How do you adjust the clutch on a Honda motorcycle CB 500 four cylinder?

Answer 1

Cable adjustment: This is for a CB650 but it is probably the same.

1. At the clutch hand lever, loosen the lock nut on the hand lever and the screw in the adjuster barrel until 3/8 to 3/4 of an inch (10 to 20 mm) of free play is obtained at the tip of the lever.

Note: If the proper amount of free play can not be achieved at the hand lever, additional adjustment can be made at the clutch cable length adjuster.

2. At the hand lever, loosen the lock nut and turn the adjuster barrel all the way in toward the hand lever. Tighten the lock nut.

3. At the cable length adjuster (below the clutch housing) loosen the lock nut and turn the adjuster barrel until the correct amount of lever free play is obtained. Tighten lock nut.

4. If necessary, repeat step one for the fine adjustment.

Mechanism adjustment:

1. Remove the cap from the clutch housing.

2. At the mechanism, loosen the lock nut and turn the adjuster screw clockwise until slight resistance is felt, then stop.

3. From this point, back the adjuster screw counter clockwise 3/4 of a turn and tighten the lock nut. Reinstall the cap.

Note: Make sure the adjuster screw does not move when the lock nut is tightened.

4. At the cable length adjuster (below the clutch housing) loosen the lock nut and turn the adjuster barrel until the correct amount of lever play is obtained. Tighten lock nut.

5. If necessary, repeat step one for fine adjustment.

Note: When making adjustments at the hand lever, do not expose the threads on the adjuster barrel by more than 5/16th of an inch. (8mm).

6. After adjustment is completed, check that the lock nuts are tight on both the hand lever and the cable adjuster.

7. Test ride the bike and make sure the clutch is operating correctly.

The above is all excellent advice however in my case I had to initially turn the adjuster screw counterclockwise until it moved freely then clockwise until I felt tension and then back it out counterclockwise 3/4 turn and tighten the nut w/o the screw moving beyond where it should be,in essence I backed off 1 full turn and as I tightened the nut the screw tightened back clockwise 1/4 turn.