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Shitty clutch cables
- TerryK
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Thanks in advance!
1977 KZ1000
GSXR swingarm and rear brake
WM6 rear Akront rim
Wiseco 1075c pistons
33 smoothbores
stage 3 Web Cams
Head porting
Dyna S ignition
Lockhart oil cooler
Wiseco header
1980 Z1R drag bike
1200cc
38 Flatslides, .
500' cams
7" slick
Dyan 4000 SP ignition
etc
Ontario, Canada
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- 9er rider
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- Keep a cool tool
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76 kz 900 1075 76 kz 900 a4 78 kz 1000 ltd
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- SWest
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- 10 22 2014
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- loudhvx
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That could mean there is a burr or something not aligned with the lever mechanism.
But yes, OEM is by far the best cable, at least for the money. You could try a different oem cable from a more modern bike if you could find one around the same length with the same ends and free length (but that may be hard to do).
If you can find a different, longer OEM cable, you could try to cut it down yourself. That's what I've been doing lately.
This is for a 550. If the 900 cable is thiscker you might have to source different ends. I usually work on the lever end since that's usually easier to get (although I was able to make some as well).
s3.amazonaws.com/gpzweb/Kz550ClutchCable...tchCableShorten.html
I was getting ready to do the same mod Steve did... more as an experiment, but never got around to it yet.
1981 KZ550 D1 gpz.
Kz550 valve train warning.
Other links.
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- SWest
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- 10 22 2014
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Steve
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- TerryK
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loudhvx wrote: Do they always break right at the lever end?
That could mean there is a burr or something not aligned with the lever mechanism.
But yes, OEM is by far the best cable, at least for the money. You could try a different oem cable from a more modern bike if you could find one around the same length with the same ends and free length (but that may be hard to do).
If you can find a different, longer OEM cable, you could try to cut it down yourself. That's what I've been doing lately.
This is for a 550. If the 900 cable is thiscker you might have to source different ends. I usually work on the lever end since that's usually easier to get (although I was able to make some as well).
s3.amazonaws.com/gpzweb/Kz550ClutchCable...tchCableShorten.html
I was getting ready to do the same mod Steve did... more as an experiment, but never got around to it yet.
1977 KZ1000
GSXR swingarm and rear brake
WM6 rear Akront rim
Wiseco 1075c pistons
33 smoothbores
stage 3 Web Cams
Head porting
Dyna S ignition
Lockhart oil cooler
Wiseco header
1980 Z1R drag bike
1200cc
38 Flatslides, .
500' cams
7" slick
Dyan 4000 SP ignition
etc
Ontario, Canada
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- CoreyClough
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- GPz550 Addiction
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www.motionpro.com/motorcycle/search/by_m.../KZ+1000A/0/0/0/0/0/
Send them an e-mail as they make "custom" cables as well.
'85 GPz550(ZX550-A2)
GPz550 Base Manual --> tinyurl.com/ze5b3qo
GPz550 Supplement Manual --> tinyurl.com/h34d2o6
GPz550.com --> www.nwsca.com/scripts/gpz_forum_2005/default.asp
First Race Win GPz550 --> tinyurl.com/o5y3ftp
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- 650ed
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1977 KZ650-C1 Original Owner - Stock (with additional invisible FIAMM horn)
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- RonKZ650
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321,000 miles on KZ's that I can remember. Not going to see any more.
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- TerryK
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RonKZ650 wrote: I go through a lot of cables too. I was using original Kawasaki then when they got hard to get went to the Motion Pro. The original is a better cable obviously just by simply looking at them side by side, but the life is not much better. Cable is stressed every time the lever is pulled in and will eventually break at the weak point, and that is at the lever. If you do a lot of stop/go, the cable will not last regardless of brand. I never carried a spare or worried about it, just rode til cable failure. A broken cable is no big deal.
No, it's not a big deal, but when it happens at the start of a good ride with friends, or in the middle of heavy traffic, it's a definite piss off. I've had this bike 35 years and owned a few more 900s as well. I understand the stresses that these cables go through. Thanks.
1977 KZ1000
GSXR swingarm and rear brake
WM6 rear Akront rim
Wiseco 1075c pistons
33 smoothbores
stage 3 Web Cams
Head porting
Dyna S ignition
Lockhart oil cooler
Wiseco header
1980 Z1R drag bike
1200cc
38 Flatslides, .
500' cams
7" slick
Dyan 4000 SP ignition
etc
Ontario, Canada
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- MDZ1rider
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Are you the same TerryK from the old MotoDrive, DMXS and VitalMX?
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- slmjim+Z1BEBE
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- Enjoy Life! IT HAS AN EXPIRATION DATE!
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This might help extend the life of clutch cables:
PN# 53180-425-010 - BOOT, HANDLE LEVER
It's a rubber cover that protects the clutch lever pivot and cable-barrel areas from collecting grit. Easy to install, just remove the cable from the perch/clutch lever and insert the cable through the hole in the cover, reinstall the cable onto the perch and adjus free play. We came to the conclusion that grit in the barrel/ lever area was contributing to abrasion of the cable strands.
Now for the bad news; it's a Honda part. We discovered them when we bought our '93 CB750 Nighthawks. We now run them on all our Z-1's.
The purists amongst us may now proceed to vilify and otherwise slander, smear, abuse, desparage, attack, blister, censure, curse, debase, dig, jinx, knock and basically have a hissyfit :dry: for us having a Honda part on Z-1's but hey, it works :whistle:
As an aside, we ordered OEM throttle cables from Mama Kaw last year to correctly complete a basket case. They were still available, but we had to wait six weeks for the closing cable..What we received were, indeed, OEM cables complete with correct data printed on the sheath.
Good Ridin'
slmjim & Z1BEBE
A biker looks at your engine and chrome.
A Rider looks at your odometer and tags.
1973 ('72 builds) Z1 x2
1974 Z1-A x2
1975 Z1-B x2
1993 CB 750 Nighthawk x2
2009 ST1300A
www.kawasaki-z-classik.com
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