Hey there, so here is my first question about my bike.

FYI - My bike is a 2005 Road King Custom, EFI and Cruise if that matters.

Anyway, my throttle seems to me to have a bunch of free play. I am brand new to Harley's so I do not know if this is normal or not but here is a video showing how much play there is.

I just picked the bike up a few days ago, and when I bought it the guy told me that the throttle cable had just been replaced with the last service which was about 300 miles ago.

Here is the video showing the free play.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUtH98EaPJ8

If it does need to be adjusted can anyone point me in the right direction for some instruction.

Thanks
Phil

 

That is too much free play. Make sure you turn the bars all the way to the right and see how much you have there also.

The bike has 2 cables, one that is pulled when you open the throttle and another cable that assists in closing the throttle when you turn the grip back. The adjustments are under those rubber sleeves on the cables. Loosen the jam nuts all the way and turn the adjusters until they touch the jam nuts. With bars straight ahead, turn the throttle full on and look at the throttle cam stop on the throttle body. This cam needs to touch the stop. If it isnt then turn the adjuster for that cable until the cam touches the stop, with the throttle full on. Let off the throttle then continue turning the adjuster another 1/2 to full turn then tighten the jam nut.

Then turn the bars full right and adjust the other cable adjuster until the cable housing just touches the spring in the cable guide. This is also at the throttle body. Then test the throttle for proper function and continue adjustment if not fully returning. Tighten the jam nut and return the boots. Make sure the black wing nut looking thing under the grip is fully loosened before doing these adjustments.

The important thing to remember is you want the throttle blade to be fully open at wide open throttle and fully closed when the grip is returned to the stop position. A little slack is necessary, but not a whole bunch or it will make rideability a bit less pleasant.

These instructions are out of the manual for an 07, but I think it is the same for your bike if it has fuel injection.

 

Thanks for the info...

So are you saying to loosen the jam nuts and turn the adjuster on both the pull and push cables?

Thanks
Phil

 

This video might help.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpkE6qX1lvs

 

Good info here

 

When I rebuilt my carb a few months ago, I did all the adjustments by the book and found that I took out too much free play and that made the bike a little twitchy/jerky in the slow speed handling. It was easy enough to loosen it a little.

So that would be my little words of wisdom.

 

After adjusting the throttle cables you maybe also have to calibrate the cruise for the best handling.

 

Thanks for all the help...

I got most of the play out. I left just a touch in there though.

I have not even used the cruise yet, but that is something that I will have to keep in mind when I do...

Thanks again...

Phil

 

Phil,

I deliberately keep quite a bit of slack in my throttle cables (had the bike from new in 1990) because I found that throttle response could be a bit sudden, especially 2-up. If I had only a little slack it was difficult to ride the bike smoothly and give the lady who is now my wife an easy time back there (it worked!).

 

I'll tell ya why I noticed it and thought that it felt funny to me. When I would shift I would start rolling on the throttle but would not actually get into the gas by the time my clutch was out so my shifts did not feel smooth. I'm sure that I would have gotten use to it, but I like the way that it is now. Just a little play but not nearly as much as before. I would say probably about half of what it was.

Phil