Throttle By Wire Problem
Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 197
Likes: 3
This just happened to me today. Fortunately, I was just leaving the Dealer at the time. Of course, by the time the tech cam out to look at it, the computer had reset so it worked fine. I am about to leave on a three week trip, so I told him to go ahead and change the connector pins anyway. The new pins are -11, meaning that the design was changed in 2011 due to this problem. Hopefully, this will fix the problem. btw: I have 65,000 miles on my '08 Road Glide.
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
From: Louisiana
The TBW is garbage. I installed 16" apes on an 09 RoadKing the other day, and there is a lag in throttle response. The customer is a good friend of mine and he has dropped the bike three times, all right after he bought it. He couldnt figure out why he kept dropping it. Well, when I went pick the bike up from his house and take it to my shop, I almost dropped it when I took off. The process of taking off on a motorcycle is second nature to many of us. One smooth, fluid motion. Well, that delay in throttle response isnt very fluid at all. Im sure I looked like a beginner, first time riding. Ill stick with the time tested cable operated throttle. If it aint broke, dont fix it.
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 294
Likes: 16
I found an article a few days back (nope, I forget where on the web), that read that "limp mode" is a design feature/flaw with the TBW. It said that the unit is constantly checking itself (200 times a sec) and if there is an issue, it will drop to bike to the limp mode.
It seems that faulty connectors might cause the original error but when my RK started to go limp once a day, I had the throttle replaced- $90 part and 2 hours of labor. So far so good.
It seems that faulty connectors might cause the original error but when my RK started to go limp once a day, I had the throttle replaced- $90 part and 2 hours of labor. So far so good.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 4,867
Likes: 268
From: People's Republic of Boulder Colorado
What I don't get is that with all the cars on the road nowadays with TBW systems, it would seem that the technology is mature enough to be somewhat reliable. Why can't the MOCO design a system that just works?
Naturally, the same could be said about their current camshaft drive systems and crankshafts too, I guess...
Naturally, the same could be said about their current camshaft drive systems and crankshafts too, I guess...
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 10,216
Likes: 224
From: Glendale AZ
So, I wonder if somebody bought a new bike and immediately went through it & put high- end dielectric grease in all of the connectors they could get to, would that be likely to prevent most of these electrical connector failures/issues that I'm constantly reading about?
They sell kits for just about everything imaginable, why don't they have TBW to cable conversion kits?
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,806
Likes: 1,754
From: New Bern NC
That's what I did. If I take a connector loose, I run my finger over it containing Di-electric grease. I check my TB connector wiring all the time, I dont like the exposed wires on the connector just before it goes into the TB (What's up with that?).
They sell kits for just about everything imaginable, why don't they have TBW to cable conversion kits?
They sell kits for just about everything imaginable, why don't they have TBW to cable conversion kits?
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 16,125
Likes: 24
From: Linden New Jersey
Mine has been trouble free, but I purchased a can of CRC Die-Electric grease when I put the new led's in. I guess its time to clean and grease the tbw plug
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,806
Likes: 1,754
From: New Bern NC
I haven't had any trouble with the connections at the throttle actuator motor but I did get the limp home mode repeatedly when my ECM connection was bad. A nuisance but it always started worked after a restart and got me home.
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