Need new clutch cable

[rtdirks]

My wifes 1974 R90/6 clutch cable is badly frayed at the lever. Where is the best place to order one. should I consider other things to replace at the same time. If this is something everyone should know be kind, this is my first post here and I have done little work on this bike
Ross

[Isamemon]

your best bet is the dealer
I looked around also, and a dealer cale adn a aftermarket cable was within a few bcuks of eachother
the couple of bucks saved was not worth it to me
another reason is my bike could have had two different cable lengths
so taking the old cable to the dealer, adn getting exactly the right one was good for me.
the aftermarket place only listed one cable
I did not have time to mess around

part two of your question, do you need anything else.......no.....not that I know of
at least not fo my R-80
sorry Ill take that back
you will need two new zip ties

[20774]

Welcome!

Don't wimp out when buying a clutch cable...I suggest getting one from a dealer or otherwise reputable BMW mechanic/supplier, etc. You operate this cable dozens of times every few minutes, so make sure you get something good.

I'd suggest the dealer if there's one near you. Where are you located? Lot's of dealers will even take an order over the phone and ship to you using a credit card. Other places might be Bob's BMW (google them) and Ted Porter at http://www.beemershop.com. Another on-line source is Max BMW up in the Northeast. I'm sure others will add their favorites...

Try and measure the current cable length. Most likely you're need one of two kinds:

- long for high bars (1436mm) - #32 73 2 324 957
- short for low bars (1410mm) - #32 73 2 324 958

[26667]

Get a piece of string several inches longer than the cable itself. tie the piece of string to the old cable and pull the cable out. (The string is now tracing the route of your old cable) Then tie one end of the string to the new cable, pull the opposite end of the string, and voila! it's routed exactly where the old one was.:thumb

[James.A]

I buy my parts from Re-Psycle In Ohio. They advertise in the Owners News and in Airmail. You need to check the cable at the barrel end inside the clutch handle and make sure that it pivots and is lubricated inside the lever. If you buy one, buy a spare also. They don't go bad and it has worked for me that in 20 years of riding airheads, I've never needed to install the spare cable. If you have it,...you won't need it.

[rtdirks]

Thanks for the input. My nearest dealer is 90 miles and I hadn't thought of having them ship. The string is a good idea, my plan was to tape the new cable to the old when I pulled the old. This of course would nessesitate having the new before pulling and measuring the old. I do have a spare that came with the bike its used and I planned on just leaving it in the tool kit. I guess I can measure it to order the new one in case there is variation. We live in northwest Iowa

[sumran]

I would also suggest an OEM cable.

You should also take the time to clean and lube the pivot point of the cable in the hand lever. If it is dirty or dry and doesn't move easily, it will cause the cable to fray near the handle.

[26667]

I used to store my "spare" (black electr taped) along the frame more or less where it actually routes. Takes up no space at all. EZ access

[yllib]

Every once in a while I see a lever that is worn and it causes the cable barrel to bind and break the cable. They always wear in the bottom where the material is real thin where the cutout is to get the cable in and out of the lever.

[sgborgstrom]

I agree with everybody who said to order a spare cable and suggest you get a spare throttle cable while you've got the wallet open. Keep it coiled up in the bottom of the the tool bin under the seat.

[SoFloPro]

definitely go with factory part. although i have have not had the best of luck with my clutch cable, i have had my r90/6 for about 10 months. my clutch cable broke as i was getting home in june 07, and it just happend again almost 4000 miles later. but over all i say i good use out of it. anyone know how many mile they are supposed to last on average?

[20774]

anyone know how many mile they are supposed to last on average?

I have about 55K miles on my clutch cable now. The last time it broke, it wore right at the handle because I hadn't been lubricating the barrel in the handle so the cable could rotate throughout the range of the lever actuation. Keeping it lubed has result in good operation for a long time.

[PGlaves]

Get an OEM cable.

Get some good heavy bodied grease.

Inspect the hole in the lever to make sure it is smooth and not worn.

Inspect the barrel that clips on the cable and goes in the hole.

Thoroughly clean the lever and the barrel. Grease the barrel so it will rotate smoothly in the hole in the lever.

Attach at top - then at bottom.

Adjust.

[hairsmith]

Just replaced the clutch cable on my 1983 R100RS at 91,000 miles. OEM is good stuff.
Went ahead and replaced all the cables.

[rtdirks]

Wanted to update and thanks for all the input. I finally got the clutch cable installed today. Ordered the first one from repsycle BMW parts without realizing I had offset handle bars. So the first cable didn't fit. I called Re-psycle they sent out the another cable, again too short, still my fault for not realizing the offset bars. they took care of me again when they helped me figure out the offset bars and got a RT cable that fits perfectly. Then Mark at repsycle helpled me trouble shoot my install and find a problem.

Special thanks to Mark for going above and beyond on multiple shipping and spending a fair amount of time helping the mechanically impaired get this figured out. I also found a rough spot on the lever that probably caused the last cable to fail and smoothed that out.

This is a perfect example of my "Murpheys law of time figuring" take the amount of time you think a project will take multiply by 2 then go to the next higher unit. I thought this would take about an hour and it stretched over 2 weeks.:doh