clutch master cylinder Modd!!!

A one-off homebuilt gizmo, untested for either efficacy or longevity, made to solve a problem that doesn't exist.......

if you're that worried, get seal kits and rebuild both mc and slave.....then motor on.

Very few failures in this system.

If you don't trust hydraulics....aren't you worried about your brakes too ??

 

Is it a problem or a preference?

 

I've run heard of more guys being stranded by a broken cable than a leaking slave cylinder. You can pick up some brake fluid just about anywhere and nurse it home at least. Finding a shop with the right cable may be more difficult IMO.

 

Huh? The CBR1000RR slave cylinder is a direct swap.

 

Even if you can't find brake fluid, you can find some sort of fluid to get you home! You may end up having to rebuild the master and the slave if you put something other than brake fluid in it if you'd get stranded, but chances are you'd make it home!

 

Jack Daniels??? Pabst Blue Ribbon ???>

 

Nah, I wouldn't waste alcohol! That's a party foul! I was thinking transmission fluid, or something of that sort.

 

Sorry about that...I guess from what you said (The unit on the newer CBR1000RR is a newer but functionally identical device)
i took it as, it functions the same, but looks different. Something that looks different might fit different.

My bad.

And yes, my brakes might fail too. Good point...but the clutch gets worked 5x more than the brakes.

And in all "my" experience, cable operated clutches last longer.

 

Will you be switching to a mechanical clutch then? Please keep us posted on this 'upgrade/downgrade' ;-)

 

My 86 VFR has the original clutch in it with over 40K miles and still going strong. Try getting a clutch cable to last 25yrs.

 

yes I will.

Just need to find a working clutch slave from another vf500 on ebay. As cheap as possible.

Then start mocking up.

 

Thanks for the post. I was wondering though, is your advocation of hydraulic clutches based on their ease of maintenance, or do you also prefer the feel of these over a mechanical clutch? I am not being a smart a@# here, more I am wondering if this is simply a matter of personal preference in terms of how these two systems feel or respond to the rider.

 

+1

cables get old and frail, corrode, rust, hard to see if it is in the sleeve, until it snaps

fluid leaks tend to start smalll, get noticed on the garage floor, and right away you know you have a problem
especially if you are good about flushing the fluid every couple of years

I have never known a fluid clutch to leave a person stranded, but have known a cable one to fail en route. Certainly not scientific though.

as for upgrade or downgrade, think about it, most cheap bikes, those built to a price point, have a cable operated clutch
if a cable operated clutch was better, you would see more conversion kits, and you would see it on high end bikes, you don't

 

I've got 2 bikes with hydraulic clutch resiviors and 1 with a cable. I don't drag race or need to have a clutch designed for the perfect launch. Mountain riding, track days, it makes no difference to me once you get use to the feel of one. Changing fluid every now and then is all you need to do. Swapping one out for the fear of a leaking slave is not worth the time. IMO The weight savings are so small, I mean what are we taLking about 2-3lbs or less? Manfacturers will use cable operated clutches when trying to cut costs or to save weight as in the case of the old CBR900rr or in the new CBR6. The new CBR1000 my have one too but i'm not sure. To tell you the truth I don't really prefer one over the other. I'd just look at the pros and cons of both.

 

what do they run in MotoGP? there is a case where largely cost doesn't matter, ease of mait. doesn't matter it is all about how it makes the rider interact with the bike, and lap times. If a cable clutch were really the way to go for the most exact feel and engagement, unless it weighed 20lbs more, they would all run a cable clutch. Although they don't usually use the clutch to shift at that point anyway. but any other race groups out there. anyone see a bunch of them with cable clutch mods? I have never really paid attention to be honest.

 

Get rid of those dam disc brakes too, I allways loved the cable/drum brake.:smile:

 

MotoGp bikes use electronic shifting devices. They don't use the clutch for upshifting. WSBK does the same. They may however use the clutch to make a downshift. IMO the only real downside to a hydraulic clutch perhaps is the fact that after repeated hard launches or circumstances that tend to heat up the clutch itself (like stop and go traffic) the clutch can get grabby.

 

Slghtly different slant on this--
Does anyone know of some servo asisted clutch arangment?
for some reason in this cold weather my hand is killing me operating the clutch.
After about a hour or so and what with some urban riding, i end up speed shifting but stopping at lights is a killer!
automatic VFR 800?

 

Thanks for the post and the honest take on both the hydraulic and mechanical clutch systems.

It seems like there are pros and cons to both, though from the posts here it appears most on our group seem to feel that the hydraulic is better.

This said, I am not convinced that it is simply a matter of value engineering on modern bikes - I think it may be more a matter of majority rule, more riders are comfortable with a hydraulic clutch - less fuss on the maintenance and less effort to engage.