Custom length Clutch Cable: Where to Buy?

MarshalNorton · Sep 17, 2009

My friend, contact Barnett cables in Maryland, Google search em
They made all my cables for my combat from the orig's I supplied.
They fit the first time as they matched what was taken off the bike.
No fuss no muss
Before that I tried 3 off the shelf cables
They didn't work, wouldn't let the slides rest on the idle stop screws.
Don't know why but thats what I did.
Fast return comparable price wise to factory cable and got me up and running.
I too did not wish to make my own but the info offered here was excellent if you havethe resources and time.
Most just don't have the time

MarshalNorton

zackybilly1 · Sep 17, 2009

For those of you in the States who don't build your own cables but always wanted to...Flanders (yes, the handlebar people) have what you need.

http://www.flandersco.com/FlanCableSearch.html

Z

Coco · Sep 17, 2009

Fullauto said:
Funny this thread should come along now. The other day I lost both my tacho and my speedo to crappy "Made in UK" proudly labelled cables. I now have three dead tacho cables and three dead speedo cables in my workshop. I was so peeved I've ordered some braided stainless coated brake line with the correct internal dimensions and I'm having a small batch of fittings made up so that I can make some prototype cables. Forget the aluminium fittings. I'm going to polished stainless and I'll have some of the flat wire springs made for the tacho cable as well in stainless instead of the horrible turd plated stuff that's on there. I'm actually going to make sure that they are all the same length as well, unlike the crap that is sold to us now. How they can't even get the inners to the same length is just unbelievable. I really am annoyed because if you use your Norton as I do (1800 miles in the last four weeks) you just don't want to be in the workshop sorting out rubbish like this. If they work out well and the price isn't horrible they will be available within months from the distributors of my heads (plenty in stock now by the way). Spare inners will be available as well. That is, you won't have to change the whole thing just because the outer looks like crap. Anyway, I'll keep you informed.

Do it.

I hated soldering microphone and instrument cables so I bet I'd hate making clutch or brake cables just a little bit less.

I may try my hand at making them (but I seriously doubt it!!) as I have access to a lot of bulk bicycle cables that I'm sure just need a new end soldered on.

Fullauto · Sep 17, 2009

Well, of course, I get to NOT show off my lack of soldering skills because speedo and tacho cables are only swaged into a square profile on the ends. I'm still sourcing bits but I'm looking forward to getting this little project under way. I figured I won't even put a labour component in to the price. I'll just look at it as a community service, the Norton community that is.
I've never minded paying good money for good stuff, but I hate paying ANYTHING for sh@t.

BillT · Sep 18, 2009

I lost my almost new clutch cable back in October of last year, with maybe 500 miles on it. Same thing as noted above - the cable pulled out of the top barrel. As I was about 2 miles from home, I managed to make it without the clutch.

Next day I went to my Norton guy and got a new cable - $22. I took the 'old' cable and re-soldered the top barrel with 10% silver solder. I keep it in the side cover of the bike as a spare.

swooshdave · Sep 18, 2009

ludwig said:
Anyone who does not have the skill ( or the ambition to aquire it ) to do basic maintenance work should stay away from classic motorcycles .

Depends on your definition of "basic maintenance work". I don't consider making parts "maintenance".

splatt · Sep 18, 2009

swooshdave said:
ludwig said:

Anyone who does not have the skill ( or the ambition to aquire it ) to do basic maintenance work should stay away from classic motorcycles .

Click to expand...

Depends on your definition of "basic maintenance work". I don't consider making parts "maintenance".

I agree with the man from Begium
I think some of you cheque book riders are bloody lucky there is such a large manufacturing following for COMMANDOS because you'd be screwed with out them :!: :!:

Fullauto · Sep 19, 2009

splatt said:
I agree with the man from Begium
I think some of you cheque book riders are bloody lucky there is such a large manufacturing following for COMMANDOS because you'd be screwed with out them

Ouch! But I'm with you on this one. All the more reason to make sure that the parts you buy actually do what they are supposed to do, for a long period. I fully intend to move onto other projects where the parts on offer are just not up to it.

highdesert · Sep 19, 2009

ludwig wrote:
Anyone who does not have the skill ( or the ambition to aquire it ) to do basic maintenance work should stay away from classic motorcycles .

I must respectfully take exception to Ludwig and anyone else who believes that I should stay away from my Norton because I prefer to simply buy a
ready made cable rather than purchase the parts and experiment until I get it down right as regards making my own cables.

This is my fifth Commando since 1970 and I clearly love both working on, and riding them.
I set my own valves, take off the head and barrels to replace pistons and rings when needed, can rebuild my own isolastics etc etc.
What I have NO interest in learning to do is make up cables, along with lacing rims, replacing main bearings, rebuilding the gearbox and tricky electrical work.
I do not feel that I should be disqualified from owning my Norton because there are a few things I don't care to learn to do.
This "know and do it all or nothing" attitude is narrow minded, intolerant and exclusionary.
Thank you to those who stuck to answering my basic question: Where to buy a cable. To the others, I intend to keep and love my Commando, thanks anyway.

swooshdave · Sep 19, 2009

splatt said:
swooshdave said:

ludwig said:

Anyone who does not have the skill ( or the ambition to aquire it ) to do basic maintenance work should stay away from classic motorcycles .

Click to expand...

Depends on your definition of "basic maintenance work". I don't consider making parts "maintenance".

Click to expand...

I agree with the man from Begium
I think some of you cheque book riders are bloody lucky there is such a large manufacturing following for COMMANDOS because you'd be screwed with out them :!: :!:

:shock: :roll:

splatt · Sep 19, 2009

Probably a bit narrow minded from my point as if it wasn't for the cheque book riders there wouldn't be a good manufacturing following :idea:

seaguy · Sep 20, 2009

Have motionpro make what you need. They can make one that is nylon lined,therefore an agreed upon smoother pull. Install it , squeese the clutch and tie something around the handle. Leave it for 24 hrs then release it and see if it is still good. Thanks for your interest in Nortons.
The more there are of us the more support we will get.

Cookie · Sep 20, 2009

I'd go along with the pattern parts not fitting very well. I have not tried old Britts or Rabers, perhaps their stuff is better.

Custom length Clutch Cable: Where to Buy?

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