Adjusting throttle cables..

[VirginiaJim]

What's the best way to adjust the throttle cables.  I get totally discombobulated in figuring out which cable does what and how it should be adjusted.

[Conrad]

What's the best way to adjust the throttle cables.  I get totally discombobulated in figuring out which cable does what and how it should be adjusted.

Have someone who knows what they're doing do it for you. Preferably while you watch while drinking a cold beer.

[B.D.F.]

Just adjust them both at the same time, with your fingers only (do NOT use a wrench when adjusting- only tightening your nuts (easy!)), evenly until there is no slack. Just don't go beyond 'no slack' into the part there the cables actually keep the throttle tube under tension 'cause it will cause undue wear.

Another thing on these bikes with aluminum handlebars- the aluminum gets pretty worn and makes a terrible bearing surface. Someone suggested Teflon tape (the plain ole' plumber's tape) and to my amazement, it worked fantastic. Clean the handlebar and the inside the the throttle tube well, leave them dry and use one wrap of tape evenly placed on the handlebar and the throttle will act like it is new only better.

Brian

What's the best way to adjust the throttle cables.  I get totally discombobulated in figuring out which cable does what and how it should be adjusted.

[VirginiaJim]

Have someone who knows what they're doing do it for you. Preferably while you watch while drinking a cold beer.

There's no one at my house I would trust adjusting my throttle cables.  Either that or I'd have to upgrade to martinis in order to allow such a thing.

Just adjust them both at the same time, with your fingers only (do NOT use a wrench when adjusting- only tightening your nuts (easy!)), evenly until there is no slack. Just don't go beyond 'no slack' into the part there the cables actually keep the throttle tube under tension 'cause it will cause undue wear.

Another thing on these bikes with aluminum handlebars- the aluminum gets pretty worn and makes a terrible bearing surface. Someone suggested Teflon tape (the plain ole' plumber's tape) and to my amazement, it worked fantastic. Clean the handlebar and the inside the the throttle tube well, leave them dry and use one wrap of tape evenly placed on the handlebar and the throttle will act like it is new only better.

Brian

I don't think I need my nuts any tighter than they already are.  So no worries there.  I can't picture where you are putting the teflon tape, though.

[maxtog]

Another thing on these bikes with aluminum handlebars- the aluminum gets pretty worn and makes a terrible bearing surface. Someone suggested Teflon tape (the plain ole' plumber's tape) and to my amazement, it worked fantastic. Clean the handlebar and the inside the the throttle tube well, leave them dry and use one wrap of tape evenly placed on the handlebar and the throttle will act like it is new only better.

Interestingly, I seemed to gain the same effect when I installed the Throttle Tamer.  The stock tube is plastic.  The Tamer is aluminum but with Delrin:  "Self-lubricating Delrin bushings at each end of tube eliminate aluminum-to-aluminum contact and provide an ultra-smooth feel".  I was amazed at how much smoother the throttle was compared to stock, and my bike isn't that old/worn.

[B.D.F.]

Yep, you do get the exact same effect- Delrin is not a bad surface to act as a bearing. Not the equal of Teflon but way ahead of that thermoset stuff they use for the throttle tube in the first place.

The basic problem is the aluminum handlebar itself- Al is a terrible bearing surface. A shot of something like silicone lube works OK for a very short time but it is long enough to sell the bike. Then the owner has a deteriorating situation with every mile that goes by but it isn't all that noticeable until it gets downright awful.

The Teflon tape trick has got to be one of the biggest 'bang for the buck' adjustment in the world both in terms of cost and effort. Betcha' it even makes a big difference with a throttle tamer....

Brian

Interestingly, I seemed to gain the same effect when I installed the Throttle Tamer.  The stock tube is plastic.  The Tamer is aluminum but with Delrin:  "Self-lubricating Delrin bushings at each end of tube eliminate aluminum-to-aluminum contact and provide an ultra-smooth feel".  I was amazed at how much smoother the throttle was compared to stock, and my bike isn't that old/worn.

[VirginiaJim]

I'd still like to have pictures of that...

[B.D.F.]

