Clutch cable routing

[ChrisG]

When I picked up my 96 California (a little less than 2 years ago) it bothered me that I had to adjust out the cable to the last couple of threads on both the lower adjuster and the hand lever adjuster to get the adjustment close.  The bike came with a spare cable.  I installed that, routed it the same way, still too long. I bought a third cable, still too long.  It finally occurred to me that re-routing the cable under the crash bar bracket would lengthen the route of cable. 20 minutes later: satisfaction, I can now adjust the clutch lever properly, no longer hanging on by a thread (or two)….

Oh, I just sold my sportster…….

[Huzo]

You’re saying that re routing your cable, has altered the adjustment required at the ends..?
Sounds counter intuitive to me, because altering the distance the cable has to traverse, is the same for the inner AND the outer..

[nc43bsa]

Don't all big blocks have three adjustment points for the clutch?

[ChrisG]

You’re saying that re routing your cable, has altered the adjustment required at the ends..?
Sounds counter intuitive to me, because altering the distance the cable has to traverse, is the same for the inner AND the outer..

Increasing the distance the cable has to cover (by re-routing) effectively makes the cable shorter relative to the two anchor points. Yes?

[Huzo]

Increasing the distance the cable has to cover (by re-routing) effectively makes the cable shorter relative to the two anchor points. Yes?

No mate.
Take the cable off.
Pull the inner all the way in one direction and then bend and twist the cable any way you like.
You’ll see that the exposed part of the inner does not move. It doesn’t matter where you route the cable, the adjustment won’t alter, because the inner is following the same path as the outer.

[ChrisG]

Don't all big blocks have three adjustment points for the clutch?

I took a closer look. There is a 3rd adjuster on the clutch arm! I missed it, forgot about it, or ignored it.  Thanks! I do though think the clutch cable is in the right place now and I can get the free-play where it should be (without touching the clutch arm adjuster). Thank you.

[redrider90]

Increasing the distance the cable has to cover (by re-routing) effectively makes the cable shorter relative to the two anchor points. Yes?

Yep The shortest distance between 2 points is a straight line.

[Gusable]

I read somewhere that the routing can affect free play. Certainly when the bars are turned

[nc43bsa]

I read somewhere that the routing can affect free play. Certainly when the bars are turned

Maybe, if the cable is routed in such a way that the cable sheath is pulled out of one of the cable end adjusters when the bars are turned.  Throttle cables are prone to this because the spring tension is much less than a clutch or brake cable.