Snapped Cables: Accelerator and Clutch Problems
A snapping clutch or accelerator is one of the most infuriating "breakdowns" that can happen out there on the road. The good news is that most mechanics can do hack job quick fixes, so the journey isn't over. The bad news is that many mechanics shy away from the problem and refuse you as a client, also, often the hack job fix doesn't last very long which can lead to repeated breakdowns.
Mechanics will tackle the issue by tieing additional cable to the already broken cable. It seems to take some skill to do this, and many mechanics fail at it!
The clutch and accelerator cable snapping will seem like an almost random event to most, but to the trained eye, there are ways of diagnosing the problem before the event ever occurs!
Diagnosing the accelerator cable
1. A truly old cable is likely to have little resistance when pulling the throttle. It is also possible the throttle doesn't pull back to the starting point, leaving you with a motorbike that always wants to run away. It is rare for accelerator cables to get old and snap. The more likely scenario of a snapping cable is explained below with point two.
2. The usual cause of a snapping accelerator cable is dirt getting under the handlebar grips, which then acts as sandpaper on the accelerator cable. This is usually caused by the rider dropping the motorbike on the right-hand side which gets dirt inside.
The result is a feeling of a gritty throttle that is not smooth.
Instead of ignoring the issue, it is time to find a mechanic to get the throttle assembly taken apart and cleaned. The bad news is that this sandpaper effect can slice through a cable in a matter of minutes, so being responsive to the problem is importent.
The main cause of dust getting under the accelerator assembly is caused by using fake/cheap bark busters. Very common in Vietnam, where even the branded Acerbis bark busters are fake. The drilling of holes into handlebars is not commonplace in the world of dirt biking, and if a mechanic has done a hack job drill to get your bark busters onto the motorbike, then you are a prime target for snapping accelerator cables!
Diagnosing the clutch cable
Clutch cables seem to last around 40-50,000km (very estimated). When they get old the clutch has little resistance. This can be the cause of motorbike "drag", and also poor gear changes and the scenario of being unable to find neatral. Generally speaking, when your motorbike is failing to find neutral it is caused by the clutch cable being old, or the chain and sprocket set being old.
If you feel gears changes are difficult and you feel that the clutch has little pingback after pulling it, then it may be time to find a new clutch cable.
The clutch cable is visible and easy to follow, it is worth checking the clutch cable for broken strands on occasions just to make sure it doesn't fail when out there on the open road.
Look after your motorbike
Failing clutch and accelerator cables feels like a random event, but it isn't. Usually, when diagnosing motorbikes people jump to the big problems, "broken gearbox", or "no engine compression", when more often than not, it is the simple things like cables that are failing.
When you drive your motorbike, try and take note of how it feels that the time. If it starts to feel different, then approach the simple wear and tear components before jumping to big conclusions.
A quality accelerator or clutch cable can be picked up for around $15 and it can turn a rubbish motorbike with a "broken gearbox" back into a perfectly performing vehicle.
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