Probably stupid question about throttle position
Probably stupid question about throttle position
I have 2 bikes, a 2012 Heritage and a 2012 SE Street Glide. On the Heritage the throttle cannot be turned further back than the idle position, but the SG's throttle can be turned past that position if that makes sense.
On occasion the SG is cutting out when I'm coasting in first gear to a stop or when I've downshifted from 2nd to 1st. This has happened about 6 times. It has sounded as if it's about to cut out a little more often but if I blip the throttle I can catch it before power goes off. I've taken it to the dealers twice about this but since no warning light has come on and no codes thrown they have no clue and of course could not reproduce it. Bike starts up again right away with the starter.
Today the bike was close to cutting out when I downshifted from 3rd to 2nd to slow down. I had blipped the throttle anyway but again just managed to catch it from losing power. But I've wondered if it's because I can get the throttle to go past the idle position and whether the throttle position sensor may have something to do with this occasional loss of power. I'm worried that I may lose power when there's traffic behind me or going through an intersection. Could do with some ideas as to why this is happening.
On occasion the SG is cutting out when I'm coasting in first gear to a stop or when I've downshifted from 2nd to 1st. This has happened about 6 times. It has sounded as if it's about to cut out a little more often but if I blip the throttle I can catch it before power goes off. I've taken it to the dealers twice about this but since no warning light has come on and no codes thrown they have no clue and of course could not reproduce it. Bike starts up again right away with the starter.
Today the bike was close to cutting out when I downshifted from 3rd to 2nd to slow down. I had blipped the throttle anyway but again just managed to catch it from losing power. But I've wondered if it's because I can get the throttle to go past the idle position and whether the throttle position sensor may have something to do with this occasional loss of power. I'm worried that I may lose power when there's traffic behind me or going through an intersection. Could do with some ideas as to why this is happening.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2010
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From: Phoenix '53, '88, '09 Big Twins
the touring bike is throttle by wire.
to recalibrate the sensor:
with right hand, turn ignition switch on...wait until fuel pump primes and stops, turn ign. switch off
repeat procedure 4 more times
you may find that NOT using the kill switch to stop the motor will give better results, and use your right hand on the ign. switch...that way the throttle has "zero" input when the bike is powered off.
if bored you can remove and clean the servo motor plug, on the throttle body at 7 oclock, behind the air cleaner- some use dielectric grease on the contacts after cleaning
this is all assuming that you don;t have magic tuner download with awesome maps
mike
to recalibrate the sensor:
with right hand, turn ignition switch on...wait until fuel pump primes and stops, turn ign. switch off
repeat procedure 4 more times
you may find that NOT using the kill switch to stop the motor will give better results, and use your right hand on the ign. switch...that way the throttle has "zero" input when the bike is powered off.
if bored you can remove and clean the servo motor plug, on the throttle body at 7 oclock, behind the air cleaner- some use dielectric grease on the contacts after cleaning
this is all assuming that you don;t have magic tuner download with awesome maps
mike
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 1,096
Likes: 17
From: San Jose
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 4,445
Likes: 2,809
From: Oklahoma
Hope to actually address your question. I have an 08 Road King and once in a while it will idle too fast (I know the cause and the cure). Turning the twist grip "below idle" slows the rpm for as long as I hold it there. Is there a chance you are pushing your twist grip below idle when the engine almost dies? If you have an old habit (from cable throttle bikes) of pulling the front brake and using the friction of your palm against the twist grip to help hold the brake lever, you may be rolling the throttle forward and lowering the idle to the point that the engine almost dies. Based on my experience with only ONE bike, if you are doing the above, I believe it is the nature of the beast and a small modification to your braking technique is needed to avoid the forward roll of the twist grip. The information provided by others is all accurate, I just don't think it addressed your problem and question.
Test the theory. Next time you are in a parking lot, driveway etc. and idling, turn the twist grip forward and see if the same thing happens. If it does, as far as I know, there is no "fix". That's just the way it works.
Test the theory. Next time you are in a parking lot, driveway etc. and idling, turn the twist grip forward and see if the same thing happens. If it does, as far as I know, there is no "fix". That's just the way it works.
Last edited by btsom; Jul 19, 2013 at 08:58 PM.
Hope to actually address your question. I have an 08 Road King and once in a while it will idle too fast (I know the cause and the cure). Turning the twist grip "below idle" slows the rpm for as long as I hold it there. Is there a chance you are pushing your twist grip below idle when the engine almost dies? If you have an old habit (from cable throttle bikes) of pulling the front brake and using the friction of your palm against the twist grip to help hold the brake lever, you may be rolling the throttle forward and lowering the idle to the point that the engine almost dies. Based on my experience with only ONE bike, if you are doing the above, I believe it is the nature of the beast and a small modification to your braking technique is needed to avoid the forward roll of the twist grip. The information provided by others is all accurate, I just don't think it addressed your problem and question.
Test the theory. Next time you are in a parking lot, driveway etc. and idling, turn the twist grip forward and see if the same thing happens. If it does, as far as I know, there is no "fix". That's just the way it works.
Test the theory. Next time you are in a parking lot, driveway etc. and idling, turn the twist grip forward and see if the same thing happens. If it does, as far as I know, there is no "fix". That's just the way it works.
I'm grateful for everybody's replies.
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