Has anyone fitted an "Easy Clutch" to a D14 Bantam. At nearly 80 years of age I am finding the clutch a bit of a struggle if I ride it all day on VMCC runs. Any help appreciated.
I have 4 bantams and all of them are easy and quite light as std.
I assume the cables are smooth and oiled in their own right?
What about the clutch worm adjustment screw correctly adjusted?
Has anyone previous to you put stronger springs in to the basket?
Is the pushrod smooth through the mainshaft?
Are the levers correct, giving you the correct leverage and lift?
I should have added,
Is the worm thread smooth and greased
I should have added,
Is the worm thread smooth and greased
I have just fitted a new clutch cable, clutch was rebuilt with rest of engine 3 years ago, and clutch operation is very smooth. The scroll mechanism is greased and smooth in operation. The fact is that I have just got older and not as fit as I used to be. In time I can fit an "Easy Clutch". I fitted one to my Rocket 3 about ten years ago (since sold as too heavy for me) but on the Bantam I will have to shorten the original clutch cable. Just wondered if anyone had done this before as it would make it easier for me.
From memory, some clutch levers have different centres between pivot centre and cable nipple centre.
If you shorten the centres, you will achieve easier pull but not so much lift actuation.
May be worth a fiddle
Hi, I have already thought about this but all the clutch levers I can find on the internet have a threaded adjuster. My original clutch lever has NO adjuster and therefore the original clutch cable inner isn't long enough to reach the lever nipple hole. Shortening the outer cable so the inner would reach the lever isn't an option as the run of the cable would then be too tight. Thanks for your interest. I'll have a go at fitting an Easy Clutch during the Winter.
From One Allan G to another :)
I went for years with my old bantam with the clutch being really heavy, I thought it was down to the mechanism. It turned out that the main shaft had an element of gunge in there which caused the issue.
If you remove the clutch outer plate, and the 2 cases on the alternator side, you can then use a engine cleaning brush (like a tiny bottle brush), and some white spirit, or even some diesel, and clean mainshaft centre (with pushrod removed) until clean solvent (or diesel etc) is being pushed out of the main shaft. then get some metal polish on some wirewool and clean the clutch pushrod. then clean it all off aftrwards. The clutch on that bike now is really light - just from doing that, but for years it was a nightmare.
The pushrod is exposed, as is the cable inner under the bike, road dirt and oil collect there, wick up and the whole clutch mechanism gets bungged up. I would also check to see how free cable movement is when the cover is off the bike. if there is any resistance, I would change the cable.
Hi Allan G, Many thanks for the info. However, my D14 has only done about 600 miles since a complete engine/clutch/transmission re-build with all new bearings,seals chains etc. I fitted a new clutch cable last week, what a pain that is (could BSA have made it any more difficult?) and used the bike on a VMCC run yesterday. It is a bit better but I still think I'll fit an easy clutch in the winter. Hopefully it will enable me to keep riding until I drop.
On the bantams there is a rubber tube protecti g the short exposed length of pushrod.
These little tube tend to split when compressed so I tend to use a block of foam as a replacement.
Quote from: rhyatt on 02 Oct, 2023, 15:38
On the bantams there is a rubber tube protecti g the short exposed length of pushrod.
These little tube tend to split when compressed so I tend to use a block of foam as a replacement.
Do you have the part number for that Rhett, I have never seen one listed in the parts book.
https://draganfly.co.uk/product-category/bsa/sparesparts-for-bsa-bantam/d7/generator-clutch/
part 28 - but I have tried loads and they tend to split as mentioned - I use a small block of foam which gives more and wears better
Hi, I am confused! I have looked at the exploded diagrams in the D14 spare parts list and no 28 is either part no. 90-340 Nut, or part no. 90-99 Push Rod Long. I cannot find any mention of a plastic sleeve associated with the clutch. Please enlighten me.Many thanks.
http://draganfly.co.uk/shop/79214/#90-0132
Part 15
this is better
https://draganfly.co.uk/product-category/bsa/sparesparts-for-bsa-bantam/sparesparts-for-bsa-bantam-d14-b175/gear-cluster-b175/
OK, I've got it. However, I have rebuilt my D14 engine twice and definitely do not have this rubber tube, and as the bike is going well at present I am not going to take it apart to fit a rubber tube or sponge. Anyway thanks for the info.
I've never had the rubber tube on mine and it's never been an issue, however.... I will still say that my clutch was always heavy even after it had been rebuilt. (As I say, it's fixed now) What ever was in the mainshaft was just enough to cause it to gum.. don't under estimate how much of an effect this will have on the clutch.