Sticky now sloppy clutch lever

[d3vi@nt]

My clutch lever was getting a little stuck at the very last bit of outward travel, so I undid the one nut, pulled the pivot pin and cleaned everything back up, added a little grease and reassembled.

Now it seems to have a fair amount more slop/wiggle up and down. The nut isn't designed to apply much force, so I'm wondering if and how I can tighten this up?

I noticed that the pivot pin and some indents (I assume from wear and not design) and am wondering if that is contributing to the slop?

TIA

[ducpainter]

You could shim the lever.

I personally would try to get the nut a little tighter and see what happens.

[d3vi@nt]

Thanks, dp.  It's a pretty wimpy nut (if you can call it that) with 6-8 'fingers' to hold the threads. If I tighten it much more than finger-tight, it just pops back a few threads and is loose again.

Tried rotating the pin 180 degrees, but still the same. Might try slipping a washer in there.

The lever shows bare metal where you would expect, but I can't tell if it's worn enough that a new replacement would make a difference.

[Speeddog]

Well, it sounds like it's a big-pivot master, yes?

[ducpainter]

Well, it sounds like it's a big-pivot master, yes?

It does...

I thought ST's had small pivot.

[Speeddog]

It does...

I thought ST's had small pivot.

It's been quite a while since I've had an ST2 in, I don't remember.
His is 17 years old, and anything could have been done to it.
I've seen several de-blinged bikes.

They do seem to get worn from the levers flopping up and down over bumps.

[d3vi@nt]

I don't know the size difference between the two, but guessing it's a big pivot. It's the hollow style like this one (and the nut is the same, too):
http://www.gothamcycles.com/Bodyworkhtml/ducati-brembo-front-brake--clutch-lever-lever-pivot-pin-bolt-screw-nut-set-12mm.html

I'm the third owner, but I'm fairly certain nothing was done to it by the PO's. You never know, though.

Brand new, a set of levers and pins is pushing $75.  Besides shimming, is there a better alternative or upgrade that wouldn't cost a ton?

[Howie]

That would be a big pivot.  Your master has a coffin (part of the casting) reservoir , not a pee cup (remote plastic) reservoir, correct? 

Some inexpensive replacements from our sponsor Monsterparts:
http://www.monsterparts.com/pc/ADJLEVER/Controls/ADJLEVER.html

Or non adjustable OEM brembos or fancy ones from our sponsor Moto Wheels:
http://motowheels.com/c-181196-parts-brake-brake-levers.html

[Speeddog]

Brembo muddies the water by making both big pivot and small pivot in remote reservoir.

[d3vi@nt]

That would be a big pivot.  Your master has a coffin (part of the casting) reservoir , not a pee cup (remote plastic) reservoir, correct?

Thanks for the links.

I understand the '99's came with either. Mine has the remote reservoirs, not the coffin style like my Monster had.

If I'm going to spend money, I'd like to look into improvements. Are there any radial setups from other bikes that would be a direct bolt on?

Anything fancy seems kinda silly for this bike, but I'm definitely into functional improvements.

Thanks again, gents.

[Speeddog]

Radials have the brake line attachment in a different spot, so generally the lines that fit Coffin or Goldline do not fit radials.

The small-pivot masters are better than the big pivot.
They have a bit less leverage, so the lever if firmer on the brakes, and clutch is a bit higher effort.
I think less friction also, due to the small pin.

To me, they just *feel* better.

I don't like the pivot location on the radials, the lever swings an odd arc.
Not such a big thing on the brake, but it really bugs me on the clutch.