The tape goes on the handlebar, under where the throttle tube rides. Or put another way, on the entire handlebar that is exposed (easy boys!) when the throttle tube is removed from the bike. No more than two coats of tape though or the tube won't fit back on the handlebar (it would be like wearing too many condo..... nevermind). So no more than a 1/2 overlap on the tape when the handlebar is wrapped. Think of how your handlebar would look if it went through the mummification process in ancient Egypt. Or the way you would cover it with one layer of electrical tape so it would no longer conduct electricity.

Brian

There's no one at my house I would trust adjusting my throttle cables.  Either that or I'd have to upgrade to martinis in order to allow such a thing.

I don't think I need my nuts any tighter than they already are.  So no worries there.  I can't picture where you are putting the teflon tape, though.

[jtk1531]

after adjustment, don't forget to start the engine and turn the handlebars from lock to lock. if rpm rises or drop, you need to put in a bit of slack.
cable tension changes a bit based on handlebar position.

[martin_14]

after adjustment, don't forget to start the engine and turn the handlebars from lock to lock. if rpm rises or drop, you need to put in a bit of slack.
cable tension changes a bit based on handlebar position.

+1
I was really proud of myself when I performed my throttle cable adjustment the first time. It worked wonderfully in the garage. Then I went for a ride...
Back to square one and it took some minutes to figure that out.

[CADMAN97]

It's been a while since I've done mine, but I'm pretty sure you want to adjust it so the return (close) cable is tight (always able to snap the throttle close), & you take the slack out of the throttle (open) cable.

[Fretka]

Just adjust them both at the same time, with your fingers only (do NOT use a wrench when adjusting- only tightening your nuts (easy!)), evenly until there is no slack. Just don't go beyond 'no slack' into the part there the cables actually keep the throttle tube under tension 'cause it will cause undue wear.

Another thing on these bikes with aluminum handlebars- the aluminum gets pretty worn and makes a terrible bearing surface. Someone suggested Teflon tape (the plain ole' plumber's tape) and to my amazement, it worked fantastic. Clean the handlebar and the inside the the throttle tube well, leave them dry and use one wrap of tape evenly placed on the handlebar and the throttle will act like it is new only better.

Brian

Teflon tape?   What a great idea. Whoever thought that up must be brilliant, vital, excellent conversationalist, good looking etc............................ and humble too.

Fretka

[gPink]

Teflon tape?   What a great idea. Whoever thought that up must be brilliant, vital, excellent conversationalist, good looking etc............................ and humble too.

Fretka

  long time no see...how you doing?

[zarticus]

I adjust mine with a little slack in them, I find that with no slack the throttle is WAY to jerkey.

[VirginiaJim]

Slackers!

[tomp]

My throttle has around 5mm slack.  It doesn't really concern me, but I usually set my throttles with almost zero slack, but was unsure on the C14, so I didn't mess with it.  To me it has slack similar to what Harley techs put on bikes, which I think is way too much.  Guess I will tighten out the slack this week and see how it works for me.  tp

[Conniesaki]

My throttle has around 5mm slack.  It doesn't really concern me, but I usually set my throttles with almost zero slack, but was unsure on the C14, so I didn't mess with it.  To me it has slack similar to what Harley techs put on bikes, which I think is way too much.  Guess I will tighten out the slack this week and see how it works for me.  tp

Good ... cuz Harleys exist to show what not to do   

[Fretka]

  long time no see...how you doing?

Wellll..... last time I was here my hair had a little brown in it, that's turned to gray now. Found some meds that help my back pain quite a bit. Otherwise pretty good. Still ride the Duc every chance I get (mental health therapy of the best kind). Prolly going to sell my house here in Cal. and find a quieter cheaper place to spend the tail-end of my crazy life.

[Mister Tee]

How do you remove the throttle tube?  I'd like to clean off the handlebar and maybe do the tape thing.  I've been using Dupont Teflon dry lube to spray in there - it works pretty well but not perfect.

[maxtog]

How do you remove the throttle tube?  I'd like to clean off the handlebar and maybe do the tape thing.  I've been using Dupont Teflon dry lube to spray in there - it works pretty well but not perfect.

See threads on Throttle Tamer, such as: http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=15650