Clutch cable problem?

I pulled the clutch lever in yest and it went soft so I couldn't shift other than between 1st gear and neutral. However the cable doesn't look snapped. What could be the problem? Thank you.

What bike is it? I would remove the engine sprocket cover if applicable & check the clutch cable. If the cable isn't broken, try re-installing it, ensuring that the clutch release mechanism is oriented correctly & the cable stays in place when the cover is re-installed. a cotter pin helps to keep the cable end seated. Then adjust as per the owner's manual.

It's a KZ1000P, thanks I'll try to do that.

Mentioning the year helps, although all of the 1000P models were pretty much the same.
Did you replace the cable or adjust the clutch recently? And do you have the owner's manual --- it should have the correct adjustment procedure. I'm not sure about the your police bike, but on some models you're supposed to turn the clutch release adjusting screw counterclockwise first until hard to turn, then clockwise 1/4 turn.

My bad it's a 2000 KZ1000P. So I opened this chain cover and the cable seems to be fine. I do not have a manual for it so not sure what the exact procedure is. Is that black rod that connects to clutch cable mechanism supposed to be just rotating there freely not connected to anything on the other end? I'm sorry I'm a bit of a beginner.

Looks like a EZ pull ball and ramp type actuator. Take it apart, clean and grease it. Make sure the balls are in their pockets and the actuator is too. It pushes the push rod when it turns. The rod goes through the primary shaft and pushes on the clutch hub, disengaging the clutch. The adjusting screw closes the clearance between the actuator and the push rod.
Steve

If the cable looks fine, I don't know why the lever would go limp. This seems unlikely, but maybe the cable stretched. ???
You may need to remove the cable completely to inspect it. be sure to lubricate the cable, especially the clutch lever end.
I would probably go ahead & get a new clutch cable. oem is preferable.

The owner's manual or Kawasaki service manual will have the basic clutch adjustment procedure.

Cleaning the release mechanism and lubricating or replacing the cable is the usual fix for this. Martin is correct about the procedure. Here is the blurb from the 1982 Supplement to the 1981 FSM---

Typically there will he a pop when the ball and ramp comes out of position followed by no clutch. It requires taking it apart and realigning the actuator.
Steve

I don't mean to jack this thread, but from what I gather, there are actually three types of actuators. The 550, with which I'm familiar, has two different types. One is just a big screw type. The other uses 3 balls moving out of three pockets. Let's call that the ball-pocket type. But I think the big bikes have yet another type using balls and a screw. Industry calls them "ball-screw" actuators or jacks.

I think when some KZ owners say "ball-ramp", they mean ball-pocket, and others mean ball-screw. Am I imagining this?

Oh, and I'm not including the ones that are mounted to the clutch cover... only the ones under the sprocket cover.

Screw type, and ball-pocket type:



Here is a bad image of the ball-screw type. I think the balls are marked #5.


And this is the clutch cover mounted actuator.

Not sure about your model,exactly, but before you go pulling things apart,check the adjusing screw by the clutch lever.The mounting point is made of a soft alloy and the adjustment screw is steel. Sometimes the threads in the mount get knackered and the screw has nothing to bite on,resulting in a loosening of the whole shebang.

So this is what it looks like on my bike and it looked to be pretty well lubricated. Then I looked carefully at the handle as was suggested and discovered the cable was torn there. My questions are:
Would I need a totally new cable or could I fix this one?
What kind of lubricant should I purchase for general bike lubricating purposes?
What do I lubricate the chain with and how? By the way it says I should do it every 300 miles or so is it really necessary to do it that often?
Is that little torn rubber boot responsible for the oil spills around that area? What is that rubber boot called so I can order a replacement?
Should I wipe clean the inside of that cover (what is it called by the way) and around the chain area too?
Sorry for so many questions this is the first time I'm dealing with this stuff.