How to Get Rid off Stiffened Clutch Levers and Make Rides Smooth?

Riding a motorcycle is not only exciting but is a meditative experience for many. The bliss of riding can only be experienced, when the motorcycle is running smoothly. Hence, it is important to understand the basic rules and regulations for the maintenance of the motorcycle.

Stiffened clutch levers and clutch perch are some of the most concerning issues that riders face daily. Numerous factors can make the parts go stiff and ruin the riding experience.

Reasons for Stiff Clutch Lever

Anyone riding for a long period can feel the discomfort of a hardened clutch lever. The stiff movement in the clutch perch is caused by multiple factors. Here are some of the most common reasons for a stiff clutch lever and perch:

1. Dried lubricant inside the clutch cable

2. Malfunctioning clutch assembly

3. Wrong adjustments of the lever

4. The worn-out pivot of the clutch perch

5. Low engine oil levels

Ways to Make Clutch Levers Smooth

Taking care of the clutch always results in a smoother driving experience. Certain ways help to maintain the clutch and make the movements in the clutch perch work smooth. So, let’s learn about the key things that will help in getting rid of the stiffened lever;

Inspect the Clutch Cables First

Mostly, the discomforting experience of the clutch in a motorcycle is caused by the worn-out clutch cables. In newer motorcycles, usage of old clutch cables causes the same.

There are lubricants inside the clutch cables that help to make the movements smoother. Once it gets dried, movement of the cables inside the sleeve tends to gain more friction and results in a hard-to-move clutch lever.

Moreover, it can also harm the motorcyclist and cause sudden breakage of the clutch wire. Even after periodic maintenance, changing them at the right intervals will make the lever movements smoother and enhance the riding experience.

Check the Routing of the Clutch Cable Cable

Installation of a clutch cable is quite tricky. There are certain ways to route the cable to ensure smooth operations of the same. Hard movement in the clutch perch can be a result of a poorly routed clutch cable.

Sharp bends, while routing the cable will restrict the movement of the wires inside. While inspecting, looking out for the cramped spaces is the best idea. Avoid bends that will make the movement rigid.

Clutch Lever and Its Adjustments

Smooth shifts require correct clutch movement, and to facilitate that, the lever needs to work fine. Multiple parts inside the clutch perch can hold the movement of the lever.

Accumulated dirt in the pivot point, combined with the lubricants inside the perch restricts the movement of the lever. Inspect the contact points such as screws and bearings that tend to wear out and make it hard for riders to squeeze the levers.

After removing, cleaning, and refitting the parts, apply the grease and adjust the reach of the lever, as per your preference. Bending and twisting the wrists will make it even harder to engage and disengage the clutch even harder.

If adjusting the reach is not possible, opting for the adjustable levers is a great addition. It will not only smoothen the movement but also give the motorcycle a unique appearance.

EZ-Pull Clutch Lever

EZ-Pull levers are one of the best options to ease the clutch actuation using the stock levers. With a significant reduction in application force, it is an amazing upgrade for motorcycles with a stiff lever action.

Just attaching the module to the current clutch cables and lever will make a huge difference. The leverage helps in minimizing the effort to pull the lever and activate the clutch.

Hydraulic Setup

The normal setup of the clutch requires a heavy actuation force. In a situation, where maneuverability is required, and brakes are often applied, using those normal levers can cause discomfort and start hurting fingers.

Here, hydraulic levers play an important role. They require much less force for activating the clutch. Master cylinder, slave cylinder, and fluids are used to reduce the force required to apply the clutch. Without the worry of bending cables and automatic adjustment, life becomes easy for motorcyclists.

Check The Engine

After you have applied the earlier methods to ease the clutch action and still didn’t get the expected result, it is time for checking the engine.

• Replace the engine oil, if it is too old and worn out

• Change the faulty clutch actuator arm and push rod

• Lastly, get a new clutch assembly with new clutch plates

Riding the bike and maintaining it requires time and attention to detail. Skipping maintenance harms the motorcycle, especially the engine. During the ride, a stiff clutch can make the experience bad and cause shifting gears tiresome.

Making memories during the rides is fun, but fixing the motorcycle in the middle of nowhere is not. Hence, the above-mentioned aspects will make levers smoother and make your ride even better.