway.
CLEM
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The home workshop tools I’ve seen for squaring off speedo and tacho cables rely on a hefty clout with a hammer rather than clamping/pressing.
 
CLEMTOG said:
I also make brake, clutch and throttle cables to suit my oddball bikes such as AJS 350 with not stock levers etc, you cant buy what you want in those cases, but speedo cables are much harder, the square sections at each end are quickly and easily made if you have the right hydraulic equipment, (ther machines at Venhill go back to the 1930's) it might be possible to improvise some sort of clamp and a bottle jack/frame or pinch vise, (possibly) but I would rather not have to, for specials for cars, 4x4's and vintage lorries I always used speedy cable when they were in London, now they are in Bristol (? not sure) it seems they have lost the plot, but they never were any good with smaller stuff as bike cables anyway.
CLEM
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Speedy Cables are near Swansea now. I was there on Friday for clutch and brake cables, not over impressed, though have heard recommended and previously talked to them at a show and had a good impression. They are not currently doing while you wait and had told me so on the phone, but I hadn’t expected 10 working day turnaround. Neither cable fits and they had the old cables as patterns.

Brake cable handlebar nipple had protruding cable at the handlebar end, wouldn’t fit in the lever. Quick fix on the bench grinder.

Clutch cable, t’other end, nipple too big a diameter to fit in the slot on the actuating lever (simple fix, but shouldn’t need to) and ferrules too big a diameter to fit in the handlebar adjuster, bit of a showstopper.

Returning tomorrow when they reopen. Hopefully while you wait this time, though understandably not on the premises.
 
this "doesn't fit/work thing" does seem to be the way of the world and I don't like it, but there is also the TOTAL cant be bothered syndrome.

On Wednesday I contacted Kubota UK imports and asked for help regarding parts diagrams for my digger, as I need a few bits for control linkeages and boom etc, much easier to peruse the diagrams and the have the part numbers, and this for for both customer and supplier, they put me in touch with two dealers nearest to em, I gave them both the same request, parts diagrams please of main and secondary boom and under floor control lever linkages, both promised to email me with what I need, result ..... nothing by late Friday! , I phoned one of them and no one knew anything about my request, so I repeated it and said, "OK, to prove I am genuine, take my card number and charge me £100, I am going to be spending £400 or £500 at least" this was declined as not needed, I reminded him that this was a second attempt.
CLEM
 
RobinSF1 said:
Speedy Cables are near Swansea now. I was there on Friday for clutch and brake cables, not over impressed, though have heard recommended and previously talked to them at a show and had a good impression. They are not currently doing while you wait and had told me so on the phone, but I hadn’t expected 10 working day turnaround. Neither cable fits and they had the old cables as patterns.

Brake cable handlebar nipple had protruding cable at the handlebar end, wouldn’t fit in the lever. Quick fix on the bench grinder.

Clutch cable, t’other end, nipple too big a diameter to fit in the slot on the actuating lever (simple fix, but shouldn’t need to) and ferrules too big a diameter to fit in the handlebar adjuster, bit of a showstopper.

Returning tomorrow when they reopen. Hopefully while you wait this time, though understandably not on the premises.
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Speedy cables is an oxymoron- “Crap poorly fitting cables and speedos that still don’t work despite an expensive rebuild and huge lead time and bullshit excuses” would be a better company name.
 
Not sure if I`ve mentioned this before but talking about trouble with cables-
Was taking part in a National Rally in the early nineties and had a throttle cable go just outside Newbury.Unusual because relatively little load on those things but anyway dug out the spare I was carrying and found it didn`t fit-nothing wrong with the cable but it must have been for a twin or something,my own fault for not checking.
Anyway I found if you just chuck the throttle cable away,turn the tickover adjuster up to maximum,which gives a 2300 rpm idle or thereabouts,you can quite easily ride a Laverda with no throttle cable at all,although engaging first gear at the lights was a bit crunchy.
I think maximum cruising speed was about 40 mph on the level but it got me home.
Not so much fly-by-wire but fly-by-bugger-all.Handy to remember if you ever get stuck.
 
