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T3 clutch trouble while on trip

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Anomaly:
Bike: 1981 T3 California
Problem: Yesterday, we (my wife and I) rode 200 km north to Livorno to catch the ferry to Corsica (one of my wife's high school friends has a family house there and invites the old gang to reunite each summer for a long weekend). It was HOT (36 C/97 F). Top speed was 116 km/h and when we got to the ferry port the bike sat in the full sun for about 50 minutes before we boarded. At the top of the loading ramp, I tried to shift gears and the clutch wouldn't engage/disengage. Somehow got the bike in neutral and pushed it to where the ferry crew strapped it down. The crossing to Bastia was 4 hours and we departed with the clutch seeming to work fine. We had another 45 km to ride south to our friend's house and about midway there I noticed that the clutch lever was loose/flopping about. It was still connected, but noticeably loose. I took out most (not all) of the slack using the adjuster wheel on the lever end of the cable.

So, what is happening here?

1) This morning,  Google search produced several older WildGuzzi threads suggesting frayed cables, but my inspection today did not reveal any fraying at the ends- that I could detect. One older post mentioned stretching due to temperature variations and this definitely seems like it could be applicable here. I mean, why did the clutch return to functioning after the 4 hour break on the ferry? But then there is that loose lever....

2) And then we come to an older post by P. Hayes concerning the role of wear of the throw out bearing in cable slack issues. Apparently , if the throwout bearing is no longer flush with the case, bad juju is headed your way. It's not easy (at least for me) to see the throwout bearing in situ, but I'm attaching the best photos I could come up with. I'm not certain I'm seeing the lip of the case or not, but I THINK I'm seeing a somewhat recessed throwout bearing and now I'm worrying (panicking??). Patrick, if you see this message, can you offer your assessment?

Our return ferry is Tuesday morning - 45 km back to the port of Bastia. Once back in Italy in Livorno, I have ordered a new clutch cable from a place not far from Livorno on our route south to home. But home is 200km away and there is that throwout bearing demon perched on my shoulder (conscience).

Advice appreciated!

guzzisteve:
It is not recessed much, almost flush. What you can do is loosen cable adjuster all the way loose & take play out of cable with the adjuster on the arm.
The lock nut on arm you turn loose then turn the adjuster in 1/4 turn at a time till your slack in cable is close to correct. Tighten lock nut. Now adjust the cable with adjuster on handlebar to correct slack. That will give you the full pull for disengagement.
Hope this helps

Anomaly:
Many thanks Steve! Yes, I understand that I should be working with the clutch -end adjuster in addition to the lever end adjuster-- I will follow the sequence (order) of adjustment you described.

guzzisteve:
Often the cable strands break in the adjuster tube next to floorboard on lower RH side & you can't see it

Anomaly:

--- Quote from: guzzisteve on July 10, 2026, 10:54:52 AM ---Often the cable strands break in the adjuster tube next to floorboard on lower RH side & you can't see it

--- End quote ---

OK, thanks. But why would it have gotten better after cooling off (relatively speaking):for 4 hours?

To be clear, I have a new cable on order, but will have to journey about 60 miles with the existing cable to pick it up and then install....

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