Manky Monkey Motors

How's this work then? Saw it on Ebay & immediately thought of BikerGran, who's often said she has problems pulling the clutch in on her Kwaka trike.

7 days to go, starting bid of 20 quid.

Easy Clutch (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Custom-Easy-Clutch-for-Flat-Track-XS650-Trials-Enduro-Bobber-Chopper-Cub-Triumph-/150944362180?pt=UK_Motorcycle_Parts&hash=item2324fc2ec4)

probably just a lever inside, less pull @ input but less travel @ output or could be a sort of over centre spring assist thingy

I believe it's geared inside.

It's a very simple lever mechanism. Usually a choice of three pivot points at the bottom of an internal lever, the clutch cable from the hand lever goes to the top of internal lever and the cable to the clutch goes to the lever nearer the pivot point. changing the pivot point changes the advantage ratio.
 Simples :D
And yes you do have to pull the hand lever further.

Can't see the point if you have to pull the lever further - glad you said that cos I was about to go to Ebay and see if it was still there!

Yeah, further travel, but much less effort Bobbi -wasn't that the problem?

The effort is currently the main problem, but further reach would be a new problem!  Anyway I think the clutch problem will largely be sorted by life decreeing that I don't ride as far as I used to!

- clouds and silver whatsits...   ;)

Yup, every cloud has a soggy lining.

Maybe some slick clutchless gear changes, and save the left hand for when you really need it?  ::)   ;)

Well I only use the clutch when going down the gears, she doesn't seem too keen on clutchless for those.  Going up is fine, but the real problems arise if I get stuck in a traffic jam and it's all stopping and starting.

Have you thought of converting to hydraulic.

The easy clutch shouldn't make any difference to the actual length of pull, a lot of the lever travel is usually doing nowt, the easy clutch just spreads the point where clutch is being actuated over a larger portion of the standard lever movement.
Trialsbits sell them for about £18
Do you have the oem clutch springs fitted? Almost all aftermarket springs are stronger than stock, even the non heavy duty ones!
I know that being a trike puts a bit more strain on the clutch but as long as youre not caneing it perhaps lighter springs might help.
Good quality cable and careful routing can also make a lot of difference to lever effort.
Hope this has been of some help.

thats the way to go, travel, force could be addressed seperatly to suit then

I've thought of converting to hydraulic but it's all money, and some folks have said it didn't make that much difference.  I have to put out some cash to get Gertie fettled as she's suffering from a longstanding lack of maintenance, so I may see what I've got left after that.  We're both retired now and there's not a lot of cash coming in, have to cut our coat according to the cloth! 

I've had a good run for my money when I had some!

hi all ,

http://www.debben.co.uk/acatalog/Z650.html

half ways down the page theres a clutch spinner , its a direct replacement on a z650 and ive got to say works well and does make the clutch feel better , not sure if it would fit a 550 but maybe ?

Cheers Blair, I've never been any further into my clutch than changing plates and springs so I have no idea where/how that fits?

its in the middle of the clutch , easy enough change but im not sure itl fit yours?
that will make it smoother , but not any easier, load wise,

gran, hydraulic, properly done is the only way, iv changed a few over for people mildly disabled, made the clutch a LOT easier..
if others say it made no difference, they haven't had the correct set up,
however, the correct set up is trial and error, but not as dear as you think if you use second hand parts...
and itl keep you on the road ,

Well I may think abiout it again when Gertie's back on the road, but as I said somewhere else - the creaky old bones don't like me to ride too far now, so it may be that the clutch will be the least of my problems!

If you`re using the golf club method of gear changing why not change to a foot clutch? If the left leg ain`t up to it you could put the clutch on the right along with the rear brake or integrate the brakes to run off the front lever, using a slave cylinder. ;D ;D ;D ;D

I'm really grateful for all the suggestions but believe me they've all been discussed!  Trouble is, I have arthritis everywhere and changing things around just puts more pressure on another bit of me which is likely to react by seizing up - truly, the answer is just not to ride so far!