Carry an extra whatchamacallit !!

[TeddyB]

I went for a ride today and a mile from the house the clutch would not disengage. The lock screw worked loose and fell out and the cable quit functioning. So at the first stop sign with traffic I was screwed.

Then I thought no sweat Ted you can pedal home, that was one of the neat reasons you bought this thing !! Then I really thought Duhhh as I was pushing to the curbside why is this thing pushing so hard.

I picked up the rear tire and started it contemplating running and jumping on but I just couldn't picture doing this without hurting myself,then I tried letting the rear tire down in the wet grass as I reved the engine nope this is not working! Huffing and puffing in a slight rain pushing while I held the rear wheel up I started walking home.

A quarter of the way home I got another bright Idea , I can hand clutch it with the clutch lever down on the motor---- I would need to start it and while holding the rear tire in the air reach down and engage the clutch lever at the motor then I could put the tire down and mount the bike while still holding the clutch lever in then somehow I needed to take one quick pedal with my right leg while I slowly let the clutch lever out.

I managed to do it on my first try! If It was downhill It might have attempted the run and jump or low gear pedal but I was fighting a half mile slight incline.

So I got to ride for the last half mile. Has anyone else had this happen to them and what did ya do? Oh I did have a cell with me but the wife was not home, and some people did ask if I needed help.

Ted











t

 

[bigben77]

On a 12 mile ride to a different bike shop other than my local one. My clutch cable broke at the cable retainer screw(@ the clutch arm). I just peddled the heck out of it till it started, having seven speeds at the time helped ALOT. It would die at stop lights and signs so I just repeated the starting method to get me home.

 

[Nomad]

Quite ingenious thinking, I'm gonna have to read this again tomorrow when my comprehension is a little sharper...

 

[old motorbike]

Always carry a small pair of vice grips.

 

[Retmachinist]

Good idea on the small pair of vise grips. Since I am fairly new at this I have been trying to think of some of the simple things that could go wrong, where I would be screwed as far as riding home. I have been carrying a couple small tools with me, just hoping I might have the right one.
As far as the way you finally pedaled home, I would have not been able to do it. I have a $50,000.00 hip replacement thay is way more unreliable than these bikes!

 

[Dan]

Wow Ted, I am having trouble picturing that, but way cool.

I never leave the house with out a leatherman (well, it is a knockoff one) Things are worth there weight in gold and has gotten me out of trouble more then once. Keeping a bike multi tool on the bike is a good idea too.

 

[Finfan]

This raises the question of "Where would you find a replacement for that little bit of brass?" It is too small of a part for the online dealers to sell separately so how do you replace it if you lose it?

 

[TeddyB]

I think a small pair of vice grips is an excellent addition to what I should carry,I just put that motor on a different bike and i should have checked that the screw was tight.

I left the clutch and throttle cables attached to the motor when i switched it to the other bike,my bad.

Ted

 

[Nomad]

This raises the question of "Where would you find a replacement for that little bit of brass?" It is too small of a part for the online dealers to sell separately so how do you replace it if you lose it?

I saw "cable stop" doodads at Northern Tool, not exactly the same configutation but it should work to "stop" the cable...

 

[jburr36]

probably the best way to keep from losing that little brass thingy is to put a little drop of JB Weld or some other epoxy resin on the end of the cable so when it comes loose it cannot slip off the end of the cable.

I do carry a little tool set. One of those multi-use pliers with the knife, screwdriver, etc. comes in real handy.

P.S. I started doing the JB Weld thing to all my cable ends because the little metal caps that were crimped on kept falling off. The cable ends frayed badly and started poking me through my clothes. The JB Weld worked great for that.

 

[2door]

If you loose the cable stop and just happen to be near a hobby shop, go in and ask for a 1/16" wheel collar. They're steel, not brass, have an Allen head set screw and work perfectly as a cable stop. I carry a couple in my mini-tool kit, just in case. The brand you'll most likely find is Dubro. They have a vast selection of neat bits and pieces that can be adapted to motorbike use. Wheel collars are used to hold the wheels on model airplanes.
Instead of JB Weld, I solder the cable strands at the end. The solder keeps it from fraying and if you don't get too aggresive with it and make the cable too thick it will still fit through the cable stop and makes clutch cable adjustment a little easier.
Tom

 

[Bikeguy Joe]

This raises the question of "Where would you find a replacement for that little bit of brass?" It is too small of a part for the online dealers to sell separately so how do you replace it if you lose it?

Ace hardware, Lowe's, Home Depot.

cable end clamp in the hardware section, around a dollar.

 

[Large Filipino]

If you loose the cable stop and just happen to be near a hobby shop, go in and ask for a 1/16" wheel collar. They're steel, not brass, have an Allen head set screw and work perfectly as a cable stop. I carry a couple in my mini-tool kit, just in case. The brand you'll most likely find is Dubro. They have a vast selection of neat bits and pieces that can be adapted to motorbike use. Wheel collars are used to hold the wheels on model airplanes.
Instead of JB Weld, I solder the cable strands at the end. The solder keeps it from fraying and if you don't get too aggresive with it and make the cable too thick it will still fit through the cable stop and makes clutch cable adjustment a little easier.
Tom

YOU WIN THE INTERNET TODAY!!!!!

I'm getting some tomorrow!

 

[FileStyle]

carry some zip ties with you! you could have used them to hold your arm back to the clutch block , so you could have pedaled home! I carry zip ties with me for what ever reason, just in case.

 

[Dave31]

I always carry zip ties and a little bit of mechanics wire. Just recently on my Pima Air Museum ride, zip ties and some electrical tape put my pedal back together after it fell apart.

 

[Dan]

This raises the question of "Where would you find a replacement for that little bit of brass?" It is too small of a part for the online dealers to sell separately so how do you replace it if you lose it?

I found one at a lawn mower repair shop once. Guy had an old one in a box and just gave it to me. Dax has them too if I remember correctly.

 

[wheelbender6]

I had never thought about this situation.
If I'm just a few miles from my destination. I would probably
just remove the chain (put it in a plastic bag so you don't get grease
in your pack) and pedal.
If it's a long way home, I'll try the vice grips. We used to carry them on
dual purpose motorcycles in case the shift lever broke.

 

[TeddyB]

Like I said it was about the second test ride and I did not have my saddlebags on, my bad judgment . But it is amazing what you don't think of when it's windy and raining and you are all sweaty from pushing a bike while trying to keep the rear wheel off the ground.

But thanks all, I got a lot of good tip's and will never again venture that far without my saddle bags and a few key items.
Ted

 

[Dan]

put it in a plastic bag so you don't get grease
in your pack

I was trying to remember who had said that a wile back. That is just great advice. Works wonders. Thanks again.

I can never find any thing. who said what or where, Pics, nuton. I am gonna start hand writing this stuff down.