What happens if your idle cable breaks?
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Novice
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 23
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What happens if your idle cable breaks?
While riding yesterday I felt something catching when twisting the throttle. I thought the cable need to be lubed so opened up the switch housing to put a few drops of oil in ... what I found was that my idle cable has frayed and only 2 or 3 strands are still holding. The throttle cable is fine. This is on my 1999 Ultra.
What I am wondering ...
What would happen if that cable actually broke while I was riding? I disconnected it and ran the bike and the throttle seemed to work just fine without it ... but hey, I'd hate to be in the middle of nowhere and find out otherwise.
What kind of $$$ is a guy looking at to have it repaired?
Thanks,
RB[/align]
What I am wondering ...
What would happen if that cable actually broke while I was riding? I disconnected it and ran the bike and the throttle seemed to work just fine without it ... but hey, I'd hate to be in the middle of nowhere and find out otherwise.
What kind of $$$ is a guy looking at to have it repaired?
Thanks,
RB[/align]
Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 174
Likes: 3
From: Tulsa, OK
RE: What happens if your idle cable breaks?
Pretty simple job to replace idle cable. My first ride on my 05 UC about 20 miles from home I broke a throttle cable. Trailered the bike home. Replaced throttle and idle cable. Remove front fairing, unhook cables, put in new cables and adjust length.
2 things to watch out for: 1) idle cable has electrical connection for cruise control to sense idle cable roll-off (disconnects cruise when throttle is moved excessively) and 2) be very careful with the brass barrels on the ends of the cables at the grip. Easy to drop and loose
About $60 for both cables at HD. Prob a 1-2 hour job working at easy pace.
Jerry
2 things to watch out for: 1) idle cable has electrical connection for cruise control to sense idle cable roll-off (disconnects cruise when throttle is moved excessively) and 2) be very careful with the brass barrels on the ends of the cables at the grip. Easy to drop and loose
About $60 for both cables at HD. Prob a 1-2 hour job working at easy pace.
Jerry
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,575
Likes: 180
From: N.E. OHIO
RE: What happens if your idle cable breaks?
I am wondering how the idle cable works myself. If the throttle is stuck wide open, how does the idle cable work? Does it drop the bike to idle when you shut it down?
Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 174
Likes: 3
From: Tulsa, OK
RE: What happens if your idle cable breaks?
Think of them as push/pull. The throttle cable pulls the carb or throttle body plate open and the idle cable pulls it closed.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 10,675
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From: Billings,Mt.
RE: What happens if your idle cable breaks?
I think the throttle would close if the cable does not hang up.
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Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 162
Likes: 1
From:
RE: What happens if your idle cable breaks?
Replace the cable. The throttle "may" return even with the idle cable broke but I wouldn't want to go into a significant turn and have the throttle stick on me.....pucker factor of about 9.9....IF you don't go down.......
Banned
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,145
Likes: 1
From: St.Louis, MO.
RE: What happens if your idle cable breaks?
When was the last time you heard of a throttle sticking wide open? All you have to do is TWIST the throttle closed.....you guys sound like its immediate disaster if the idle cable breaks...that's complete BS. There are spring returns on carbs that return it to idle position....THAT'S what snaps it back to idle. On my last two choppers I only ran a throttle cable....no idle cable...no problems.........its not the end of the world.