Need 69-70' HONDA CB-175 CLUTCH repair advice

Ladies and fellow serious old timer honda mechanics,

I have a goregous honda 70 k3 late cb-175. I've owned this bike for
about 20 years now. I need some advice in replacing the clutch. The
bike has about 9,500 on it and the clutch is out to the end of the
lever.

I purchased some clutch 'discs' on ebay and need to install them. Is
this something I can do? Would anyone be available for a quick phone
call, or send a reply email with a step by step guide, is there a
chilton's .pdf I can download out there some one can summarize on how
replacing a clutch is completed?

Any information is welcomed and appreciated.

Regards,

Layne

 

Purchase the Honda manual (which I recommend to anyone who owns a
Honda-they're well-made and worth buying). If, like some people who hang
out here you have an aversion to spending money, you should head to your
local library and see if they've got the manual for your bike there.
Some libraries have quite a complete collection of MC service manuals,
some don't.

Next, you could see if you can find someone local who is willing to ride
shotgun on your install in trade for beer or something.

From what I've heard clutches are pretty easy to do, but I've never had
to change one myself, and I've never owned a CB-175, so I can't really
help out with specifics for that bike. Typically you remove the
side-cover after draining the engine-oil (for wet-clutches). You pull
the clutch-pack out of the basket, measure the steel plates for wear and
warpage and replace as necessary. Then you re-assemble with the new
friction disks and old steel plates (or new ones if you go that way).
Remove the old gasket from the mating surfaces, install the new gasket,
tighten as indicated by the manual and re-fill with oil.

That's all I know. I guess that means that you will be wanting a new
gasket for the cover. Your easiest and cheapest option for a bike that
old is likely to buy bulk gasket material and cut it out yourself. There
have been plenty of threads here about how to do that, so search the
archives. HTH

 

First off, I bet the clutch is perfect and that it hasn't been correctly
adjusted at the clutch (rather than lever) end.

I've owned 20-30 CD and CB175s and their clutches are bomb-proof.

It *might* need new springs after all these years, but it can't be
knackered at that mileage.

Anyway, it's an easy job. Drain engine oil, remove kickstart, remove
right-hand engine casing, undo the five or six bolts that hold in the
clutch plates, remove plates and springs. Remember to note whether it
starts with a metal or fibre plate (they alternate).

Reassemble.

Refill oil.

 

I'm gonna agree with "The Older Gentleman." The clutch shouldn't be
hurt at that mileage unless it's really been abused. I'm betting it
just needs adjusting.

 

John, Older and Frank - Thanks for all the advice and info!!!

My plan of action is to take a new look at this situation, it may not
be the clutch plates after all, in fact another mechanic type guy told
me "just wait till the thing dies." Which goes along with the Honda
twin cb175 clutches are bomb proof.

1) I'm going to investigate and do more research if I can from a
manual. I did buy a manual for this bike years ago - I'll be diggin
that out of the boxes in the basement this week.

2) First bet, I'm going to try the knurl adjusters on the lever side,
I've tried this in the past and it worked just a very little bit - I'll
try that again. No major improvement.

3) Second bet, and correct me if I'm wrong - could the cable be
stretched being so old? I'll have too look to see if it's BLACK (new)
or the old gray clutch cable type. If it's the old gray could that
cable be strectched? Can that be adjusted down at where the cable meets
the motor? ie. loosen - pull cable tight - re tighen?
a) if it is the old gray cable that is stretched (if that is possible)
replace with a newoldstock gray cable keeping it orig.

4) Read manual + advice above and attempt the clutch cover removal,
drain oil (if needed), remove clutch basket, remove asbestos old disc,
insert new asbestos new disks, and re-assemble, re oil, re adjust cable
(if needed).

Very helpful and I'll let you know how I come out - if you see anything
possibly wrong with my logical steps above let me know and I'll adjust
accordingly.

Thanks - it is a sweet bike, gold, all the chrome is a shinin, new
whisper quiet chrome down pipes (real hard to find), the horn works, no
cracked side covers, blinkers work, cool little windshield, stock
tires, electric start...etc. That end of the lever clutch action is one
of minor issues I'd like to take care of makin the bike even sweeter.
She really gets the looks on Wednesday bike nights in town.

 

They are indeed lovely little mini sports bikes, the CB175s.

Yes, check the cable, but like I said, check the adjustment at *the
other end of the cable*.

Set it up with this adjuster first, and only use the lever end
adjustment for fine tuning.