So Mad!! Clutch cable issues.

So my clutch cable broke, no biggie right? Call up the dealership, they have one in stock, yay!!! I make the 30 minute drive up there, just to find out the computer said it was in stock but they cant physically find one anywhere. After this, we order one, and they said it would be delivered to my house, cool ......nope, not so much. I get it, wrong one. Drive up there again to return it, this time I bring in the old one. We finally figure out the right part, yay!! Order the new one, got it today, and lone behold, its the same one I just returned. This time, a bit furious, I call up there after getting home. The salesman tells me my bike is not an 82 at all but an 81. He asks my vin number to cross reference as I'm looking at my title saying its an 82 lol. He told me its more than likely a late model 81 titled as an 82. We argue and finally I reminded him that regardless of the year, I brought the old cable in expecting he would know how to order the exact part I wanted, not what his computer told him! Now I'm trying to make them overnight the correct one and even though I'm paying 10 bucks in gas each trip up there, he says he cannot justify the overnight shipping costs, nice! Now I'm waiting for him to call back, so I figured I'd let out a little steam here on the forums, there, that felt much better, thank you for reading this rant!!!

well the good part is...now at least "you" know what yr and model you have.....z1 enterprises saves gas..sure there is a shipping charge.....but they are cheaper in the long and short run...shows up before your even ready to do the work most times.....best of luck...craig

Ty sir, I will check out z1 enterprises .

you should buy 2 so this major disaster can be averted in the future and look at the bright side you now will be able to remember the part number by heart.

unrelated:

yet related:

My 1976 kz900 a-4 can accept the clutch cables from many yrs of 900 and 1000 kawis...and while the replacement part number may even be the same for say 73-80 or such,the cables, stock ,or original may have varied some in little cable shroud details or --location-- inches from end to end of the trunbuckle adjuster---looks ect.......

the current cable that is on there now has an outer winding of spring or protector around the black cable housing..for the areas where it may rubb the exhaust..it also feels and looks to made of a tad thicker cable than most 900 cables......

I think it may be from a later model kz900/1000 police model..(it came in a big parts pile i bought)or just an aftermarket heavy duty clutch cable....either way it does not seem to fray or break like the ones i had before would after a while...i have a Heavy duty clutch kit and the pull is terrible on the forarm after a while...so imagine the poor stock cables.......

Good rant, and yeah... get 2.

I learned this the hard way as well.

GL.

What motorcycle are you working with? Normally a 1981 or a 1982 would not make for a drastic change in cables on the same model. I don't blame you for getting fed up, but it's possible unless you can verify all your motorcycle is original a prior owner may have done some "creative" parts replacement making the stock cable no longer correct.

if you have got hd springs in there ...try a barnett HD cable...it will make youe clutch pull much easier....and will last forever

What happened to the days when a dealer or shop could make a cable for you in about 20 minutes? Why wait all that time, call a couple of shops and ask if they can make a cable for you if you bring the old one down. A good shop will do it easily and may be better than a "stock" replacement, and you can be riding 1/2 hour later.

Keep in mind... Most dealerships don't carry a large selection of inventory any longer... They do like we do, order it and charge you additional marked up price... :huh:

Most shops send their machining out to 3rd party machinist, don't even do it themselves any longer.

As mentioned, order through Z1 or various other web KZ parts ordering and you'll be better off....

I carry a spare clutch cable with me at all times where I loosely coiled it up & tucked in the tail section...

My ridding buds always bust my nads about all the tools I carry on a ride... That is until they have an issue on their rides and need one of my tools... It just kills them to ask for they know what it will cost them... :evil: And yes, I tear them up royally... :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

OMR

they do make a hydraulic clutch system that will fit old Kawis with a few mods, and also some of the later Kaws had adjustable clutch levers that had a 4 position set that would let riders with short fingers (like me) have less of a strain to pull the clutch in.fyi for those less than manly men (like me) who have trouble with stiff clutches.bj

one of the main reasons bike shops don't make cables any more is that a new aftermarket cable is under 20 bucks most places not woth the time or effort to take an experianced guy away from tuneups or other money making enterprises that a shop has to do to keep the lights on plus you would have to carry so many different types of cable and ends it would be insane. building cables is an art that is rapidly being lost. but it not cost effective to do at a shop level anymore i have worked in the bussiness for over 20 years and its not very often you will need to make a cable that can't be found by some other source. motion pro terry cable and barrnet all make quality stuff. and always remember an problem on your part doesn't constitute an emergancy on my part or in this case the shops part. relax and realize you are dealing with a 30 year old bike.