clutch issue ???

[stephenmcd]

Just curious it would make it a lot simpler to maintain its difficult to find a clutch master replacement for a decent price

[ribbert]

Just curious it would make it a lot simpler to maintain its difficult to find a clutch master replacement for a decent price

Firstly, why?

The amount of clamping force required for the clutch to work on a heavy bike with a 130 odd horses is more than could be reasonably operated by the limited amount of throw at the lever if using a cable.

Secondly, servicing the slave cylinder on the clutch is probably a once in 50-100,000 km job. A simple bleeding of the clutch every couple of years to purge the old fluid could see it last longer.
I got another 30,000 km's out of mine after it started to leak just by replacing the fluid. The old stuff was very thin and watery.

The M/C gives far less trouble and you could reasonable expect to replace it once only on the life of the bike. Second hand ones are not expensive and there is an extensive list of compatible units, not just from Yamaha's.

If, when you do the slave cylinder and it shows pitting (corrosion) from water, throw it away and get a new one, they aren't expensive. If it is pitted and you just clean it up and put new seals in it will become a regular job.

Noel

[RichBaker]

I've rebuilt the slave, on my '90, 3 times and replaced it once, in 80,000 miles... And, rebuilt the master once.

[andyb]

The amount of clamping force required for the clutch to work on a heavy bike with a 130 odd horses is more than could be reasonably operated by the limited amount of throw at the lever if using a cable.

You are of course aware that a modern a 1000 makes significantly more power than the FJ, and routinely has a cable actuated clutch.

It'd be a great big wad of fab work to get it converted, and cable clutches tend to snap all at once, rather than get mushy and weak as a warning that it's time for service.  More tellingly, it'd be vastly more expensive than a replacement master cylinder, which sorta breaks the original rationale for wanting a conversion.

[ribbert]

You are of course aware that a modern a 1000 makes significantly more power than the FJ, and routinely has a cable actuated clutch.

Yes, but they are designed to be cable actuated. Even so, I find some of them unpleasantly heavy.

You are spot on though, why would you even contemplate a conversion, there's no advantage any way you look at it.

Noel

[Bozo]

You are of course aware that a modern a 1000 makes significantly more power than the FJ, and routinely has a cable actuated clutch.

Yes, but they are designed to be cable actuated. Even so, I find some of them unpleasantly heavy.

You are spot on though, why would you even contemplate a conversion, there's no advantage any way you look at it.

Noel

I converted my kawasaki Z1R cable operated clutch to a hydraulic setup about three years ago (I use silicon fluid for nil corrosion), why anyone would want a cable operated clutch is beyond me - the cable tends to get tight if not looked after (rain, dirt etc), the direct feed means that unlike a hydraulic system the lever travel changes as the engine heats up and of course the cable never lets go close to home (it brakes at the pull nipple). A serviced hydraulic system is without doubt the better option.

[fj11.5]

Used to have an early 80,s gsx with cable clutch , much heavier than a doubled up sprung fj clutch,  and yes,  the cables never break close to home, infact neither do the throttle ones