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The "easy clutch" can solve a problem for some, but they really need frequent attention to adjustment. Those that prefer to set it and forget it will not be happy with the system. The 74 clutch really needs help.

One just came up. NOS - $100

http://marketplace.ibmwr.org/ads/view/id/188902

Duane Ausherman wrote:The "easy clutch" can solve a problem for some, but they really need frequent attention to adjustment. Those that prefer to set it and forget it will not be happy with the system. The 74 clutch really needs help.

I use the '74 clutch on my R90S to "pump me up". I'm hoping for Popeye arms so I can graduate from my pencil arm status.

Chuey

The EZ kit does not work with light flywheel bikes. What I don't like about the kit is that you cut the nipple off the clutch cable and then it is secured by a fairly feeble grub screw, but a suppose it must work?

All the components are sized assuming proper BMW cables, they don't work with Venhill cables.

As part of the work to my bike R90/6 the flywheel was lightened and the clutch replaced, I don't know what Jim did but the clutch is even lighter than my 82, so light that I keep thinking that the cable is in the process of letting go!

Gents, Isn't the big advantage of an EZ clutch the fact that the load is divided between two cables and not so much the moment arm that results from the diameter of the pulley? To wit, a block and fall reduces the force to lift an object by increasing the number of pulleys and the number of turns and strands of rope or cable and consequently increasing the amount of rope required to lift an object.

DaveM
1975 R90S, 2000 R1100RT

Dave, yes it is. The disadvantage is that one must pull twice as far to get the same clutch travel. It isn't so easy to get the adjustment to stay in the proper range. If one rides conservatively, then the change due to heat isn't so much.

The adjustment is on the handle bar, not the bottom end, but how many can recognize when it needs to be adjusted? Few riders know when the clutch is set correctly, or incorrectly.

Duane Ausherman wrote:. . . Few riders know when the clutch is set correctly, or incorrectly.

I reckon you're referring to your customers, Duane. I further reckon that the people here on Boxerworks, on the average, are far more astute. A small handful of airhead rider's I've met away from here have a maintenance philosophy of take-it-to-the-dealer. I can't think of anybody around here who approaches maintenance that way.



Ken

Dave Backmarker wrote:Gents, Isn't the big advantage of an EZ clutch the fact that the load is divided between two cables and not so much the moment arm that results from the diameter of the pulley? To wit, a block and fall reduces the force to lift an object by increasing the number of pulleys and the number of turns and strands of rope or cable and consequently increasing the amount of rope required to lift an object.

DaveM
1975 R90S, 2000 R1100RT

The discussion of the pulley size was in reference to the wear on the cable that could be caused by the small pulley in Rob Frankham's design, and whether or not there's room for a larger pulley down there and still have room for the required travel to occur. No one (AFAIK) was suggesting that the size of the pulley changed the mechanical advantage, only the tightness of the bend in the cable.

The EZ Clutch uses a piece of chain to make that 180, so the question of cable bends and pulley sizes becomes moot.

To all who don't have hand health problems, get some forearms! Airhead clutches are not all that stiff.

thanks for all the advice, as well as the tip on the ibmwr marketplace unit. Installed it yesterday, and I now enjoy no-pain shifting.