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Need some Tech Help - '12 FXS

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Old Apr 19, 2013 | 11:08 AM
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Default Need some Tech Help - '12 FXS

Changing out the bars and got a lot of things all taken apart. Now its time to put it back together and want to make sure I'm doing it right the first time.

1) Throttle and Idle cables: One is "slightly longer" than the other and has the spring on the end that connects to the throttle body. Is this the Throttle cable or the Idle cable - and does it go in the slot closer to the engine or further from?

2) Drained the fluid out of the drain plug that is right by the frame - not between the shocks - to change the clutch cable. I thought only a quart would come out - a lot more drained out - was this hopefully the right one? Cant find this in the service manual - any clue as to what section/page?

Thanks for the help. Hope to get it all back up and running soon for the small window of nice weather on Sunday.
 
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Old Apr 19, 2013 | 12:13 PM
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-- are the cables still attached to the throttle housing on the bars? if so, rotate the throttle as you would giving it gas. Down at the manifold see which cable end moves and in which direction. intake manifold only opens on way...that should be your answer.

-- you drained the oil tank if you used the bolt on the right side under the frame, which is why you got more out than expected. transmission drain is between shocks.
 
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Old Apr 19, 2013 | 12:21 PM
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No the old cables are off the bike completely. I'm putting the new longer ones on.

What about the cable with the spring - is that the throttle or the idle?

Crap! Feel like an idiot that I drained the engine oil. Oh well, live and learn. Should have done more research.
 
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Old Apr 19, 2013 | 12:38 PM
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sorry about that - the idle cable has the spring.
 
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Old Apr 19, 2013 | 12:42 PM
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Thanks for the help.

Got it!
 
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Old Apr 19, 2013 | 12:48 PM
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I'm all about helping people out on this forum, but seriously, dude. You need to know what's what before you start pulling **** apart on your $20k bike. Step away from the bike, go down to the dealer, lay out the $60 for a service manual, read thru the relevant sections thoroughly, THEN pull out your tools and go to work. Even watch a few videos on YouTube if you need to, but KNOW what you're doing (or undoing) before you take a wrench to it. You can even search thru about 1000 threads here to find what plugs to pull for what fluid reservoir. But for f*ck's sake, do it BEFORE you touch the tools. If your engine oil was fairly new, you just poured about $20 into your oil pan...$20 that could've gone toward a service manual.

Don't mean to sound all snooty. This place is a great source of information, but it's no substitute for consulting the service manual or even asking here to get the info BEFORE you go to work.

Now...here's some info that truly will help you (in case somebody wants to flame me for my scathing remarks and not contributing): You don't need to drain the transmission fluid to change out the clutch cable. As long as your bike is leaning on its kickstand, no fluid will leak out.

Camo~
Sweet ride!
 
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Old Apr 19, 2013 | 01:03 PM
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HoggyMtn - appreciate the words of wisdom. FYI I did watch YouTube vids, and even asked at the dealer for advice and help before I started and both places told me it was the same plug - the one on the frame. I also did plunk down the dough for the service manual, it wasn't much help and was honestly a little confusing.

An honest mistake - hence why I asked for experienced help.

Oh and there was fluid that came out when I took the clutch cable cover off, and the bike was on its side stand.
 
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Old Apr 19, 2013 | 01:14 PM
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Originally Posted by HoggyMtnBreakdown
Now...here's some info that truly will help you (in case somebody wants to flame me for my scathing remarks and not contributing): You don't need to drain the transmission fluid to change out the clutch cable. As long as your bike is leaning on its kickstand, no fluid will leak out.

Camo~
Sweet ride!
I pulled the trans cover off to get the cable off without draining it on my bike. ALL the fluid comes out of it except a few drops lol. He wont even get all the bolts out with out some fluid starting to push it's way out.
 
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Old Apr 19, 2013 | 01:27 PM
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Originally Posted by frog37_
HoggyMtn - appreciate the words of wisdom. FYI I did watch YouTube vids, and even asked at the dealer for advice and help before I started and both places told me it was the same plug - the one on the frame. I also did plunk down the dough for the service manual, it wasn't much help and was honestly a little confusing.

An honest mistake - hence why I asked for experienced help.

Oh and there was fluid that came out when I took the clutch cable cover off, and the bike was on its side stand.
If fluid does leak out, it's usually only the little bit that builds up behind the cover and if you let it drain and wipe the gasket surface, no more should come out. That's how it was with my bike, anyway. I have an '08 and a different model than you, so things may have changed design-wise in 4 years or your kickstand could be shorter than mine. No harm in pulling the cover first, in any case, as long as you have something there to catch what comes out...

If you made an honest effort to know what you were doing before hand, then my bad, but you did mention yourself above that you should have done more research beforehand...
 
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Old Apr 19, 2013 | 01:33 PM
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Originally Posted by Jesse_81
I pulled the trans cover off to get the cable off without draining it on my bike. ALL the fluid comes out of it except a few drops lol. He wont even get all the bolts out with out some fluid starting to push it's way out.
Interesting...****, I could swear I pulled my cover off and none came out. It was two years ago, now, so maybe I'm having a brain fart and I'm just not remembering correctly...
Who's the dipshit, now??? lol
 

Last edited by HoggyMtnBreakdown; Apr 19, 2013 at 01:36 PM.
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