Cruise control runaway
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Novice
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 24
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From: Irving, Texas
That's exactly how I was feeling, I was so expecting him to come back and say I was crazy. They kept it Friday evening ans said they were going to change the set/accel switch and check the wiring under the fairing. I'll let them keep it and make sure it's all good this time.
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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 87
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Had the same thing with my 2004. It was the wires plug in to the throtttle cable, down by the steering head.
Got some water in there after a wash and caused the problem for a couple of weeks till I found it. Fix was some dielectic grease and all has been good sence.
Martin
Got some water in there after a wash and caused the problem for a couple of weeks till I found it. Fix was some dielectic grease and all has been good sence.
Martin
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,447
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From: Danville Va, Providence NC
That's exactly how I was feeling, I was so expecting him to come back and say I was crazy. They kept it Friday evening ans said they were going to change the set/accel switch and check the wiring under the fairing. I'll let them keep it and make sure it's all good this time.
Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 104
Likes: 0
From: Tucson
There are four switches that feed information to the speed control. One for throttle roll-off, one for clutch dis-engagement, and one for each brake system. On my '02 RK, the speed control started to act whacky for a few months before it crapped out entirely. It would continue to accelerate (as you describe) or fail to hold a setting -- all at various times with no pattern. Finally, it crapped out entirely. I managed to retrieve the error code in the odometer window. The code said "in line throttle switch." The what?
Sure enough, there is a strange gizmo on the steering head that the throttle cable runs through. It is a switch that surrounds the roll-off cable of the throttle. It is a funky design and looking at it made me wonder how it could work at all. But, it's purpose is to interrupt the cruise if the rider rolls off the throttle. I'm hard pressed to understand that's what a rider would do in an emergency, but maybe that is exactly what an experienced rider would do out of habit. I dunno. Whatever, the switch is there for that purpose.
But, it does work and that switch was the source of all my problems. Upon replacing the switch, the cruise worked fine for many more years.
I presume the erratic behavior of the cruise prior to the total failure was due to various voltages being sent to the control units -- i.e. various stages of a short circuit leading up to complete closure and, subsequent, interruption of the cruise.
So, if someone said your problem was a faulty brake switch, and they had retrieved the error code that told them this, I'd believe them.
Sure enough, there is a strange gizmo on the steering head that the throttle cable runs through. It is a switch that surrounds the roll-off cable of the throttle. It is a funky design and looking at it made me wonder how it could work at all. But, it's purpose is to interrupt the cruise if the rider rolls off the throttle. I'm hard pressed to understand that's what a rider would do in an emergency, but maybe that is exactly what an experienced rider would do out of habit. I dunno. Whatever, the switch is there for that purpose.
But, it does work and that switch was the source of all my problems. Upon replacing the switch, the cruise worked fine for many more years.
I presume the erratic behavior of the cruise prior to the total failure was due to various voltages being sent to the control units -- i.e. various stages of a short circuit leading up to complete closure and, subsequent, interruption of the cruise.
So, if someone said your problem was a faulty brake switch, and they had retrieved the error code that told them this, I'd believe them.
Last edited by August; Jun 6, 2010 at 01:42 AM.
Thread Starter
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Novice
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 24
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From: Irving, Texas
There are four switches that feed information to the speed control. One for throttle roll-off, one for clutch dis-engagement, and one for each brake system. On my '02 RK, the speed control started to act whacky for a few months before it crapped out entirely. It would continue to accelerate (as you describe) or fail to hold a setting -- all at various times with no pattern. Finally, it crapped out entirely. I managed to retrieve the error code in the odometer window. The code said "in line throttle switch." The what?
Sure enough, there is a strange gizmo on the steering head that the throttle cable runs through. It is a switch that surrounds the roll-off cable of the throttle. It is a funky design and looking at it made me wonder how it could work at all. But, it's purpose is to interrupt the cruise if the rider rolls off the throttle. I'm hard pressed to understand that's what a rider would do in an emergency, but maybe that is exactly what an experienced rider would do out of habit. I dunno. Whatever, the switch is there for that purpose.
But, it does work and that switch was the source of all my problems. Upon replacing the switch, the cruise worked fine for many more years.
I presume the erratic behavior of the cruise prior to the total failure was due to various voltages being sent to the control units -- i.e. various stages of a short circuit leading up to complete closure and, subsequent, interruption of the cruise.
So, if someone said your problem was a faulty brake switch, and they had retrieved the error code that told them this, I'd believe them.
Sure enough, there is a strange gizmo on the steering head that the throttle cable runs through. It is a switch that surrounds the roll-off cable of the throttle. It is a funky design and looking at it made me wonder how it could work at all. But, it's purpose is to interrupt the cruise if the rider rolls off the throttle. I'm hard pressed to understand that's what a rider would do in an emergency, but maybe that is exactly what an experienced rider would do out of habit. I dunno. Whatever, the switch is there for that purpose.
But, it does work and that switch was the source of all my problems. Upon replacing the switch, the cruise worked fine for many more years.
I presume the erratic behavior of the cruise prior to the total failure was due to various voltages being sent to the control units -- i.e. various stages of a short circuit leading up to complete closure and, subsequent, interruption of the cruise.
So, if someone said your problem was a faulty brake switch, and they had retrieved the error code that told them this, I'd believe them.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 7,663
Likes: 7
From: Northeast Ohio
There is another glitch in the cruise system that can be very unsettling in the right situation. If you have your cruise set, and the fuse for the cruise blows, the cruise will NOT disengage with an application of the brakes or even by turning off the master switch. To disengage, the cruise must receive an electronic signal to disengage and without the fuse, no signal.
Only way to get it to disengage is to turn off the ignition switch and then back on very quicly. I found this the hard way, coming up on slower traffic with the cruise on while riding my 07 Ultra.
Only way to get it to disengage is to turn off the ignition switch and then back on very quicly. I found this the hard way, coming up on slower traffic with the cruise on while riding my 07 Ultra.
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,447
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From: Danville Va, Providence NC
I don't understand the throttle roll off switch. If you have the cruise on, why would you be using the throttle at all?
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Thread Starter
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Novice
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 24
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From: Irving, Texas
It's not as confusing as it sounds, while yes, your using the cruise, you never keep your hand off of the throttle for long. It's actually safer to roll the throttle fwd to disengage the cruise, that way your not braking every time, especially in a group. It's not fun riding behind someone constantly hitting their brake to disengage, gets the yo-yo effect going real well on a group ride.
Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 104
Likes: 0
From: Tucson
There is another glitch in the cruise system that can be very unsettling in the right situation. If you have your cruise set, and the fuse for the cruise blows, the cruise will NOT disengage with an application of the brakes or even by turning off the master switch. To disengage, the cruise must receive an electronic signal to disengage and without the fuse, no signal.
Only way to get it to disengage is to turn off the ignition switch and then back on very quicly. I found this the hard way, coming up on slower traffic with the cruise on while riding my 07 Ultra.
Only way to get it to disengage is to turn off the ignition switch and then back on very quicly. I found this the hard way, coming up on slower traffic with the cruise on while riding my 07 Ultra.