Motorcycle Repair: Yamaha Clutch Cable Replacement, clutch cable, adjustment screw

Question
I have an 82 Yamaha XV750H Virago. I replaced the clutch cable and now, cannot get the clutch to engage. When the bike is off, it will shift through the gears without using the clutch. As soon as I tighten the retaining nut and start it to check the clutch, it either won't go out of neutral or when you let the clutch out, it won't turn the rear wheel. The new cable appears to be an inch shorter than the original. Does it matter? Several different attempts at adjusting the adjustment screw have yeilded no satisfactory results. What can I do?

Answer
Hi Charles.
 If the clutch cable is shorter than the one you originally had, then you have the wrong cable.  You would need to bring the adjustor all the way in for it to work, and then that's not even a given.

 A few milimeters difference between the original and the new cables won't make a difference, but an inch difference can be all the difference.

Always make sure that any replacement parts match the originals, exactly.

Good luck.
FALCON