Triumphrat

06-08-2006

Is it correct that the free-play in the clutch lever should be only 0.4 - 0.8 mm?? I have a Sprint RS.

This sounds very small to me. :???:

airrider03 · 06-08-2006

Well I don't have the facts in front of me, but I would definitely pull out the decimal point on those numbers.
4-8 mm sound more like it...not .4-.8 mm. :-D

06-08-2006

It states 0.4 - 0.8 mm both in the Haynes Manual as well as in the owners manual of the bike.

Sounds strange to me!

Diderich · 06-08-2006

I keep mine as tight as i can. The perfect spot is just a barely noticable amount of freeplay. The dealer says this helps extend the life of the clutch cables. Don't knwo if I buy that, but I've never had it break on me in 2 years. It also seems to shift better. I think it needs every bit of clutch pull to fully disengage.

Stlakid · 06-09-2006

Quote:

I keep mine as tight as i can. The perfect spot is just a barely noticable amount of freeplay. The dealer says this helps extend the life of the clutch cables.

It's also the best way to prematurely wear out a clutch! If there is no free-play then you could actually be pulling in the clutch ALL the time you ride. Your mechanic is a dolt. (a lot of them don't know Shet!) The cable part sounds like a load to me as well. I'd like to hear him explain how keeping tension on a cable ALL the time would make it last longer! (Idiot mech!)

The Triumph shop manual concurs at .4-.8mm (.015"-.031"). I'm going to state something here some will not agree with..........That adjustment is *****! You should have a minimum of 1/8"probably something like 1/8" to 3/16" is more like it. I keep mine adjusted at 1/2" free-play!!! You want clearance in the clutch assembly so you are not accidentally putting any load on the springs when you hit the power which could lead to slippage, excess heat and premature wear to the clutch.

[ This message was edited by: Stlakid on 2006-07-08 23:57 ]

miker · 06-09-2006

Stlakid - it depends on where you are taking the measurement. 1/2" at the end of the lever is fine, but the Triumph manual shows the measurement between the perch and where the lever touches the perch. My S3 is the same as the Sprint.

I do agree however, the cable MUST have freeplay. Otherwise there will be premature wear on the throwout bearing and it may cause slippage.

As in all cases, read the manual, it's usually right, or pretty close to it. Make sure the adjustment at the gearbox end is correct before worrying about the cable.

Mick

Stlakid · 06-09-2006

I'm going to double check, but I bet it's at least 1/4"- 3/8" at the lever and near a full 3/4"- 1" at the end of the lever. (I like it loose) It makes it easier to reach and the clutch doesn't require much throw from fully engaged to fully disengaged.
I also NEVER need to worry that it MIGHT be a bit tight, but obviously this is an exaggeration of what is necessary.
I think it would be very hard to measure .015-.031 freeplay as the cable isn't that solid and would make that close next to impossible to measure given that the cable stretch before actually pulling the clutch will make for a lot of guessing at best.

The bottom line is better to loose than to tight, just like the drive chain.

06-09-2006

I agree with the guys that says that you have to have some free-play in the clutch lever. On the seven bikes of different brands Ive owned before all of the should have some free-paly. Must be wrong in the manual!!!

airrider03 · 06-09-2006

The 06 sprint manual specifies 2-3 mm at the perch...that sounds healthy.
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Quote: It states 0.4 - 0.8 mm both in the Haynes Manual as well as in the owners manual of the bike.
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I think Haynes copies specs from the owners manual instead of creating new number on their own.
Typos exist...and a decimal point position could be an easy one to make. In one illustration, the sprint manual spells 'ingnition'.
A .4mm range is only detectable with a caliper vernier or feeler guage shims, does the RS manual suggest using a measuring tool when checking free play? Confirm that number with the RS shop manual.

[ This message was edited by: airrider03 on 2006-06-09 07:17 ]

shrunkenhead · 06-09-2006

If I had 2 more inches in my fingers, then I could deal w/little or no freeplay. But I'd say I keep mine at about 1" of freeplay(from the end of the lever).
Why does the amount of freeplay even matter? other than too much and your lever will hit the bar before the clutch disengages.