LCGB Forums

I'm finding I get a lot of pain in trying to change gear and pulling in clutch. I have just a standard clutch apart from uprated stronger springs bought from Camlam over 10 years ago. My engine is mugello 225. What could I do to help with easing the clutch, but keeping a strong enough set up for my engine. Are there softer uprated springs, but still strong enough for my kit ? I have fitted ball end levers which have helped. Thanks

What's your cable and cable routing as this can also cause a heavy/hard clutch lever

Scooterrestorations fritchion free. Routing seems fine. Had issue last time on road. About 8 years ago with different cable fitted. Scootopia steels and plates. Getting older does not help I know.

Sorry, but I don't think you'll find an answer in changing the springs....

However, so although this might be a bit lateral for some Forum users, what may help your hands is the use of the Serveta dog leg levers which fit straight in a SIII & reduce the span required, allowing better ergonomics.

I've used them in clutches with mega-strong springs for years but you really have to ensure that there is sufficient clearance in the clutch to free off, which was why I started experimenting with the lever position @ the gearbox end years ago......

My clutch seems to bite and hold fine, no slip or drag. There is no loose play in cable tension though at the handle bar end, where if my memory is right there should be a fraction of an inch of the inner part of lever showing. I put this down to stronger springs fitted maybe.stand to be corrected on this .

Warkton Tornado No.1 wrote:Sorry, but I don't think you'll find an answer in changing the springs....

However, so although this might be a bit lateral for some Forum users, what may help your hands is the use of the Serveta dog leg levers which fit straight in a SIII & reduce the span required, allowing better ergonomics.

I've used them in clutches with mega-strong springs for years but you really have to ensure that there is sufficient clearance in the clutch to free off, which was why I started experimenting with the lever position @ the gearbox end years ago......

Worth a try. Can you still buy new ?

I fitted dog leg levers and it brought the lever over an inch closer to the bar. I was getting a pain in my thumb base as with gloves on my fingers just went round the lever and I was doing the pulling with my thumb if that makes sense. Mine was a series 1/2 so Vespa doglegs fitted fine don't tell anyone.. I thought I may have had problems with the pull and disengage position but not. I Have seen some fully adjustable ones but not used them.

I get the pain down the left side of hand facing palm down. It was impossible for me to change with pointed end standard levers. Have to hook hands on end of ball to pull down. I see mb do dog leg. Pricey and sold out though.

mr mugello wrote:

Warkton Tornado No.1 wrote:Sorry, but I don't think you'll find an answer in changing the springs....

However, so although this might be a bit lateral for some Forum users, what may help your hands is the use of the Serveta dog leg levers which fit straight in a SIII & reduce the span required, allowing better ergonomics.

I've used them in clutches with mega-strong springs for years but you really have to ensure that there is sufficient clearance in the clutch to free off, which was why I started experimenting with the lever position @ the gearbox end years ago......

Worth a try. Can you still buy new ?

You might have to hunt for them, but the beauty of them is that they are designed to fit & don't stick out beyond the bars. Sorry the image is not brilliant, but they also enable you to more easily feather the clutch exiting hairpin bends!

What made you put uprated stronger springs in the clutch? Have you tried it with normal springs? I ask this because I have a series 3 with a Casa 210 top end and I use a normal 4 plate clutch with normal strength springs and the clutch action is great,no drag or slipping and the clutch lever is real easy to pull in.

Camlam done the rebuild a few years ago. That's what they fitted. Going back even further, back in the eighties . I had clutch slipping after a short period on a just a stage 4 200 barrel. I fitted an af centre spring to a standard clutch and it done the job and was light on the lever from what I can remember. I'm a bit out of touch as things have moved on I see, on a lot of components. Did not think I could get away with using standard springs on my mugello 225 kit.

Using a gp200 or gp125 box but same final ratio reduces the torque through the clutch; you ca therefore use lighter springs.

Using 5 thin plates instead of 4 normal thickness allows you to use springs 20 per cent lighter.

Of course the easiest and cheapest option is to do what everyone else is suggesting and just try lighter springs alone. But if that causes slip then you can try these options.

Thanks. I had a read around and good reviews on mb uprated spring set for standard or tuned motors. Are these still going to be stiffer, feel wise on the lever, than basic springs ?

No. MB springs and one of their own clutch levers (long Yamaha type but need no fettling) are very good at helping with an easy clutch action.

You still need to set the clutch up right though with correct separation etc.

i have a soft touch 6 plate clutch kit fitted to my rb, its got very grippy plates and soft springs, it was developed by charlie edmonds, i think i bought it from cam lam. i was also thinking about the easy clutch mechanism that you can buy, it just fits in the end of the gear cable where it connects to the adjuster block, never used one but might help, i had a similar problem with my yamaha powered lambretta, turned out the clutch springs were too strong, i put standard springs in and it was improved, but the big improvement was lengthening the clutch arm on the engine, only 10mm longer and the transformation was unreal, its very soft now, i did consider converting to hydraulic and that would have been my next avenue to explore if the longer arm didnt work,
hope you find a fix,
holty

I think you may need to do some wrist exercises (oh - er - missus!) to build up the strength on your left wrist.

Thanks for help. I think then I've got to start with changing the springs over with MB uprated and dog leg lever and see how that goes. Bit of Ibuprofen 10% gel on the hand won't go a miss too. Poor old me !!

When I swapped engines in my Series 2 from an Imola (with a 4 plate set up with a nice soft smooth action using a BGM cable inner and outer) to more powerful motor with an LTH 7 plate, I left the same cable and lever in there as it wasn't that old and worked well but the new LTH clutch was stiff to pull and became a pain in town riding. Harry Barlow suggested using a Lambro lever with one of his cables. The difference was massive giving a nice soft action. The different pivot point on the lever gives it a bit of extra leverage and whatever the cable is (wide outer) is great. worth a try rather than upsetting the clutch set up which obviously works.

Thanks. I see MB are out of stock on there levers. Is there any other MB stockist worth trying who might have the lever.

mr mugello wrote:Thanks. I see MB are out of stock on there levers. Is there any other MB stockist worth trying who might have the lever.

Hello Mr M. I purchased an MB front brake dog lever and inverted it to use as clutch lever. Works well for me.
The cable is visable as it's upside down. Doesn't bother me.

Other dog legs are no doubt available

http://www.lambrettaspares.com/spares/headset-spares/handle-bar-(headset)-brake-lever-for-all-standard-brake-housings,-short-dog-leg-type,-mb/mrb0698k.html

Andrew