2007 Shadow 600 - Clutch lever adjustment FAIL

You should adjust the cable so the lever moves just a little bit before you feel tension on the clutch; maybe a gap at the pivot end of the lever (wide end of the wedge-shaped gap) of no more than about 1/16", so the end of the lever just moves about 1/2" or so. The friction zone will fall where it may, based on the geometry of the release system, but the clutch should be fully disengaged before the lever hits the grip. Engine off, it should roll in gear with the lever touching the grip.

WintrSol said:

You should adjust the cable so the lever moves just a little bit before you feel tension on the clutch; maybe a gap at the pivot end of the lever (wide end of the wedge-shaped gap) of no more than about 1/16", so the end of the lever just moves about 1/2" or so. The friction zone will fall where it may, based on the geometry of the release system, but the clutch should be fully disengaged before the lever hits the grip. Engine off, it should roll in gear with the lever touching the grip.

Click to expand...

I like that answer but I have some questions. Why does she want to adjust the clutch? Was it because the clutch was slipping, as in not engaging all the way? Or was it because the clutch would not fully disengage? The only one I can make any sense of is the clutch would not fully disengage.

I'm looking at the photo and reading her complaint and the photo looks like the clutch ought to ALWAYS be disengaged based on the fully extended adjustment fitting so to me that would rule out a warn clutch plate. If she was having trouble disengaging the clutch and after adjusting the clutch to the position shown in the photo, and still having trouble shifting gears...the engine died...that sounds like maybe the cable is stretched and needs replacement. Did the bike jump? Its a bit confusing to me.

Major Sphincter said:

Why does she want to adjust the clutch?

Click to expand...

That’s a great question.
I’m a new rider, and in my neighborhood streets I have a lot of stop signs. When I stop I hold the clutch lever tight against the handle.
The resulting “issue” was that i had to release the lever out a lot to find the friction zone. It was taking time and focus to maneuver the clutch lever and throttle to get going each time.
When I was in the local shop I asked if the friction zone location is adjustable so it wouldn’t be so far out. The answer was yes, that adjustment is easy - I could get the process from YouTube and with mechanical advising from my husband we should be fine.
That’s my why. I do regret not taking a photo of the setup before making my first turn.

As an 'old rider', my advice is to set it where it belongs, and just get a feel for it. Soon enough, you won't notice where it picks up, and get it by feel. As you discovered, moving the zone closer to the grip can easily reach the point where the clutch is not fully disengaged, and drags on the gears enough that it gets harder to shift. You are at that point long before you feel it pulling the bike as you let the lever out just a bit, since it doesn't take much drag in the clutch to do this.

I'm with him. At this point I would basically start over. Screw the adjustment fitting all the way in and then adjust it as described by WintrSol.

Do you have a kick stand safety interlock switch? I sat by the road before dawn one day discovering I had kick stand safety interlock switch on my BMW. If you do have one and you have the stand down, when you put it in gear it will shut the engine off. So before we go any further, do you have a kick stand safety switch?

Major Sphincter said:

Do you have a kick stand safety interlock switch? I sat by the road before dawn one day discovering I had kick stand safety interlock switch on my BMW. If you do have one and you have the stand down, when you put it in gear it will shut the engine off. So before we go any further, do you have a kick stand safety switch?

Click to expand...

Umm - this makes me laugh - yes I do believe I do have the kickstand safety switch.

That will be the FIRST thing to try tonight. ??*♀

Thank you!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Well at least you are at home. When I discovered there was such a thing i had just broke camp, packed my bike and was looking to get a early start home from a long weekend riding the twisties in NC. It was before dawn, I had had no coffee, had pulled over to check my load momentarily and the stupid bike would just die when i put it in gear. Took a few minutes to figure out...did I say I had had no coffee? Is that unreasonable or what?

Yes - awkward to figure out these puzzles and dependencies before dawn and without coffee.
I’m very thankful the bike is nicely situated on my patio ??

Just a tip: if you will notice, many of us have their general location posted. You never know, one of use may be close enough to show you how to get set up.

Major Sphincter said:

Do you have a kick stand safety interlock switch? I sat by the road before dawn one day discovering I had kick stand safety interlock switch on my BMW. If you do have one and you have the stand down, when you put it in gear it will shut the engine off. So before we go any further, do you have a kick stand safety switch?

Click to expand...

You’re brilliant! Yes that worked. I am delighted, as well as relieved the bike is now ridable.
Thanks Major Sphincter!!

Well, was it the kick stand safety switch? Don't feel bad if it was I was riding with a group of friends and we got stopped by road works. I used the engine kill switch on the handlebars (something I never do) 20 minutes later when traffic started moving I had nothing when I tried to start the bike, hell I even tried bump starting it since it was downhill. I had nothing.

Then I saw the kill switch was off, turned it on and it started right up.

Critter said:

Well, was it the kick stand safety switch? Don't feel bad if it was I was riding with a group of friends and we got stopped by road works. I used the engine kill switch on the handlebars (something I never do) 20 minutes later when traffic started moving I had nothing when I tried to start the bike, hell I even tried bump starting it since it was downhill. I had nothing.



Then I saw the kill switch was off, turned it on and it started right up.

Click to expand...

Great story of frustration!

Yes it was the kickstand safety switch. And I’ll remember that forever now.

I hear the engine kill switch can be tricky to remember - the guy at the shop told me don’t ever use that! But I’m using the official MSF starting ritual to instill discipline - FINE-C. Fuel on, ignition, neutral, engine on, choke.

Thanks for your encouragement Critter!

90Jones said:

You’re brilliant! Yes that worked. I am delighted, as well as relieved the bike is now ridable.
Thanks Major Sphincter!!

Click to expand...

WOW brilliant! Thank you. I may never hear that again. I have marked my calendar.

My work here is done!