CL006 CLUTCH

I have a 1967 Thruxton. The clutch seemed to be dragging (not totally dis-engaging). I did the process with the pin and giving the wheel a half turn as per the original manual. This did not seem to work. Could it be that the cable is a bit too long? Or is there some other aspect that I am unaware of? Mithra. Neuman westrock@eclipse.co.uk 28/10/2001 

I think most of the answer is in CL001 to CL005 (particularly), except that the Thruxton clutch has 20 springs rather than 16 and so there is almost always a slight amount of drag with this clutch. The overall length of the cable does not matter provided that it has the 1/8th inch free play after performing the adjustment of the clutch using the peg exactly according to the Velocette instructions, and the throw of the lever [the movement at the nipple] of the clutch lever must be sufficient, which it should be if the lever is as specified in CL004. - Tony Wright 28/10/2001

When I tried the peg adjusment I gave it just a half of a turn(180) do you think this is too little? - Mithra Neuman 29/10/2001 

You might have to move the clutch spring holder (using the peg) by anything from 1/20th of a turn to several turns, as part of the adjustment of a Velocette clutch.
Certainly to get the perfect adjustment you may finish by moving it by as little as 1/20th of a turn.
Only if you had just assembled it, or had made a mistake with an earlier adjustment, would you need several turns.
However, there is only one way that works - which is the "drill" that Velocette specified. It is essential that you have a copy of these instructions, which are in the Service Manual (which you ought to have anyway if you ride a Velocette - club members can order copies through the spares scheme).
To summarise - you must:
1. completely slacken the cable and keep it slack while you use the peg through the sprocket to screw the clutch spring carrier in (by it turning it clockwise) until the clutch just slips against compression when turning the engine using the kick-starter (with the peg removed, of course).
2. now take up all the slack in the cable, but so it is only just tight, not under tension.
3. Use the peg to turn the clutch spring carrier out (anticlockwise) to give 1/8 to 3/16 inch slack in the cable
4. Remove the peg and check that there is not a trace of slip when kick-starting - if there is, repeat the whole adjustment routine.
5. If the clutch still drags, and you are certain that you did "the drill" correctly, then one of the faults listed in the other clutch Q&A's is probably present.
But once it is right it is a very nice, reliable clutch. - TW 29/10/2001