[singhg5]

After changing the oil today, I was happily thumping around this evening. By the time I was returning back, at a red stop light suddenly my G5 clutch cable just snapped in two ! The bike lurched and stalled. Fortunately, it did not fall and there was nobody behind me though there was traffic in the adjoining lane. It was already dark. I pushed bike to one side. A flash light confirmed that the cable had broken from the drum. I pushed and walked the bike back to my place, about one mile.

Then I just realised that a couple of days back the clutch cable had suddenly become loose. Its play was almost double the normal. I was a bit surprised that suddenly how come this much play. What happened ? Anyway, I tightened it to its normal place and kept riding.

Now that clutch cable has broken, I think what happened a couple of days earlier was that the cable had stretched near its drum and thinned out until it just went kaput.

Looked in the RE kit when I had bought the bike 5 years ago, and to my surprise there is a spare clutch cable !! Yeh, thanks to RE. Which other motorcycle company gives all these goodies ?

Any advice or suggestions before I put the new one in ?  or pointers ?

BTW, this was the original clutch cable that came with bake and lasted 34000 miles.

[no bs]

go get a spare for the next 5 year surprise!

[JVS]

Super clutch cable that one. 34000 miles =O

Just shower the new one in cable lube, and hope for another trouble free 30k + miles! 

[pmanaz1973]

All the TLC you give your bike sure prolonged the life of that cable.  I've never had a clutch cable last that long on any bike I've owned.

Lube the cable, grease the barrel and purchase another spare - I keep my spare in my saddle bag.  I once had one break whilst riding my old BMW in the Mojave Desert - That sucked...a full day worth of hot, expensive suck, and taught me a valuable lesson about keeping a spare somewhere on the bike. 

[Bulletman]

 
Looks like all that "Makhi Di Roti and Sarsoon ka Saag" paid off and helped in pushing that bike for a mile.

[singhg5]

Looks like all that "Makhi Di Roti and Sarsoon ka Saag" paid off and helped in pushing that bike for a mile.

Yes for sure and followed by a pint of Ben & Jerry's !

If I have to order a spare clutch cable which brand / size of Non-RE clutch cable fits RE. Is there a better cable than OEM ? 

[pmanaz1973]

Is there a better cable than OEM ?

I'd say the OEM one was pretty dang good - 34,000K right?

I've had a few custom cables made at dealers that were very nice...a little pricy - teflon lined, etc.  I believe they can still use your terminal connections.  Ask around your local custom bike shops.

[Mr.Mazza]

Hitchcocks sell Teflon lined premium cables in stock sizings.

[adi-4004]

Since your cable lasted this long:

What kind of maintenance regime do you follow for your cables?

[High On Octane]

34K?!  That is impressive Singh!  I don't think I've had or even heard of a clutch cable lasting more than about 15-20K with good service.  As far as replacing the cable, it's straight forward.  Not sure how the UCE is set but usually you just remove the cover the cable end is hiding behind and remove the cable.  Just pay attention to the exact routing of the cable in the the steering stem area and you're good to go.

Scottie J

[mattsz]

Any advice or suggestions before I put the new one in ?  or pointers ?

BTW, this was the original clutch cable that came with bake and lasted 34000 miles.

Singh - you're funny!

Who else on this forum would ask for advice on how to extend cable life, only to be answered with requests for advice on how you made yours last so long?

[motorman2whel]

Pressure lube it with good lube not penetrating oil. If you lube your cables every 2 or 3 engine oil changes they will last a very long time.

[suitcasejefferson]

My '66 Bonneville broke a clutch cable at least every 2 weeks. It was always the end that attaches to the lever that broke off. I always carries a spare. The same thing happened to the front brake cable, I usually didn't carry a spare, I could limp home with the rear brake.

I have a Japanese bike with 92,000 miles on it, and no cables have broken. But it is a dull boring bike to ride. I'd rather deal with the issues of the Enfield.

[singhg5]

Since your cable lasted this long:

What kind of maintenance regime do you follow for your cables?

Lube more often than recommended. 

Any lube is better than no lube - Do not wait for perfect or best lube.

Give a couple of squirts at both ends where wire cable exits its sleeve and rubs the metal collar on it - Do not wait until you are ready to do the whole cable (I did whole cable only once in five years - lazy me  ).

Do not overtighten clutch cable. Keep cable enough tight so that gears don't grind.

Remember how the clutch feels immediately after lube. When it does not feel that smooth, it is time to grab lube - even if it was lubed only a few days ago.

I do not have a set schedule for cables, but if I were to guess it would be every 2 to 3 weeks + after every wash.

Do throttle cables at the same time.

[singhg5]

BTW - link to new video on replacing the clutch cable

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqRIfG3Q0lY