Throttle actually freezing
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Tourer
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 310
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From: Northampton
Throttle actually freezing
I have a '13 Deluxe with drive by cable throttle. The last two nights the temperature was down around 20 degrees on my way home. My throttle actually froze on Tuesday where I couldn't force it open and could barely force it closed. Last night I noticed it starting so I kept moving the throttle slightly instead of keeping a constant position. This helped but you could still feel it "tacking up" every few minutes. Also, last night the "electrical system" LED came on in he dash panel. It went off when I rolled the throttle closed to make a turn and never came back on. I replaced the battery yesterday morning with a fully charged Big Boar battery and the bike does not have a security alarm. I"ll check the connections today but the battery LED never came on.
I keep my cables well lubed with cable ease (the stuff in a blue tube) and I lubed the inside of the throttle sleeve with the same stuff when I installed the new grips 6 months ago.
I'm not sure if it's the cables freezing but it actually seems like it's the sleeve freezing to the bar. Any ideas?
I keep my cables well lubed with cable ease (the stuff in a blue tube) and I lubed the inside of the throttle sleeve with the same stuff when I installed the new grips 6 months ago.
I'm not sure if it's the cables freezing but it actually seems like it's the sleeve freezing to the bar. Any ideas?
Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 552
Likes: 70
From: Bellevue Washington
I have a '13 Deluxe with drive by cable throttle. The last two nights the temperature was down around 20 degrees on my way home. My throttle actually froze on Tuesday where I couldn't force it open and could barely force it closed. Last night I noticed it starting so I kept moving the throttle slightly instead of keeping a constant position. This helped but you could still feel it "tacking up" every few minutes. Also, last night the "electrical system" LED came on in he dash panel. It went off when I rolled the throttle closed to make a turn and never came back on. I replaced the battery yesterday morning with a fully charged Big Boar battery and the bike does not have a security alarm. I"ll check the connections today but the battery LED never came on.
I keep my cables well lubed with cable ease (the stuff in a blue tube) and I lubed the inside of the throttle sleeve with the same stuff when I installed the new grips 6 months ago.
I'm not sure if it's the cables freezing but it actually seems like it's the sleeve freezing to the bar. Any ideas?
I keep my cables well lubed with cable ease (the stuff in a blue tube) and I lubed the inside of the throttle sleeve with the same stuff when I installed the new grips 6 months ago.
I'm not sure if it's the cables freezing but it actually seems like it's the sleeve freezing to the bar. Any ideas?
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 4,109
Likes: 9
From: Connecticut
The throttle body could be iceing up. there is nothing to heat the throttle plate to keep it from iceing. The same thing used to happen to old cars ...in the early 50's and earlier. When the air goes thru the throttle body it speeds up creating iceing. Not much you can do with an aircooled motor
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
From: Alabama
I am an aircraft mechanic...now I am not there to visually comfirm what is going on but it sounds like you are getting carb icing...well, the same thing will happen to your throttle body as well... as air passes through the venturi the pressure drop along with the extremely cold intake air will cause any moisture to freeze up around the intake butterfly...if your TB and butterfly have a nice tight fit just the contraction of the metals can cause things to tighten up as well. Another thing you might want to take into consideration especially if you are running hard is something called 'supercooling'. I don't know if it will happen the same on a bike as it will an aircraft engine but in cold temps it could be possible...here is how supercooling works on an airplane engine...
You are running along and your engine temp is up...you pull back to idle and your external cyclinder temp rapidly drops while your internals are still hot...the tightening of the cylinder becomes excessive and locks the piston in place. Yea, this sucks, and yes it will happen when conditions are right...with an airplane it will often cure itself with a drop in altitude and an equalization in temp. If any of things things happen on a bike just pull over. If the carb or TB is icing just let it idle in place and warm back up. Be careful if you lube throttle cables. All lubes aren't good in cold temps. Let the engine temp work for you when possible. Pull over and idle and let it thaw out.
Be careful and good luck.
You are running along and your engine temp is up...you pull back to idle and your external cyclinder temp rapidly drops while your internals are still hot...the tightening of the cylinder becomes excessive and locks the piston in place. Yea, this sucks, and yes it will happen when conditions are right...with an airplane it will often cure itself with a drop in altitude and an equalization in temp. If any of things things happen on a bike just pull over. If the carb or TB is icing just let it idle in place and warm back up. Be careful if you lube throttle cables. All lubes aren't good in cold temps. Let the engine temp work for you when possible. Pull over and idle and let it thaw out.
Be careful and good luck.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,706
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From: Near Frankenmuth, MI
I can't understand anyone's stock harley carb icing, at least not at the temps you are driving it in. The carb is located between two cylinders that once the bike is running will heat the area between cylinder where the carb is. It's only a few inches away from the exhaust outlet from the front cylinder and one side is blocked by the air filter and the other is covered up by a support and the horn.
I see you have apes so you must have aftermarket throttle cable. I'm going to say you have moisture that leaked, or is leaking into the cable and it's icing the cable. Maybe even the lube thickens to the point of holding the cable in place.
