Convert initial clutch adjustment

[JayDee24ca]

I have the transmission on the bench, and just installed new clutch plates and springs. I am trying to figure out what the initial adjustment should be. The manual indicates that with new parts the distance from the inside curve of the lever, to the boss that holds the cable, should be 33mm. Can someone tell me if the measurement is meant to be taken while gently pushing down on the  lever just to take out the slack in the clutch rod, or is is meant to be 33mm when the clutch is fully disengaged (springs under full compression)? If the latter, how does one adjust this while on the bench, as full compression of the arm takes a LOT of leverage.
Or, am I over thinking this and I should just set it so there is only a bit of slack in the arm, and do the rest of the adjustment with the cable, after installation?
Thanks
JD

[fotoguzzi]

Or, am I over thinking this and I should just set it so there is only a bit of slack in the arm, and do the rest of the adjustment with the cable, after installation?
Thanks
JD

yes..


then forget about using the clutch.. decide what gear before you take off and leave it there, don't shift on the fly.

[georgemii]

What he said!

[rodekyll]

What they said.  The clutch is not used during riding and doesn't disengage cleanly enough to use it for much of anything else, like rolling it backwards while running or some maintenance task.  Lots of folks disconnect it alltogether.

But it should be functional, so --

Adjust the clutch per the book.  The problem is that you don't do it on the bench.  You do it in situ.
work it, look where everything ends up v where you want it, adjust, repeat as necessary.

THEN don't use it.   

[JayDee24ca]

Yeah, I was reading too much into the instructions in the manual that indicate a precise measurement done on the bench. At the end of the day I said the heck with it, chucked the lump back onto the back end of the engine and adjusted it the way I normally would. Everything works just jake now, no worries.
As to the constant dire warnings regarding the use of of the clutch and gear changing on the fly, I can assure you I do not (anymore). However, I will say that somewhere out there, there may be an old 1976 Convert that I owned from new till about 1983, in the days before internet and group bulletin boards and  constant warnings about not shifting on the fly. When I finally sold it, it was still running and shifting just fine. I pity the guy that bought it.
Anyway, I really do appreciate that anytime a thread regarding Converts comes up, the warnings are thick on the ground. Who knows, there may still be someone out there that doesn't know......
Thanks
John D.

[JayDee24ca]

Here's my old Convert back in 1983 or so. And my little girl, ready to go for  ride. Worst thing about that bike was the stupid Bub deep sump that losing oil pressure due to the foolish rubber oil lines. Swapped it back to original and all was great.



John D.