Heavy throttle again....grrrr...any ideas?

[Tobers]

Hi all,

I'd been suffering from a stiff/heavy throttle and had the throttle cables changed under warranty about 3 weeks ago. The new cables resulted in a beautifully light and precise throttle action which was so much better than previously.

However, the action is now getting heavy again (I hesitate to say "stiff" due to obvious banal comments that will surely come). This makes the bike just horrible to ride and means I have to grip the throttle quite tightly, and dont have the usual level of fine control for filtering etc.

Why is this happening? There must be something causing it. I've disconnected the cable at the grip end to ensure the grip moves freely, which it does. I'm convinced something is going on with the cables as they exit the "splitter box" behind the tank - there are a couple of quite tight curves there that the cable has to run through.

Obviously I'll see if Vines can fix it, but I'm more interested in not having it happening again by fixing the underlying cause.

There must be some cable experts out there somewhere....

Andy

 

[pikeydave]

No smoke and mirrors involved here! Keeping my 1150 smooth and light means a regular application of a v.light oil to the throttle cable by detaching the cable from the handlebar and I also detached the cables to the throttle butterflies and made sure they had just a hint of lube (not too much it gets dusty down there!) and no fraying of cables (I would hope not applicable to you but my 1100 used to fray its cable just by the LH adjuster)
The HP2 has developed a squeeking throttle cable in just 200 miles so will be having that apart soon!

 

[Detox]

Don't know the design of the 1200 but I used to suffer the same on my 1100 when using the heated grips. Dismantled throttle assembly, cleaned lubed - sorted.

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

No smoke and mirrors involved here! Keeping my 1150 smooth and light means a regular application of a v.light oil to the throttle cable

It obviously works for you, but I've always been told never to oil moddern cables as they are invariably nylon / PVC coated on the inside and oil will swell the plastic over time, having the opposite effect to that desired

Andres

 

[Tobers]

"always been told never to oil moddern cables as they are invariably nylon / PVC coated on the inside and oil will swell the plastic over time, having the opposite effect to that desired"

Yes, that's what Vines said - dont oil them. I haven't oiled them so it cant be that. And the new cables are only about 3 weeks old.

 

[harry]

Tobers, does this happen only when Heated Grips are in use? As someone said earlier the grips expand some thing slightly.Check around.

 

[pikeydave]

Well don't oil them and have a stiff throttle. I'll keep oiling my nearly 3yr old cable on GS with 26k worth of twisting, my 4 yr old cable on 10yr old RT with 30k worth of twisting but both with nice actions!

Unhinged! where are you? tell 'em about me nice throttle!!

Dainty wristed Pikeydave.

 

[(RIP) Kaister]

Tobers - is one a pull and the other a return pull ? - like on jap bikes ?

if so - the return pull needs more slack.

 

[Mouse]

The 1200 has a single throttle cable only, no return pull cable.

 

[longdog]

You could try this...........................

 

[birdseye]

Why is this happening? There must be something causing it.

Andy

There is something causing the repeat problem - incompetent mechanics at Vines. I suggest you dont even bother asking others and getting other opinions, its Vines job to put right what they failed to do properly last time.

Do it yourself and you are letting them off the hook.

 

[JerryP]

I would definitely try lubing the cables, if an oil based product is not advised then I would use a silicone based lubricant. I am no expert, but silicone is pretty inert when it comes to plastics AFAIK.

I get my silicone spray from an electronics wholesaler (CPC plc) but I do have a have a similar product (red spray can) knocking around in the garage that I recall was given away with a bottle of Slick 50, many moons ago.

As the problem seems unique to your bike, maybe experiment with the cable routing. Get someone to move the cables around whilst you test the throttle movement.

 

[Alphason]

You could try this...........................

What difference would wearing a yellow wrist band make

 

[NeilG]

"always been told never to oil moddern cables as they are invariably nylon / PVC coated on the inside and oil will swell the plastic over time, having the opposite effect to that desired"

Yes, that's what Vines said - dont oil them. I haven't oiled them so it cant be that. And the new cables are only about 3 weeks old.

Suggest either PTFE or silicon oil spray......

Shouldn't affect the plastic in the same way that a mineral oil would. PTFE would probably be best, I've used it previously to good effect.

 

[Marty Hill]

I doubt that lubing the cable will solve the problem. The dealer must spend more time and find the problem...it should not happen this soon.

 

[plasmatron]

I've noticed that the RHS cable had been scraping against the back of the air box, there is a notch in said air box ridge, obviously designed for the cable housing to run through, but it had still been scraping, the outer protective sheath has been worn away a little although the inner black cable housing looked fine I woulnd't be surpsrised if there was some distortion that *may* effect throttle action...

 

[Tobers]

I think I'll start experimenting by isolating sections of the cable. I've previously lubed the throttle tube and have confirmed that it moves freely, even with the heated grips on.

Then its the cable from the grip to the splitter box, then the left and right cables coming out of the box, and lastly the throttle cams themselves.

I suspect it's like last time when its the right side throttle link cable which is dodgy, but why it's recurred I dont know. Very strange....

 

[prop]

Tobers,
This has happened to my bike, and I like you had new cables fitted which only lasted a short time. I have fixed it myself by removing rust from the handlebar, where the throttle turns and I noticed that both throttle body covers, which were fitted as a recall, were catching. I have removed these and binned them. I am still not 100% happy with it and might try new return springs next. They maybe becoming weak with use, 32k miles on 04 model.
Prop