It's really hard to pull the clutch lever on my 1997 cr250. Just bought the bike and it clearly wasn't taken care of very well. I lubed the clutch cable and it helped a little bit but not much. I'm used to the really easy pull on my street bike, isn't it supposed to be the same for a dirt bike? The clutch is pretty much shot (new one on the way). Should I get a new cable and lever? Or is it pretty normal for a dirt bike?
1997 cr250 Really hard clutch pull
- Thread starter yteka99
- Start date
dirt bike dave
Sponsoring Member
- May 3, 2000
- 5,348
- 3
If it's hard to pull, it's usually because the cable is bad,or someone routed the cable incorrectly.
I would replace the cable first. If the old cable is frayed on the inside, lubing it will not help much.
I would replace the cable first. If the old cable is frayed on the inside, lubing it will not help much.
rmc_olderthandirt
~SPONSOR~
- Apr 18, 2006
- 1,533
- 8
I am not aware of any diagram that shows the proper route for the cable. Try to find a similar year bike and look at it.
But routing the cable isn't rocket sceince. Avoid shart bends. Like others said, I highly recommend a new cable.
Suggestion: Get a new cable, and hook it up without routing through the frame, just as a test. Keep the bend as large a radius as possible and then see what the clutch feels like. If it gets significantly worse once the cable is routed then it is a good indication that you have too tight of a bend.
I would not expect the lever to make any signifcant difference. If your lever is too short then it could be the problem, but I still suspect the cable.
It is also possible that the problem is in the cluch itself. I bought an after market clutch for one of my bikes once and it came with new springs that were a LOT stronger than the original. I hated it, and eventually went back to the OEM clutch/springs.
As for the levers: I am a fan of the ASV levers, although as I said above I wouldn't expect the lever to make a difference in the clutch operation. I have put ASV levers on all my bikes and have never had to replace one. Before I started using ASV levers I would go through the stock and cheap afer market levers like crazy.
Rod
But routing the cable isn't rocket sceince. Avoid shart bends. Like others said, I highly recommend a new cable.
Suggestion: Get a new cable, and hook it up without routing through the frame, just as a test. Keep the bend as large a radius as possible and then see what the clutch feels like. If it gets significantly worse once the cable is routed then it is a good indication that you have too tight of a bend.
I would not expect the lever to make any signifcant difference. If your lever is too short then it could be the problem, but I still suspect the cable.
It is also possible that the problem is in the cluch itself. I bought an after market clutch for one of my bikes once and it came with new springs that were a LOT stronger than the original. I hated it, and eventually went back to the OEM clutch/springs.
As for the levers: I am a fan of the ASV levers, although as I said above I wouldn't expect the lever to make a difference in the clutch operation. I have put ASV levers on all my bikes and have never had to replace one. Before I started using ASV levers I would go through the stock and cheap afer market levers like crazy.
Rod
High Lord Gomer
Poked with Sticks
- Sep 26, 1999
- 11,788
- 35
The routing diagrams are in the service manual. I would suggest getting the service manual for the bike for that and many other reasons. I don't know anything about this website but they claim to have a version you can download for $7:
http://www.instant-manual.com/1984-1987_CR-80_85_125_250-R_Lubrication___Cables.html
http://www.instant-manual.com/1984-1987_CR-80_85_125_250-R_Lubrication___Cables.html
