KZ650 Hydraulic Clutch

I feel compelled to defend the honor of hydraulic clutch mechanisms. I have ridden well over 100,000 miles on Kawasakis with an hydraulic clutch system. Not one failure, catastrophic or otherwise. Not one.
I have read posts here by members who have suffered so many cable failures that they carry a spare cable wherever they go.
Also, in what way is the failure of a hydraulic system more catastrophic than the failure of a cable?
Does anybody want to go back to cable operated brakes?

TexasKZ wrote: I feel compelled to defend the honor of hydraulic clutch mechanisms. I have ridden well over 100,000 miles on Kawasakis with an hydraulic clutch system. Not one failure, catastrophic or otherwise. Not one.
I have read posts here by members who have suffered so many cable failures that they carry a spare cable wherever they go.
Also, in what way is the failure of a hydraulic system more catastrophic than the failure of a cable?
Does anybody want to go back to cable operated brakes?

Got to agree with that. Over the years and miles, have broken plenty of clutch cables but have yet to experience a single hydraulic clutch failure. Even the hydraulic system maintenance is easier than lubing a cable and no need to ever pull in a new hose like there is with replacement cables.

No eBay APP ID and/or Cert ID defined in Kunena configuration

Saablord wrote:
Link doesnt work for me.

I have a heavier clutch and i wanted to give hydraulic a shot as i've never used one before.

Sorry, I forgot to include a link. There are whacks of these on eBay:

TexasKZ wrote: I feel compelled to defend the honor of hydraulic clutch mechanisms. I have ridden well over 100,000 miles on Kawasakis with an hydraulic clutch system. Not one failure, catastrophic or otherwise. Not one.
I have read posts here by members who have suffered so many cable failures that they carry a spare cable wherever they go.
Also, in what way is the failure of a hydraulic system more catastrophic than the failure of a cable?

I agree that either failure can leave one stranded, so in that respect there is little, if any, difference.

My experience with a hydraulic clutch is somewhat limited, but not good. I owned an Austin Healey 3000 for about 8 years ( about 70,000 miles), and it had a hydraulic clutch. The slave cylinder of that clutch failed multiple times and was always a pain the wazoo to fix. I owned an Opel Manta for many years (about 200,000 miles), and it had a cable clutch. It never failed and needed zero maintenance. My 1977 KZ650-C1 (61,000+ miles) has a cable clutch, and I lube that cable occasionally (maybe every 10,000 miles or so), and the cable has never failed.

A hydraulic clutch should have the hydraulic fluid changed on a regular basis, and depending on the skill of the person that could be challenging to some. On the other hand a cable is quite easy to occasionally lube.

I recognize that our experiences with hydraulic clutches are different, and it's certainly possible that there have been improvements in hydraulic clutches since I owned that 1965 Austin Healey. Still though, the fact that I have had excellent luck with cable clutches and poor luck with a hydraulic clutch make me favor the cable clutch. Ed

I, too, have a fondness for old British sports cars, though I lived at the beer end of the scale rather than the champagne end. ( MGs). The Japanese car makers also seem to have had a fascination with them as they made near copies of the MGB and Jaguar E Type, right down to the silly side draft cv carbs. I dare say that the Japanese versions were less maddening to own and work on. Much less leaky, too.
I think a well maintained clutch cable imparts a fine level of feel that is largely absent with hydraulics, but the modern Japanese juicers are boringly reliable and much easier to bleed than most any brake system.

Saablord, I sent you the design files - keep making weird stuff!

Somebody know about a step by step guide install hydralic clutch to kz750 engine?

Grant, do you still have the model of the motor 3d scan? I have a starter and would like to make mine match the motor/starter profile.

Thanks again!

FYI I did get this working with zx9r master and slave cylinders. There are a few details in my KZEFI project post.

Done (minus final fit an polish etc)

Did you happen to measure the stroke length that is required for the mechanism?

I'm trying to make one to fit my 82 750 m (CSR) do you have any reference material as far as measurements or anything like that I'm having trouble I've measured them manually with a caliper and I think because of the front the diagonal distance between the bolts with spacers and not is giving me off measurements so