Reg's Story

After breaking fingers at work 18 months ago and not being diagnosed properly I found myself in the possession of having fingers set out of shape and finding the task of riding my bike ever more difficult.

This being because it was my clutch hand journeys were fine for the first couple of miles, but with the constant pain I have found it more and more difficult to control the clutch making for nervous riding with stalling of my bike.

After phoning Keith (The bike Doc) on several occasions, he came up with the idea of contacting the NABD.

I spoke to Billy Bigbeard (the adaptions officer) who was very helpful and suggested I applied for a grant (as my funds were tight) for a Hydraulic to Cable Kit to help ease the clutch movement.

Within a few months, I had been awarded the grant, Keith has fitted the Hydraulic to cable adaption to my bike and from thinking my hiking days were over, I'm now back on the road and enjoying every moment of it.

To all involved with NABD, I Thank you and congratulate you for all your help.

Reg Fradgley

The Bike Doc's Story

I first removed the seat, tank, and side panels, left hand handlebar switch, grip and weight. Routed the new Hydraulic and Cable pipe along the original cable route without removing the hydraulic pipe. Then I fitted a suitable cable adjuster and solderless nipple.

The clutch operating arm had to have part of it cut off to accommodate the solderless nipple. I bypassed the clutch/starter switch.

Next I fitted the master cylinder to the handlebar, two clutch levers were supplied in the kit, a short black one and a silver one which was longer than the black one, though shorter that the original.

To fit the silver lever, the adjuster on the lever had to be filed down to enable it to miss the handlebar switch, with this done the clutch operated OK but only moved through about 2/3 of its full travel before the blade of the lever fouled the handlebar switch, however it would have engaged the clutch enough to be unusable.

I fitted the shorter black lever and found that, with the switch moved about 1.25" towards the end of the handlebars, virtually full travel was available. The first or first and second fingers operate the lever only; this should suit the owner in this case, as his two middle fingers have no grip or strength.

The slave cylinder was then fixed with a metal bracket, but there was not enough clearance between the bracket and the tank and it caused the tank to vibrate against it and so was replaced with a nylon tie strap. No strain is placed on this Tie or bracket.

Comments:

All components were of excellent quality, with a large choice of adjusters and cable nipples; most eventualities should be covered. Cable and hose were exactly the required length.
The handlebar reservoir fitted exactly against the handlebar-mounting bracket and was at the correct angle to match the brake lever. There was no adjustment of this angle available had it been required.
The shape and length of the levers need to be taken into account for any future conversions. The left-hand handlebar grip was left 1.25" shorter than the original.

The Bike Doc (Keith from Walsall 01922409857)