Runaway Throttle S&S Super E Carb
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Stellar HDF Member
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From: Northern VA
Runaway Throttle S&S Super E Carb
Hey guys, I need your expert help with this one: I rebuilt my S&S Super E Carb with the master rebuild kit a few weeks ago. After re-installing the carb, I took the bike out for a test ride. The bike ran great for a couple miles: faster and more responsive. Really running nice. Then the throttle went to wide open. I tried to roll off the throttle, but it remained stuck at wide open, so I shut it down and coasted to a stop. Tried restarting several times, but the throttle was still stuck wide open. I thought there might have been binding in the cables, so I replaced the throttle and idle cables with new Barnett cables. Went for a test ride today and the throttle stuck and went to wide open again after riding less than a mile. Fairly certain it's not the cables, so I must have done something wrong during the carb rebuild. Maybe over torqued something.... Any ideas on how to troubleshoot the carb is appreciated. Thanks!
Last edited by Plow64; Apr 2, 2011 at 05:41 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
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From: NW AR
Pull the air cleaner off, twist the throttle and watch the butterfly plate. You obviously have something binding. Would the idle cable not force the throttle to close when you rolled it back off? It should do that, that's what it's for.
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2010
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From: SE Michigan
No idle cable on the SnS E; just one cable. Did you route the cable right? Mine hung up once when I turned the front wheel hard to the left as it pulled on the entire cable housing. Just rerouted it to a shorter route near the steering neck and problem went away.
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Stellar HDF Member
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From: Northern VA
Thanks Dr Hess. I don't think it's a binding problem with the cables. When it happens I can still operate the hand grip normally (without binding), but the engine spools up to wide open throttle and stays stuck there until I shutdown the engine. If it were a binding cable, I would think the throttle setting would remain constant. Almost seems like the accelerator pump pushrod is stuck or something. I can't recreate the event in the garage, the butterfly plate operates normally there. Only happens when I'm out riding. What I plan to do next is to readjust the cables per the SM (third time) and then run through the S&S Quick Tuning steps to see if any of the carb adjustments are out of whack. Not sure what to do if that doesn't work...
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From: Farmington ,MS
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Stellar HDF Member
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From: Northern VA
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Road Master
Joined: Aug 2010
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From: SE Michigan
Hmm, checked out that PDF and see that the "E" and "G" carbs have two cables? Mine only has one; I know this because I replaced my handgrips on both sides and there is only one throttle cable going to the handle bar??? I have an S & S "E" carb that was put on with my top end job about 6 yrs. ago.
Sounds like you might have left a spring out or that return cable is binding up somehow or coming loose??
Sounds like you might have left a spring out or that return cable is binding up somehow or coming loose??
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Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2010
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From: Florida
If your running two cables from your throttle and it stays wide open, then my stab at your problem is you don't have the idle cable adjusted properly. The whole point of the idle cable is to pull shut the throttle plate, to idle.
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Stellar HDF Member
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From: Northern VA
Yes I'm running two cables. I readjusted the cables today per the SM and took the bike for a short spin without any problems. Starting to think the cables were causing the problem after all.