Is ordering spares from abroad such a hassle post Brexit? Seems a lot of fuss just to obtain a decent clutch cable. A.Wagner, Wolfgang or OCT not an option?

Gerald
 
Laverda1000.de said:
Actually you can shift without a clutch quite easily, just the getoff at the lights is a pain
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Yes I found the best way with no clutch cable is when approaching lights or a junction is to engage neutral whilst still rolling,then give the bike a nudge forward just before you engage first again.
Either that or kill the engine completely.
It`s all a bit "sorry mate I can`t stop,you`re going to have to"
 
Gerald said:
Is ordering spares from abroad such a hassle post Brexit? Seems a lot of fuss just to obtain a decent clutch cable. A.Wagner, Wolfgang or OCT not an option?

Gerald
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There are reports of extra hassle and costs now when buying from the EU (+knock on delays when importing from outside EU due to the extra load on logistics and customs). However, I think historically that within UK, most cables have been sourced from UK suppliers, often as one offs. In my case, Speedy Cables were just over 30mins away, I had heard good things about them from another laverdaisti and it seemed a no brainer for convenience, possibly cost and should have been quickest. After my second visit yesterday., I have a solution which will work, but I am unhappy with and think will be likely to fail quickly. Returning today, probably to ask for a refund as yesterday's changes were 'best they could do with available components'
 
I have bought recently a clutch cable and a front brake cable for my 1958 350 AJS. Neither cables fit by a country mile, the supplier told me that this is because the levers are not stock and have been changed, they should not have threaded adjusters.that doesnt explain why the front brake outer cable (conduit) is 4 inches too short and the inner cable eight inches too short, SO>>>>>>> I have the existing cables fitted which work OK, but are old and I want new ones for safety and spare ones to carry as well, I will send those two items to JJ cables amd ask them to replicate them exactly, I will let you all know how this goes.
CLEM
 
Hmm,
Why not order common cables in bulk through ILOC. Brake, Clutch, Speedo, Tach and Throttle cables in the most common sizes and quantities. One off cost and customs dealings. ILOC members receive a discounted price, non ILOC members pay a little more.
You have the oldest club in country, why not make use of it?

Gerald
 
Gerald said:
Hmm,
Why not order common cables in bulk through ILOC. Brake, Clutch, Speedo, Tach and Throttle cables in the most common sizes and quantities. One off cost and customs dealings. ILOC members receive a discounted price, non ILOC members pay a little more.
You have the oldest club in country, why not make use of it?

Gerald
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On paper, it's a great idea, Gerald.
Sadly, the particular talent required to run an Owners Club, as unpaid volunteers, and the talent to run a commercial operation effectively, rarely co-exist.
 
you would be ace at it Hamish, I mean ex PR, ex pilot, exs prop developer,ex navvy, thoroughly nice chap, custom clutch cable co-ordinator etc etc
go for it!
CLEM
 
Just to close out on Speedy Cables, went back yesterday (2nd return). Different person served me, understood the problems I showed him. I had taken connecting levers, adjusters and clevis. Sorted out whilst I wait, and said they had made a note of this for Laverdas. It fits and works. £22.50 + vat per cable.

Maybe I was naive giving them a cable to make a patten from and should have gone belt and braces the first time and been able to check everything upon collection. Maybe I was unlucky with the first guy.

If these cables last, I will give them benefit of the doubt next time as they are local and theoretically convenient, but I will specify and check everything at their premises upon collection.
 
Haha. The last time I went to a local cable maker's shop, I took a couple of sample cables in for him to copy. He told me my new cables would be ready in a week. When they still weren't done after 6 weeks, I had a bit of a moan about the delivery time. I said if I'd known it was going to take that long I could have bought them from overseas and had them delivered to my door quicker and cheaper than his quote. He slammed my old cables on the counter and told me to get out of his shop and never come back. That's what prompted me to start making my own cables.
 
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