1979 KZ750-B4 Clutch Adjustment

I recently picked up another 750 twin. Today I finally got around to tinkering with it. I found that the PO had adjusted the clutch as far as they could in an apparent attempt to get some more disengagement. My question is could the PO have pulled out the clutch actuator rod and lost the steel ball? I stuck a magnet retriever all the way in. When I withdrew it there was no steel ball trailing along. Will the steel ball come out of the clutch from the actuator side?
TIA
Bill

KZQ wrote: I recently picked up another 750 twin. Today I finally got around to tinkering with it. I found that the PO had adjusted the clutch as far as they could in an apparent attempt to get some more disengagement. My question is could the PO have pulled out the clutch actuator rod and lost the steel ball? I stuck a magnet retriever all the way in. When I withdrew it there was no steel ball trailing along. Will the steel ball come out of the clutch from the actuator side?
TIA
Bill

"My question is could the PO have pulled out the clutch actuator rod and lost the steel ball?"

The only things that are infinite are the universe and the stupidity of some home mechanics..... :ohmy:

I own a B4 and my misty memory is that the ball comes out from the left (actuator) side with the rod.

Thanks BH,
I ordered another ball today but don't want to put it all back together until I get an oil filter so I can button it up.
Bill

Make sure the actuator is in the right position at a right angle to cable when it's assembled. You'll see what I mean. The actuator is a helix assembly and it can get put together wrong (mine came from the factory wrong).

I know what you mean. It can be assembled several ways, but it only works from one position. I think this is the correct position:




The cable pulls on the arm from 90 degrees.
The PO had the cable adjusted so tight that the arm was pulled counterclockwise till there was almost no room to move.

Bill

Looks like I was worried about nothing. Two things gave it away. The part description of the ball says it's 3/8" in diameter which is considerably larger than the diameter of the push rod. Also there is a section drawing of the clutch on page 137 of the FSM which shows that the ball cannot follow the pushrod out the left side.



I'll follow the adjustment procedure in the FSM when I put it back together. Perhaps I don't have a problem.

Bill

I'll be darned. I could have sworn I remembered seeing that thing come out with the rod but it looks like my memory is getting senile.

KZQ wrote: I know what you mean. It can be assembled several ways, but it only works from one position. I think this is the correct position:

The cable pulls on the arm from 90 degrees.
The PO had the cable adjusted so tight that the arm was pulled counterclockwise till there was almost no room to move.

Bill

That looks about right to me.

Have you tried backing it up one tooth?
Steve

I finally got the clutch sorted out. Had to drill and easyout the two longer clutch cover bolts. I had thought that they were just missing but soon found that they had been broken off in the case. Once I got it all reassembled and followed the clutch adjustment procedure in the FSM it started working fine. BountyHunter and I had both thought that the ball bearing could be lost if the clutch actuator rod was removed. In the end, it's not possible for it to come out of the left side so nothing to worry about.
Bill