Planet Minis

redhandmoto

Brain-lock question here - my 110GY-3 CT70 clone has become increasingly harder to shift. The clutch cable has repeatedly loosened itself, requiring readjustment and tightening down, but shifts have become "hard" and it is impossible sometimes to move up from first to neutral.

The neutral positon is difficult to reach when shifting down as well. It now requires that I start the bike in gear with the clutch handle pulled, but I can feel a tug nonetheless, which suggests that the clutch is not fully engaged.

Am I right in guessing that I need to remove the clutch cover, loosen the clutch adjuster locking nut, and re-adjust it? Seems like adjustments to the cable pull length aren't getting me anything.

I'm only at about 120 miles; have done two oil changes.

Thanks for any input offered

dsrt4

Mine was like that for a Bit. I got a right hand control off of ebay UK that had a adjustment on it for the clutch. It was for some china Monkey bike?

For the 2-3 weeks it took to get over here I used a small zip tye around the cable itself at the lever. I left it a bit loose and just tucked it into the handle bracket itself. I took some 150 mile trips like that

You could get a simple pitbike lever with clutch adjustment but then you need to worry about how the switches would work with that setup.

redhandmoto

Thanks,Bud. I think I'm just gonna pull off the clutch cover (if it ever stops raining) and do the interior adjustment thing like it shows in the CT70 service manual.

At this point no amount of lever -squeezing will operate the clutch fully. Because this pup got worse gradually (despite my attempts to use the cable adjustment to keep it straight), I suspect that the inner locknut/adjuster just "self-loosened" like a lotta things on the bike. Should not be a big deal - I'd just wondered if anyone else had run into this. I'll let you know what I find in the innards.

cdoublejj

my lifan 125 was kinda tight and still has touchy clutch. after some use it got better and i got a little more skilled. for you it's the other way it got worse over time. I let my dad play with the clutch adj. figured i pich in my 2 cents.

redhandmoto

Roger that, cdoublejj - 2cents are welcome.

I'm-a lookin' at page 24 of the CT service manual, which has very clear photos of the adjuster under the clutch cover for both types (CT70H, 70, HK-1 and the ST50-70, K-series). The Lifan can't be radically different (I hope), so I'll see what's what under there...

cdoublejj

same little nut on the lifan too.

redhandmoto

And the answer to my clutch problem is...

I changed to synthetic too soon and the thing is slipping. Just replaced it with dino. Problem gone...

mattmofob

Don't use automotive oil that says "energy conserving" on the bottle in your bike.
That oil has friction modifiers that mess up your clutch disks.

redhandmoto

Good to know - thanks

dsrt4

rotella................

redhandmoto

Gotta big jug at Wally World...