CA160 Clutch Help

[Honda Dreamer]

Hi,
Hoping for a little help from my big brothers.
I've got a 1966 CA160 Dream that I 'm having a little clutch trouble with. Since I've owned it the bike has always been difficult to shift gears due to poor clutch engagement (or is that disengagemet?). Simply put, with the bike in gear and the clutch lever pulled, the bike doesn't roll. I adjusted the clutch adjustment and the 46 yr old cable broke under tension. New cable is installed and adjusted the clutch (on the side of the case) with slight play in the lever. Tension is there and it pulls smooth, but clutch no worky. Adjusted the clutch for maximum clutch (ie should slip) and still no indication that the clutch is working (ie with the bike in gear, there is no difference with the clutch lever pulled or not). Thanks in advance for any advice!
Rick in CA

[G-Man]

Rick

Have you just acquired the bike?
Has it always been like this?

When bikes are stored for a while the clutch plates tend to stick together and may need to be dismantled and cleaned to get it to free up.

You may be able to free it up by just starting the bike and warming the engine up for a while and then trying again.

More details will help us to help you..

G

[Honda Dreamer]

Hi,
Thanks for the response.
Yes the bike has sat. Yes it has seemed to have this problem ever since coming out of storage. Although it initially seemed to get worse after warming up.
The bike was my Father-in-Laws and had spent most of it's recent life sitting. It has 22,000 miles on it. I drove the bike for a weekend in 1990 and it ran fine. Then it sat again until given to me in 2011. I've driven is several times during the course of getting her running. I always kinda had to speed shift her (ouch), but I was thinking it was due to a stretched clutch cable that was maxed out on the adjusters and fraying. I then learned about the adjuster on the side of the case. While adjusting the clutch the cable failed, and I was hoping that the new cable would fix it. I thought when clutches failed it results in a transmission slippage. Mine is solid when in gear, it just doesn't seem to disengage the driveline.
Rick in CA

[Honda Dreamer]

Ok. With some luck I think I'm through this. Tonight I fired her up on the centerstand and let her warm up. I pulled in the clutch and tried for 1st gear. It ground so I didn't force it. Kicked her into 2nd with a little resistance and the back tire started spinning. I let out the clutch and notice the motor lug. There for I was getting at least some clutch effect. Pulled the clutch and applied the rear brake to stop the wheel. Engine continued to run fine. This must have freed the clutch plates because all is well now. Thanks for the help!
Rick in CA

[G-Man]

Rick

Glad that worked out. To avoid grinding the gears you can just start it up in gear while on the stand. Using the back brake like you did just frees up the clutch.

The clutch is always engaged when they are standing so the plates tend to stick together like you have found. It should just keep on improving now as you use it.

G

[Honda Dreamer]

Excellent. Thanks for the help!
Rick in NorCal