Trike clutch cable adaptor: Modern cable on ‘76 sportster motor, part 1.
The trike needed a new clutch cable; the old one had been pinched and kinked and wouldn’t release the clutch. Unfortunatly, it needs an extended cable and no one locally had one. I called Jireh cycles and they were out of stock. Now, I probably could have found one somewhere, but since it was so hard to find, I thought it might be better to modify the system so a new style (readily availible) clutch cable would work. The new (evo) cables are different in two ways: first, they use a loop to connect to the handle. This just means I’ll have to use a pin instead of the insert that holds a cable stop. But more difficult is that the amount of cable that sticks out is only about 3″, whereas the old style had about 7″. I thought about shortening the outer sheath, but I wanted to be able to buy one at any dealership if it broke on a trip. So I decided to make an extension instead. First I need a way to connect to the end of the cable. I thought about using a cable clamp or one of those clips like you see in the middle of an emergency brake cable, but I didn’t want it to be so big. This connection is going to be inside the primary cover and I definitly don’t want it caught in the primary chain.
So I bought a couple 1/8″ npt brass hex pipe plugs and an 1/8″ brass pipe coupler. I drilled an 1/8″ hole in each one, and counter bored the inside to match the cable stop on the clutch cable. Then I made a slot with a hacksaw.
This allows me to slip it over the cable.
Next time I’ll show the extension that connects this to the clutch arm.
