Yesterday afternoon, I changed the throttle and idle cables. I needed longer ones for the bars I had in my garage. Got the motion pro +9" cables directly from MP.

Long story short, to feed the new cables through, I had to loosen the gas tank and remove the connecting fuel lines between them to get enough clearance to work in. I planned ahead by getting a tapered cold chisel to plug the hose and a cap for the male side of the connection before I removed the line at the left side junction. I had a pretty full tank, so having it empty would have helped. And I would have too, if I had anticipated that I would need to remove that fuel line. Once I started the job, my challenge became apparent. The cables were already disconnected from the throttle body and pulled through, so I was "pot committed" at that point.

Despite my planning, I still spilled some gas.

You see, the clips that secured the cables were between the frame and the tank and no amount of running a fish wire allowed me to snake the new cables through without opening the clips. what a PIA!!! The old cables could come out easy, but the new cables would get stuck going back.

Bottom line, the swap is done. The factory service manual was of totally no help at all. Please, pretty please, do not tell me now what the "simple trick" was to accomplish the cable swap...it will only make it worse!!

A job that in my mind should have taken an hour turned into a two hour job. I soldiered through. Now, when my brake hose arrives, I can swap that out, and I can install the bars!

 

Still U got-er-done....

Reminds me of the chrome buttom kit for the bars that I helped the son put on his 07 Deuce.
Wrench at dealer said about 1/2 hr job.. Not,,, 3hrs later we had them done. And the job took more than two hands to hold everything at times.

Found out later the 06 and earlier models were a lot easier.

 

Changed out my two throttle cables a couple months ago, took about 10 mins, and I didn't touch the gas tank.

Atleast it's done though!

 

That was exactly the experience I was expecting too. There was just not enough space to snake the cables through without removing the clips under the tank.

At least on my bike.

I have changed cables on several bikes before, this was, by far, the worst. Who knows. Perhaps the assembler on the factory floor routed something different under the tank.

Either way, its done now!

 

I have up trying to fish wires or lines or cables under the tank, I use two vice grips on either side of center on the crossover and cut the line, fuel line is cheap and I take the tank off. Always. It is just easier in the end.

As stated above, You got it done, with a few fine choice words a couple of hours and some pride of accomplishment. And saved a few bucks.

 

don't feel too bad...it took me two hours to put on my chrome swingarm covers.

 

Well, with all that work, you gotta put up a sig photo that shows them off! One day I too will get those swing arm covers...one day....

Thanks everyone for the words of support. I knew you all would understand!

 

Yeah, mine were a total pain in the a$$ to fish through. I loosened the tank but did not disconnect the gas line. The hardest thing for me is remaining calm, if I don't, I end up screwing something up that I regret forever (scratches, etc). At least you got it done, sit back, relax & enjoy!

 

Unbolt the tank, remove the seat, and slide the tank back as far as you can without messing with the crossover line. That is the trick.

Drew

 

Will this trick work for getting to the turn signal connectors? I wanna relocate them to the forks but not bad enough to remove the tank LOL.