1989 gsxr 750 clutch conversion

1989 gsxr 750 clutch conversion

Author
Discussion

ae173

Original Poster:

31 posts

154 months

Monday 12th October 2015
quotequote all
does anyone know if you can convert from cable to hydraulic and how

jkh112

21,886 posts

157 months

Monday 12th October 2015
quotequote all
This would be better in Biker Banter.

ae173

Original Poster:

31 posts

154 months

Monday 12th October 2015
quotequote all
ok

trickywoo

11,701 posts

229 months

Monday 12th October 2015
quotequote all
I'd imagine it to be a right palaver. Do you want it to make the lever lighter? If so I'd say some new plates and cable adjusted just so with a quality aftermarket adjustable lever would be the way to go instead.

The heaviest bike clutch I've had was hydraulic.

Steve Bass

10,186 posts

232 months

Monday 12th October 2015
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Why do you want to change the method of operation??

Hooli

32,278 posts

199 months

Tuesday 13th October 2015
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Steve Bass said:
Why do you want to change the method of operation??
This.

Just sort out what's there. If it's too heavy then fix it, or adjust the leverage.

Rubin215

3,985 posts

155 months

Tuesday 13th October 2015
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Strange feeling of deja-vu.

I guess the OP didn't like the similar answers he got last time he asked this question...

Yes it's possible, but possible in the same way that John Britten made his own race-winning bike; you will need plenty of time, plenty of patience, and access to some fairly serious engineering kit.

Mr Suzuki made it that way because that's what Mr Suzuki knew would work.

graham22

3,293 posts

204 months

Friday 16th October 2015
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Whilst I agree with the above, try to sort existing lever/cable/routing and not forgetting cleaning & greasing up the lifting mechanism which lives by the gearbox sprocket (probably crudded up with chain lube).

The other point is that the GSXR1100s of the Slingshot era had hydraulic clutches. I'd be inclined to find someone with a spare sprocket cover with clutch lifting mechanism and see if that fits the 750 cases. The hydraulic bit is only between the gearbox sprocket cover & the lever - but the rod through the box may or may not be different. Possibly RF900 cover too.

Wyvern971

1,507 posts

207 months

Friday 16th October 2015
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trickywoo said:
The heaviest bike clutch I've had was hydraulic.
That's weird, the clutch on the VTR is hydraulic and is very light....

trickywoo

11,701 posts

229 months

Friday 16th October 2015
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Wyvern971 said:
trickywoo said:
The heaviest bike clutch I've had was hydraulic.
That's weird, the clutch on the VTR is hydraulic and is very light....
Perhaps my phrasing was lazy. I was just making the point that having a hydraulic system doesn't necessarily make the leaver any lighter than a cable system.

Mr2Mike

20,143 posts

254 months

Friday 16th October 2015
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trickywoo said:
Perhaps my phrasing was lazy. I was just making the point that having a hydraulic system doesn't necessarily make the leaver any lighter than a cable system.
A well designed hydraulic system will have less friction than a cable system, so it should always be lighter all else being equal. I converted my Tornado to hydraulic because the original cable system was stupidly heavy, and my DIY conversion gives a much lighter lever. Another minor benefit is that a directly operated hydraulic system is completely self adjusting.

Magura (manufacturers of high end mountain bike braking systems) make a simple hydraulic conversion system for motorcycle clutch actuation. A UK distributor of these is Venhill.

Very easy to fit, but the disadvantages are:
1) Not cheap (£250-£300)
2) Uses the existing mechanical linkage which can be major source of friction, and may still require adjustment.
3) Will the clutch lever match the OEM brake lever? Also a pain if you drop the bike and snap the lever - no going to your local dealer for a replacement.

For the above reasons I made mine from OEM parts - a CBR1000RR master cylinder with integrated reservoir and an Aprilia RSV clutch slave (as I happened to have an almost new one). I later upgraded to an aftermarket RSV clutch slave which gave a lighter action and hopefully longer lasting seals.


Edited by Mr2Mike on Friday 16th October 12:41