G'day fellas, is it possible to change a clutch cable without draining the tranny???

I just paid for installation of all new cables AND Redline HD shockproof oil ($50) in the tranny with my new 12" apes and the c0ckheads I ordered the "complete" kit from sent cables that are 3" too long. The indy workshop I had do the job went ahead and installed the cables anyway.... and now I'm looking at having to do it all over again with new shorter cables - but I was hoping not to have to pay another $50 for more Redline gear oil since I just put it in.

Cheers, berms.

Berms I would just drain it into a very clean container and filter it back into the tranny through some very fine mesh and/or filter paper after the cable change.

I'm fairly picky but I would do the above no problems in a tranny, but not in a motor.

+ 1 to v2evo96,i have and do it to my primary as well if the oil hasnt been in there for too long   say less than 1000ks

 

Have not tried that trick on a 6 speed yet, but easy to do on a 5 speed.
Draining to a clean container is probably not overly taxing though.

oil is cheap - Harley motors and gearboxes arent - id put new oil in for piece of mind.

You will loose a bit of oil when you take off the cover. So there should be no need to drain the fluid. If the bike is sitting on the side stand it will naturally fall away to the left anyway. What you do loose if it is in a clean container then you should be able to pour most back into the tranny. Use some alfoil to cover your frame and to catch the oil and make it into a type of funnel to direct the fluid into the container.

Thanks guys, will do that and save the oil. I love my bike but I'm not rich enough to burn $50 for no great reason. If the oil is fine to put back in, then why not.

I am about to do the same thing. Just had my oils changed and now have a spanking new SS braided cable coming.

Let me know how you go mate.

I should be doing this in about 2 weeks.

Hi all, I recently put a ss braided clutch cable on my 06 Dyna (6 speed box). After reading up first on how to do it, I bought fresh HD gearbox oil and a new gasket for the tranny side cover.

I needn't have bothered with either as I didn't really need them. When you undo the side cover, only a bit of oil weeps out, easily wiped up. The old gasket didn't tear but I used the new one anyway. Once you have the cover off, its pretty easy to work out how the cable connects to the ball/ramp mechanism. I found the hardest bit was trying to screw the new cable into the thread on the side cover, was easier to tie the new cable to the bars, then thread it down through the frame holder and under the motor, then hold the threaded end of the cable away from the bike and spin the cover down onto it.

The rest was pretty easy...be careful with the little bastard retaining ring that holds the clutch lever pin...if you drop it you'll never see it again!!  And just measure the amount of thread you can see on the old cable's adjuster before you remove it, then make the new one about the same and all will be well. I'd be lost without a digital camera - best thing you can do wth these jobs is take pictures as you undo everything, then refer to them later to put it back together right.

Good advice, Berms mate, what size over cables did u get and who from?.