Clutch Line Removal

[Warchild]

There are very few instances where one can feel a noticeable improvement in feel when changing out the clutch line for a proper stainless steel line. I was therefore a bit surprised to detect a slight improvement in feel when I installed the Spiegler SS clutch line on the Blackbird. But the really motivation to swap them out is that the rubber lines indeed deteriorate and become spongy over time. The Service Manual calls for their periodic replacement.

Still haven't swapped out the FJR clutch line yet, primarily due to laziness.

However, when I do so, I won't be going through the agony y'all have been describing, because I'll be cutting off the offending portions.

I mean, when you get down to it, do you really expect to re-install that OEM line back on the bike when you go to sell/trade-in? (Particularly given the trouble you had extracting it?) And for what, so you can sell a used clutch line to someone else for a pittance? I sorta doubt it... it would be like selling some used brake pads or the like. The SS clutch line is just not that brutally expensive, and you can use it as a good selling point when selling to to a private buyer.

 

[meosborn]

Nope, definitely don't plan on reusing/selling the OEM clutch line. Especially since I threw it out a while back. Initially I was planning on hanging on to the OEM line in case there was a problem with the SS line but once I found out how hard it was to remove I realized I wouldn't want to try and reinstall it anyhow.

For me, the hardest part of the removal was the clamps that hold the OEM line to the frame. Since you have to remove those clamps whether you remove the line in one piece or one hundred that isn't really a consideration. There were a couple of other things that held up the process but if you know what they are they should not be that difficult to overcome. Hence this thread.

After it is all said and done removing the line in one piece enabled me to use it to pull the new line through. BrunDog says that it was pretty easy to run the line so maybe it isn't that big of a deal but it sure looked like it would have been.

Regardless, there wasn't any info that I could find about how to remove the clutch line so I was doing the best I could. If the difficulty that I had saves you from the agony of removing it in one piece then I'm glad I could help. Good luck.

I pretty much plan on riding this bike until I can't repair it anymore. So, sell/trade-in isn't really an issue.

 

[BrunDog]

True dat on both points. A stainless braided hydro line upgrade is a good one in anyone's book, so why not? I threw the stocker into the very same garbage can I threw the brake lines - and they were intact.

WC, as I said, you don't need nothin' fancy to do this line. Undo the ends, pull to the posterior, cut at will, then feed the new one up. It will fit right through the inner frame clamp and has enough stiffness that it will thread right up to the neck. <30 mins if you drink the beer in three huge gulps. Delightful!

-BD

 

[dougc]

Still haven't swapped out the FJR clutch line yet, primarily due to laziness.

Glad to see I ain't the only lazy cuss around here.

I installed all the brake lines and left the clutch for another day due to the 9 point difficulty rating. Probably combine the clutch line with a stator install because my lazy ass ain't done that yet either. Or the tire pressue sensors. Ain't been up to GP yet either.

dougc

Still cleaning the garage :construction:

 

[Bounce]

PS: Bounce, we on the same page here? Are you thinking brake lines, bro?We're discussing clutch line removal.

just now seeing this response. so much for the "show new" function, eh? i was talking brakes simply because i did those first. the idea being that i'd have had some previous experience as each section got more difficult.

I'm glad I'm not the only who hasn't done the clutch side yet. I'm thinking of doing it this weekend while the weather is wet and cold. All I need to do it track down the parts. I know I put them over there ---> somewhere...

 

[black mamba]

listening to all this banter, it makes me happy that I've got a super dealer and that I paid him to switch out all my brake and clutch lines. I'm not the greatest wrench around and I don't mind admitting it. I admire those of you who can tackle this type stuff. I'm sure I end up spending money I probably could save sometimes but I'd rather spend my time riding ( which I'm good at ) than wrenching ( where I'm slightly dangerous ).