Clutch Adjuster?!?

[Mike's2003YZ250]

Guys, what does this clutch adjuster thing on my clutch lever do? 2003 YZ250. Its like a rubber thing that you can turn either way with your fingers. It seems when I turn it one way, the lever gets harder to pull in ,and the other way makes it easier to pull in. Am I right? Does it have any affect on how far in or out it has to be in order for the clutch to start engaging??? What I mean is, the more you turn it, does it engage the clutch sooner or later, meaning the bike will start moving as soon as you let up on it, or not start moving until you are almost all the way released. Please explain to me exactly what it does. Sorry if this is a dumb question. I have been wondering what it does for a while, and dont wanna mess with it "too much" until I know what it does for sure. Mike

[drman]

Yep, it is there to adjust when your clutch lever begins to engage the clutch. Always have some free play between the lever and the perch, or else your clutch will slip. I've always heard that you are good if you can put a quarter inbetween the perch and the lever without having to pull the lever back is a good amount.

[Aus_Rider_22]

Yep what you observed is normal.

Twist it back towards to you loosen it and that makes it so you need to pull the clutch lever back further before clutch engages/disengages.

I like to set it so I only have to bend my middle finger until second joint is half locked. LOL Sounds weird but it;s the only way I could think of describing it as I sit here typing.

Hope it's all cleared up now!

[Mike's2003YZ250]

Thanks fellas for the replies. So if I go too much one way, would the bike start moving when I put it in first gear with the lever all the way in? It would be like you had the lever halfway released even though it was in all the way up against the grip? Is there a stop on it if you go too far in either direction, or would it just unscrew itself and fall off? Sorry for all the questions. Mike

[drman]

If you were to turn the adjuster all the way in, your bike might crawl some when the clutch lever is against the grip. If you turn the adjuster further out, the clutch would slip badly and you might even break your clutch cable from too much pressure on it. And no, the adjuster has no stops...at least the ones I've seen.

[Mike's2003YZ250]

Thanks guys for the replies. Maybe I should just leave it alone, its not doing anything funny or anything, I just wanted to know what it did. How do you do the test with the quarter? Pull the rubber back away and put the quarter inbetween the perch and the lever freeplay?? When the thickness of a quarter fits, thats about the ideal setting?? Thanks for the help. Im not at all new to bikes, but I am when it comes to adjustments, lol. Mike

[drman]

Yep, you got it right.

[Mike's2003YZ250]

Thanks for the reply once again. Now I have another stupid question to ask about my bike, so Im gonna go start a new thread. See you over there. Mike