Making Throttle cables

[Dr Bones]

At £100 for a new set of throttle cables has anyone made their own?

The prices below look pretty tempting.

http://www.vehicle-wiring-products.eu/VWP-onlinestore/motorcycle/controlcable.php

A quick tally up suggests that you should be able to get everything required to replace all three throttle cables and the fast idle one for under £25 (OK so you will need a gas torch, solder and some flux)

Or maybe just replace the cable inners?

 

[(RIP) DitchWater]

I'm probably going to have a crack at this for my Yamaha: They want £100 for clutch and throttle cables...

 

[Dr Bones]

Doesn't look too difficult, if I can solder plumbing type stuff this should be fairly easy job.

http://www.sr500forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=40&t=4722

 

[NeilDD]

The kit from VWP is not that good, you would be better off going to Venhill and buying a decent nylon lined extra long universal throttle cable kit, plus extra nipples & ferules.

I used to use VWP but there throttle cable spec is all wrong, too few strands of think wire making it a little stiff. You would be better off getting a higher number of thinner strands to get flexibility.

Venhill do a nice workshop kit which is worth investing in if you have long term plans to make many cables.

Neil

 

[Dr Bones]

Thanks Neil, I was only using VWP as an example because I use them for most of the electrical stuff I buy. I'm not intending making lots of cables, but at £100 for new set from BMW, I'm quite happy to spend a couple of hours making some up. I'll take a look at the Venhill stuff.

Just found the Venhill stuff

http://www.venhill.co.uk/Cables_-_Components_&_Kits/Cable_Components

Prices look pretty good too.

 

[(RIP) DitchWater]

Venhill do a nice workshop kit which is worth investing in if you have long term plans to make many cables.

Neil

Thanks for the info Neil. That is the one have seen and would trust.

 

[ChrisH Kerry]

you would be better off going to Venhill and buying a decent nylon lined extra long universal throttle cable kit, plus extra nipples & ferules.

Yeah, I've been using Venhill for some years for making up throttle and clutch cables (plus the odd brake cable for the oldies - bikes that is ) I have considered making up a set for my 1150GS but the ends that go into the box look like BMW specials from the pics I've seen, so gave up on the idea for now. However if someone knows different - I'd definitely have a go. £100 for four cables, especially when two of them are short, seems pretty steep...

 

[Trullion]

+1on Venhills. I wonder if anyone has ever redesigned the cables? I have an 1100 with the single one. I don't particularly want to convert to the later type. Years ago I had a triumph T140 Bonneville. That had a single cable from the throttle, complete with an adjuster, that went into a cylindrical splitter, from which emerged two cables - one for each carb. They each had an adjuster. I suppose my point is that this was a simple device that worked well enough and could be easily adjusted. The later BMW cable box seems to me to be a typical piece of German over-engineering that adds weight and makes removal of the transmission harder than necessary.

Just a thought.

 

[Steptoe]

I have considered making up a set for my 1150GS but the ends that go into the box look like BMW specials from the pics I've seen, so gave up on the idea for now...

I used to be a regular at venhills In the old days if they knew you they'd let you loose to make your own cables.

Venhills can't supply the flexible holders that bmw use to secure the outers in place.
Buuuuuuuut, if you remove the holders from the old cables and give them to venhills they can add them before they make the cables up. And while they're making them ask for an extra inch length on each cable to make your life easier.

(just make sure you explain what way around they go and which bit goes to what cable )

The later BMW cable box seems to me to be a typical piece of German over-engineering that adds weight and makes removal of the transmission harder than necessary.

Just a thought.

Adds weight ?? That'll be all of four ounces to the 450Ib that the GS weighs And you don't touch it to remove the gearbox ??

 

[ebbo]

Used to make up cables myself years ago including making nipples from bits of brass screws cut down. The main problem I found was getting the solder to flow properly in to the wire strands of the cable. In the end I used lots of active flux to clean the strands and that seemed to do the trick, don’t forget to spread the strands out in to the countersink of the nipple or the wire will pull straight out under load.

 

[bowser]

http://www.speedycables.com

used to get all sorts made up by these people, I am sure they can, however as with other posts the sticking point is the plastic bit that goes into the housing on the handlebar.

If you have the old parts keep.

 

[(RIP) Kaister]

Venhill all the way

We used to get them to make the throttle cables complete for our Tyrrell's