I'd disconnect the cable from the carb and check the action. Leave it off overnight in the cold. Twist the throttle and check for a nice smooth slide of just the cable. You may find it's stiff or frozen which would at least narrow down where the issue really is.
Maybe it's the actual throttle on the bars that's seizing.
Good luck curing the issue.
I see you have apes so you must have aftermarket throttle cable. I'm going to say you have moisture that leaked, or is leaking into the cable and it's icing the cable. Maybe even the lube thickens to the point of holding the cable in place.
I'd disconnect the cable from the carb and check the action. Leave it off overnight in the cold. Twist the throttle and check for a nice smooth slide of just the cable. You may find it's stiff or frozen which would at least narrow down where the issue really is.
Maybe it's the actual throttle on the bars that's seizing.
Good luck curing the issue.
Last edited by JohnnyC; Nov 15, 2013 at 06:47 AM.
Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 705
Likes: 8
From: southern IL
I can't understand anyone's stock harley carb icing, at least not at the temps you are driving it in. The carb is located between two cylinders that once the bike is running will heat the area between cylinder where the carb is. It's only a few inches away from the exhaust outlet from the front cylinder and one side is blocked by the air filter and the other is covered up by a support and the horn.
So, I'm inclined to think it's the TB and/or butterfly freezing up. Like Capt said, air sucking in a venturi automatically turns colder with the increased pressure. I'm not an aircraft mechanic, but I know why K&N makes their money on "cold air" intakes!!
Either don't ride below freezing, or take breaks often. That's my suggestion. Be safe & keep the shiny side up!!
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Tourer
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From: Northampton
I'm pretty sure I figured things out. About 4 months ago I swapped the OM air cleaner for a Cobra Power Flo air cleaner. I installed the breather tubes without even thinking about it and started to enjoy my new air cleaner. About a month later I made a post about excessive oil coming out of the air cleaner and thought it was due to switching to synthetic. A week ago the oil issue came back and I thought again, it was due to oil pressure buildup due to the colder temperatures outside.
After speaking to the master tech at my dealership I learned that many after market air cleaners do not actually suck the oil into the throttle body. It pools at the bottom of the filter and eventually starts to splash down the side of the bike. I've installed a separate breather filter and have removed the breather tubes.
This brings me to my freezing issue. The breathers expel excess oil and excess moisture. That's the frothy white buildup that you'll find in your filter and inside your throttle body. The consensus is that the frothy buildup was freezing around the throttle plate. Since I've rerouted the breathers, cleaned the filter and throttle body so I'm guessing the issue is resolved.
After speaking to the master tech at my dealership I learned that many after market air cleaners do not actually suck the oil into the throttle body. It pools at the bottom of the filter and eventually starts to splash down the side of the bike. I've installed a separate breather filter and have removed the breather tubes.
This brings me to my freezing issue. The breathers expel excess oil and excess moisture. That's the frothy white buildup that you'll find in your filter and inside your throttle body. The consensus is that the frothy buildup was freezing around the throttle plate. Since I've rerouted the breathers, cleaned the filter and throttle body so I'm guessing the issue is resolved.
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I'm pretty sure I figured things out. About 4 months ago I swapped the OM air cleaner for a Cobra Power Flo air cleaner. I installed the breather tubes without even thinking about it and started to enjoy my new air cleaner. About a month later I made a post about excessive oil coming out of the air cleaner and thought it was due to switching to synthetic. A week ago the oil issue came back and I thought again, it was due to oil pressure buildup due to the colder temperatures outside.
After speaking to the master tech at my dealership I learned that many after market air cleaners do not actually suck the oil into the throttle body. It pools at the bottom of the filter and eventually starts to splash down the side of the bike. I've installed a separate breather filter and have removed the breather tubes.
This brings me to my freezing issue. The breathers expel excess oil and excess moisture. That's the frothy white buildup that you'll find in your filter and inside your throttle body. The consensus is that the frothy buildup was freezing around the throttle plate. Since I've rerouted the breathers, cleaned the filter and throttle body so I'm guessing the issue is resolved.
After speaking to the master tech at my dealership I learned that many after market air cleaners do not actually suck the oil into the throttle body. It pools at the bottom of the filter and eventually starts to splash down the side of the bike. I've installed a separate breather filter and have removed the breather tubes.
This brings me to my freezing issue. The breathers expel excess oil and excess moisture. That's the frothy white buildup that you'll find in your filter and inside your throttle body. The consensus is that the frothy buildup was freezing around the throttle plate. Since I've rerouted the breathers, cleaned the filter and throttle body so I'm guessing the issue is resolved.
Good deal tracking it down!
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Joined: Jul 2007
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From: South of Dallas Area, Texas
I used to have a car that would do that. The right temp and humidity would freeze the thing up and lock the butterfly at a steady throttle at about 50 MPH. You could actually see frost on the float bowl. Pull over and let it warm up a bit and it would be OK. Pretty strange deal.
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