Villiers Gearbox Clutch Arm Length Help!

[Gr11mpy]

Hi, hope someone can help...
I have the standard (?) 3. 1/8" clutch arm lever on the gearbox of my Greeves trials bike (Villiers engine & box).
I have seen longer levers than this fitted to the gearbox with a minor frame mod to allow the cable to be moved rearwards accordingly.
Does anyone know what different lengths were / are available and what length is preferable to make the clutch 'lighter' for trials work.
Best wishes........

[Bearingman]

Hi, hope someone can help...
I have the standard (?) 3. 1/8" clutch arm lever on the gearbox of my Greeves trials bike (Villiers engine & box).
I have seen longer levers than this fitted to the gearbox with a minor frame mod to allow the cable to be moved rearwards accordingly.
Does anyone know what different lengths were / are available and what length is preferable to make the clutch 'lighter' for trials work.
Best wishes........

I believe the longer arm came from the road twins. The experts would know!

Kenny Sykes
USA

[riflegreen]

The long arm is off the 2T, 3T, 4T twin engines .

Chris

[Bearingman]

The long arm is off the 2T, 3T, 4T twin engines .

Chris

Like I said the experts would know!

Thanks Chris!

Kenny

[Gr11mpy]

How long ?

Thats great many thanks. How long are the ones from the twins though?

[Rob]

Just a word of caution! I fitted a (very) long arm that I bought from a supplier when I built my Anglian, mainly because everyone else seemed to fit them. I then found that the clutch arm required more travel than my Domino lever could provide at the other end of the cable! I could either have slip or drag, the choice was mine!

I have since reverted to a standard arm and find that with a lined cable, the clutch is perfectly OK.

Bit of a shame since I brazed a bracket to suit the arm to the engine cradle!

[Gr11mpy]

Thanks...

Hi Rob,
Most interesting. I hadn't thought about the subsequent effect on the handlebar lever.
I'll try one of Venhills 'Featherlite cables' and see what the effect is. I do run a clutch lightening device 'in-line' on my B40 so may try that too to gauge effect.
Cheers........

[scott151]

long arm of the law

Hi All,

I tried the long arm mod on the Hawkstone and had the same problem, It was either slipping or dragging

I know that modern relined/remanufactured clutch plates for villiers are slightly thinner than the originals and have heard that genuine villiers plates and the long arm work ok?

I did fit a new lined clutch cable and it made a real difference

Regards

Scott

[pgc40]

Just a suggestion but have you tried replacing the handle bar levers? I had stiff clutch action and discovered that the bolt hole on my 40 year old clutch lever on my handle bar had worn oval

[Gr11mpy]

Levers.

Hi, Levers are new and of good quality, just looking for clutch action utopia. Thanks for your response tho'....

[Rob]

Yes, mine are new Domino's too! A friend has just lengthened his standard arm so I will be interested to see what length he has made it and whether it works!

I am using those Villiers composite plates (Capsco or something?) that they seemed to use on 3-wheelers.