Normal Force Needed for Clutch Lever

[Coot]

Is it normal for the clutch lever to require heavy force to pull? Compared to other motorcycles that I have owned, my '99 IS requires much more effort to pull.  Thoughts, please.  Thanks, Coot

[Warlock]

I saw a thread on facebook where a guy used a VTX 1800 master cylinder on a Valkyrie instead of the Valkyrie and it made a much easier pull. Can't verify it other than if you read it on the net its got to be true.
David

[Coot]

Thanks for the reply. So does that mean that the hard pull is normal?

[da prez]

Lube the pivot pin after checking the bushing for wear. Basic maintenance.  It should solve the problem .

       da prez

[The emperor has no clothes]

Thanks for the reply. So does that mean that the hard pull is normal?

hard pull is not normal

[Coot]

Lube the pivot pin after checking the bushing for wear. Basic maintenance.  It should solve the problem .

       da prez

Many thanks.

[Bone]

Is it normal for the clutch lever to require heavy force to pull?

No,  mine is the only Valk I have rode so my experience is limited to 1 bike with 160K miles.

[rug_burn]

I agree with some of the others, that definitely is not normal.    You want to check that out right away.
 
   From my own experience, that happened to me once (in a car) and it was because the throwout bearing (which moved in and out in a machined bore,)  got crooked and jammed, eventually messing up that bore it ran in.  A Valk's configuration could be similar, as I recall.

[old2soon]

      99 I/S with over 125G on the clock and when the clutch started needing more effort to pull the lever I figured out with the help of this board that it was the bushing. Lubed both levers-brake and clutch-while I waited on new bushings and new Kury wide levers. All good now. Remember to lube those bushings maybe on every or every other rear end lube-approx. 10000 miles or so. RIDE SAFE.

[9Ball]

Also, maybe a good flush of fluid is needed.  They do make a master cylinder rebuild kit that may improve the extra force/resistance that you are experiencing.

I flush mine at least every two years and occasionally every year when I have extra synpower leftover from flushing the other two bike’s brake fluids.  Once the seal is broken I dispose any extra brake fluid since it is hygroscopic.  I used to buy the Valvoline synpower in quart bottles, but now I buy several pints at a time to minimize wasting of any leftover fluid.

Let us know how you make out.  Good luck...

[Coot]

Many thanks to All of You for taking your time to help me.  Coot

[Paladin528]

I have a barnett clutch with heavy duty spring.  it is HARD to pull.  sucks in traffic.

[quexpress]

I saw a thread on facebook where a guy used a VTX 1800 master cylinder on a Valkyrie instead of the Valkyrie and it made a much easier pull. Can't verify it other than if you read it on the net its got to be true.
David

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,80708.msg800499.html#msg800499

I did that mod in Sept 2015. 

[h13man]

Parts search shows all VTX 1800's use the same master cylinder. Found a couple used ones on Ebay $27 shipped. $33 for OEM rebuild kit vs $126 new for complete master cylinder. Mines has been always a hard pull. I just figured it was the norm even with routine maintenance all my 30,000 mi. of ownership. Hmmmm.

[Warlock]

I saw a thread on facebook where a guy used a VTX 1800 master cylinder on a Valkyrie instead of the Valkyrie and it made a much easier pull. Can't verify it other than if you read it on the net its got to be true.
David

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,80708.msg800499.html#msg800499

I did that mod in Sept 2015. 
[/qu
Thanks for verifying that it is a solution for the hard pull.
David

[Warlock]

I saw a thread on facebook where a guy used a VTX 1800 master cylinder on a Valkyrie instead of the Valkyrie and it made a much easier pull. Can't verify it other than if you read it on the net its got to be true.
David

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,80708.msg800499.html#msg800499

I did that mod in Sept 2015. 

Was wondering can you use the same clutch lever or have to use a VTX clutch lever.
David

[quexpress]

I saw a thread on facebook where a guy used a VTX 1800 master cylinder on a Valkyrie instead of the Valkyrie and it made a much easier pull. Can't verify it other than if you read it on the net its got to be true.
David

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,80708.msg800499.html#msg800499

I did that mod in Sept 2015. 

Was wondering can you use the same clutch lever or have to use a VTX clutch lever.
David

You can use the same clutch lever David ... unless my old memory is playing tricks on me. 

[hubcapsc]

Many thanks to All of You for taking your time to help me.  Coot

There's a bunch more in the clutch lever than I imagined before I did maintenance
on mine... what got me to do it was that the lever was floppy in the perch and
Gordon just couldn't have that  ...

There's two bushings, one (the big one) is pressed into the OEM lever, and the
other one is a separate part... and the rubber seal that snaps onto the push rod...
Here's a shot of a grungy old eBay clutch master cylinder with all that pulled out.



Anwho... I have a new OEM lever (which comes with the new big bushing) and
a new small bushing and a new rubber seal and a little bit of that blue belray
grease down in there where the push rod pushes on the master cylinder piston,
my clutch lever action is really fine now 

https://www.partzilla.com/catalog/honda/motorcycle/1997/gl1500ct-a-valkyrie-tourer/clutch-master-cylinder

There's, like, another clutch cylinder down where you bleed the clutch,
I've never messed with that (other than to bleed)...

https://www.partzilla.com/catalog/honda/motorcycle/1997/gl1500ct-a-valkyrie-tourer/clutch-cover

Like everyone sez, your clutch action should be good, so if it is not
you should look for a problem... hopefully you don't look look look until
you find out someone put in a barnett clutch in there and it is supposed
to be stiff...

-Mike

[Coot]

Many thanks for the helpful tips from all of you:)  Coot