Oh snap
Thread Starter
|
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,703
Likes: 909
From: SE Michigan
Oh snap
Need some guidance here. Snapped the throttle cable a second time this year. 05 Ultra with FI.
This new set lasted about 1k miles.
I think the issue is when closing the throttle, there is not a positive stop.
I can close it further, feel it click when actually what it's doing is binding up and cutting the cable.
I'm buying new cables, new grips and new ferrels for the ends of the cables inside the housing.
Currently I have Willie G grips, I plan on replacing with the same.
question is...what part of the inner assembly is the physical stop for closing the throttle??
On my friends 02 Ultra, there is a definitive stop. On mine, it's hard to describe but it's spongy, for lack of a better term when closing the throttle.
I feel like if I kept twisting, I could go full back around past what should be the stop.
Thanks for the help.
This new set lasted about 1k miles.
I think the issue is when closing the throttle, there is not a positive stop.
I can close it further, feel it click when actually what it's doing is binding up and cutting the cable.
I'm buying new cables, new grips and new ferrels for the ends of the cables inside the housing.
Currently I have Willie G grips, I plan on replacing with the same.
question is...what part of the inner assembly is the physical stop for closing the throttle??
On my friends 02 Ultra, there is a definitive stop. On mine, it's hard to describe but it's spongy, for lack of a better term when closing the throttle.
I feel like if I kept twisting, I could go full back around past what should be the stop.
Thanks for the help.
Thread Starter
|
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,703
Likes: 909
From: SE Michigan
Sorry guys. Yes, two cables.
The pull cable (Throttle) is breaking. Or the one on the front side of the bike.
I adjusted my throttle cable to where the butterfly valve opened all the way to the stop.
The local Indy that almost ripped me off put these ones on.
They never locked down the jam nut, so I adjusted both myself.
I adjusted the idle/return cable so it had 1/8 of free play (again, I could always turn it back past full stop).
Full lock to the right, it was just a bit binding, so I gave it just another turn or so on the idle/return and it snapped back.
I am assuming there is something on the grip mold/plastic area that is supposed to hit some type of stop within the housing, it's either not there, worn or missing.
The pull cable (Throttle) is breaking. Or the one on the front side of the bike.
I adjusted my throttle cable to where the butterfly valve opened all the way to the stop.
The local Indy that almost ripped me off put these ones on.
They never locked down the jam nut, so I adjusted both myself.
I adjusted the idle/return cable so it had 1/8 of free play (again, I could always turn it back past full stop).
Full lock to the right, it was just a bit binding, so I gave it just another turn or so on the idle/return and it snapped back.
I am assuming there is something on the grip mold/plastic area that is supposed to hit some type of stop within the housing, it's either not there, worn or missing.
Thread Starter
|
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,703
Likes: 909
From: SE Michigan
Fellas,
I just twisted the throttle again on my buddies 02 Ultra (of course...he RODE in to work today...lol).
He has a hard stop when backing off the throttle. So my question is this: Does the throttle tube stop based on a nub or block of some type inside of the housing, or does it stop solely on the idle/return cable adjustment?
To be clear, I'm talking about stopping when you're letting off the throttle, not giving it throttle.
I just twisted the throttle again on my buddies 02 Ultra (of course...he RODE in to work today...lol).
He has a hard stop when backing off the throttle. So my question is this: Does the throttle tube stop based on a nub or block of some type inside of the housing, or does it stop solely on the idle/return cable adjustment?
To be clear, I'm talking about stopping when you're letting off the throttle, not giving it throttle.
HDF Community Team
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 6,186
Likes: 2,412
From: USA
Off hand, I'd say your cables are not properly adjusted, and perhaps not even properly installed.
The front cable out of the handlebars is not the return cable, that's the main throttle cable that opens the throttle. There is spring action that helps the throttle to close, with the return cable there to help ensure it does close.
You can't simply adjust tension, particularly if the main adjustments down at the throttle body/carburetor are wrong. Oh, the throttle will work, sorta, but it won't be right.
Use the manual and walk through the steps one by one. Then you will get the crisp clear throttle action you are looking for.
The front cable out of the handlebars is not the return cable, that's the main throttle cable that opens the throttle. There is spring action that helps the throttle to close, with the return cable there to help ensure it does close.
You can't simply adjust tension, particularly if the main adjustments down at the throttle body/carburetor are wrong. Oh, the throttle will work, sorta, but it won't be right.
Use the manual and walk through the steps one by one. Then you will get the crisp clear throttle action you are looking for.
Thread Starter
|
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,703
Likes: 909
From: SE Michigan
When I say front cable, I mean the one closest to the front of the bike.
That is the throttle and the one that snapped.
I do have the shop manual and I'm going to go over it with a fine tooth comb the next couple of days.
Sorry if I wasn't clear in what I was typing. I will have to look at the throttle body adjustment.
That is the throttle and the one that snapped.
I do have the shop manual and I'm going to go over it with a fine tooth comb the next couple of days.
Sorry if I wasn't clear in what I was typing. I will have to look at the throttle body adjustment.
Trending Topics
HDF Community Team
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 6,186
Likes: 2,412
From: USA
I come from a metric bike background, and have no trouble adjusting the throttle and cable or cables. Done it a zillion times.
Then I met my Harley. Oh dear. This is different, and I didn't realize that at first. Took me something like a good half hour to figure it out, and that's after I'd already put it all back together and adjusted it.
It worked, the bike was perfectly rideable. It wasn't right though, and felt weird and mushy and wrong.
Took me a little time with the oem manual trying to understand what it was saying about the adjustments at both ends of the cables before I got it right and then understood why it was right.
Unfortunately, I cannot remember it well enough to spout it off in this thread. It is in the manual, and when done right, your bike will feel like your friends, and you will stop snapping cables.
Then I met my Harley. Oh dear. This is different, and I didn't realize that at first. Took me something like a good half hour to figure it out, and that's after I'd already put it all back together and adjusted it.
It worked, the bike was perfectly rideable. It wasn't right though, and felt weird and mushy and wrong.
Took me a little time with the oem manual trying to understand what it was saying about the adjustments at both ends of the cables before I got it right and then understood why it was right.
Unfortunately, I cannot remember it well enough to spout it off in this thread. It is in the manual, and when done right, your bike will feel like your friends, and you will stop snapping cables.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider
Verdad Gallardo
The Best and Worst Harley-Davidson Moves of 2025
Verdad Gallardo
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,759
Likes: 153
From: On a Large Sandbar, NY
I think perhaps the problem your having is failing to adjust both cables to work properly as it can be tricky / confusing...if my memory serves correct the hand grip housing does not have a "stopping" mechanism..the "stopping" mechanism should be at the throttle body.
Thread Starter
|
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,703
Likes: 909
From: SE Michigan
This, is exactly the kind of info I needed.
I too come from a metric, carb., ATV and moto back ground.
I'll look over the manual tonight.
What's sad is...the Indy I took it to never adjusted it properly, yet charged me for it (I disputed it on my charge card and won, but that's another story).
Thanks again guys. I'll read up on the throttle body side, then bar end.
I too come from a metric, carb., ATV and moto back ground.
I'll look over the manual tonight.
What's sad is...the Indy I took it to never adjusted it properly, yet charged me for it (I disputed it on my charge card and won, but that's another story).
Thanks again guys. I'll read up on the throttle body side, then bar end.