So hell hath no fury like a vespa clutch cable kinked? HA – well, everyone that has googled how to replace a clutch cable can tell ya that replacing a clutch cable is SOOO simple. News flash…NOT ALWAYS, but with a little thought and patience it really can work. So I busted a cable about 6 – 8 inches in from the top clutch lever. No biggie right? Just pull the lever, slide out the remaining cable and slide a new ‘inner’ cable in! Wrong..some cable freyed badly as it had been breaking for years and lodged itself in the outer cable.
Generally you can go buy picture wire or a smaller braided cable from the hardware store – you buy about 15-20 ft..get yourself a new outer cable and run this test wire down the new outer, into the old outer all the way out the back by the motor. Then just hook your vice grips or pinch nut up top to work as a clamp so the cable won’t slide out and pull the old cable out…this fishes your new cable right behind and it and BAM, you have a new outer laid nicely right!?
I ran into an issue where I couldn’t run ANYTHING down the line..forward or reverse!! SOOO…with great hesitation and fear, I used DUCT TAPE!! Yep, just took my new cable and wrapped a single spin around one end, then wrapped a single spin around the old cable end at the top headset. I did this to help give the tape something sticky and clean to stick too. Then I had someone hold them together tightly as I wrapped the two together like anyone would. Then I added one width wise to get the tape grain going into a different direction for added strength. Why? I figured duct tape gets snagged and is easily ripped in a straight line and shredded – so two directions of tape should be better than one. Also, make sure to keep your wrap somewhat tight and small so it’s not HUGE trying to go down the frame and all.
Here’s a picture of mine.
I had someone stand up top and slowly push the new outer down while I laid at the motor side slowly pulling my old outer cable out until walla…out came the duct tape! YES – IT WORKED! Another idea is to grease your outer cable as it will help it slide through the rubber grommets in the frame. I’ve had an oil leak for years and mine was pre-greased due to that! haha…honestly it helped a ton.
So just for all the people who have said “DON’T USE TAPE” – bleh…take your time, pay attention – clean your tape zone, tape tight and go for it.
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