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In the interest of clean bars, I want to convert an internal throttle to work as an internal twist clutch.
Does anyone have experience w/ this? Irish Rich?
Does anyone have experience w/ this? Irish Rich?
Anyone have experience w/ twist clutches?
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A Harley only set up for a long time, 1" bars only. With all the custom aftermarket companies out there now that may have changed. The grip sleve has a spiral grove internaly, the cable is attached to a slug with a stud and bushing (works like a roller to reduce friction). As you turn the sleve the roller rides it the grove producing the in and out motion. There are a couple more parts but that's the basics. Harley had left and right had units and they can still be found at swap meets and sometimes at Bent Bike (Lynnwood/Auburn) but there spendy now. The only downside to this set up is: If you fall down on the throttle side and the throttle grip contacts the ground, your foreward movement rotates the throttle to wide open. The outside cable throttle set ups were origonaly made for the racers to avoid just that problem.Crow said:
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Are you SURE about this?
If you are rotating the throttle back towards you, and you hit the ground on the right side, wouldn't the forward motion CLOSE your throttle if it dragged on the ground? Wouldn't the throttle rotate in the same direction as your tire if it was "rolling" along the ground?
The "problem" with the Harley OEM internal throttles is that when you let go of them, they stay where they are, they don't return to close. There are no return springs. You have to manually close the throttle (and your spark advance grip). The spiral holds it where it is placed for both of them.
Also, Harley had two kinds of internal throttles. The earlier throttle spirals pushed the wire out of the housing when you opened up the throttle, and the later throttle spirals pulled the wire into the housing.
If you are rotating the throttle back towards you, and you hit the ground on the right side, wouldn't the forward motion CLOSE your throttle if it dragged on the ground? Wouldn't the throttle rotate in the same direction as your tire if it was "rolling" along the ground?
The "problem" with the Harley OEM internal throttles is that when you let go of them, they stay where they are, they don't return to close. There are no return springs. You have to manually close the throttle (and your spark advance grip). The spiral holds it where it is placed for both of them.
Also, Harley had two kinds of internal throttles. The earlier throttle spirals pushed the wire out of the housing when you opened up the throttle, and the later throttle spirals pulled the wire into the housing.
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Your right on that one it would rotate closed. I was in a m/c rodeo years ago and went down in the barrel race with a stock 52 I had at the time. I always thought it went wide open when it hit the dirt but I must have done it on the way off. I got the key off fairly quick but they sure sound bad when that happens.Irish Rich said:
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Absolutely! Especially if it's accompanied by a loud "KABOOM" from an engine letting go........
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Suicide clutch and jockey shiftTony Bones said:
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Ever ride a suicide shift bike w/ no front brake in Seattle? I snapped the drilled front brake lever on my Pan last weekend and had my first experience w/ suicide clutch/no front brake/hills. I have NO desire to do it again.tunglegubbin said:Suicide clutch and jockey shift
I was thinking of using an actual aftermarket internal throttle, but reconfigured for opposite side operation. I have zero interest in a non-return, early Harley style unit.
Here's my 2 cents on the twist-grip clutch.
I have the one made by Exile.
The grip itself is machined "mirror image" to the throttle side.
When you pull it toward you, it's "on", and let it off and you do wheelies, burnouts, etc...
There is also a small pulley mechanism that needs to be mounted in the tranny cover, which may or may not need machining/clearancing to fit.
In my experience, it is hard to set-up and get working smoothly because of the way the grip is attatched at the end of the bar.
There is a large hex screw that holds the assembly in place, and if you tighten it down, it creates friction, thus a hard twist.
If you back the screw out a half-turn or so, it is easier to twist, but will it eventually back itself out and come all the way off?
I found a happy medium on mine where I am getting more used to it, but running fewer springs in the clutch pack than I normally would.
You will never be able to pull it with 6 or 8 springs.
Perhaps it works better using a diaphragm spring as found on a Primo?
Mine is BDL by the way.
So, would I use one again? maybe.
I wanted the cleanest bars without using a foot clutch/jockey shift, but it would have been a whole lot easier, and more enjoyable, to just get over myself and run a single hand lever.
G.
I have the one made by Exile.
The grip itself is machined "mirror image" to the throttle side.
When you pull it toward you, it's "on", and let it off and you do wheelies, burnouts, etc...
There is also a small pulley mechanism that needs to be mounted in the tranny cover, which may or may not need machining/clearancing to fit.
In my experience, it is hard to set-up and get working smoothly because of the way the grip is attatched at the end of the bar.
There is a large hex screw that holds the assembly in place, and if you tighten it down, it creates friction, thus a hard twist.
If you back the screw out a half-turn or so, it is easier to twist, but will it eventually back itself out and come all the way off?
I found a happy medium on mine where I am getting more used to it, but running fewer springs in the clutch pack than I normally would.
You will never be able to pull it with 6 or 8 springs.
Perhaps it works better using a diaphragm spring as found on a Primo?
Mine is BDL by the way.
So, would I use one again? maybe.
I wanted the cleanest bars without using a foot clutch/jockey shift, but it would have been a whole lot easier, and more enjoyable, to just get over myself and run a single hand lever.
G.
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You know what's funny?
I talked to Russel in 2002 at Laughlin. He didn't have a spot, he was just cruising around.
I asked him how he liked his internal clutch (I saw it on his bike at No Love the November before), and he said:
"I like it, but I don't know if I'd be retailing these. They aren't for the general-type rider".
I talked to Russel in 2002 at Laughlin. He didn't have a spot, he was just cruising around.
I asked him how he liked his internal clutch (I saw it on his bike at No Love the November before), and he said:
"I like it, but I don't know if I'd be retailing these. They aren't for the general-type rider".
I guess it depends on what you're used to.Irish Rich said:
The shop owner who helped with my build and has been "riding bikes since he was 7", can't even get used to it.
I spent some extra time tweaking it, and I am totally comfortable with it.
Although I had a minibike at 7, I didn't get back into motorbikes again until about 15 years later when I bought a '72 BSA.
I couldn't get used to the shifter being on the wrong side!
g.
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I did.=mike= said:
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Yep... That's a cool bike.. He runs a jockey shifter/suicide clutch.. Right rear foot brake and a dual disc front brake which is being activated by a twist grip on the left side of the bars. I checked the bike out a couple times... He had the little master cylinder for the front brake hidden somewhere very nice... Can't really remember, I think it was under his tank or something..2 wheeler said:
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no expeience but why not run the cable to a hidden master cylinder an use a hydraulic clutch,seems like it would be smoother and less effort to operate.
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