Throttle and choke cables

[Cliff A.]

The (original) throttle cables on my 1984 R65ls have very little moment.
Bike has sat for 4 years
Having read some of the post on the forum this can be an interesting undertaking.
They have one cable running down from the grip to a splitter under the tank.
Lube? inspect? replace?
Appreciate any and all help.

Thanks

[mrclubike]

You may want to make sure your throttle shaft are free.
Try to lube and see what happens.
I think  the service manuals say not to lube them.
I replaced mine  

[montmil]

Yes, the OEM grease within the twist grip assembly may be as hard as the same grease in the steering stem bearings. There may also be old grease on the handlebar portion beneath the throttle tube.

The two gear-toothed elements inside the throttle assembly go back together properly only if the small alignment marks -one on each gear- are directly opposite each other.

If you have not yet confirmed smooth operations of the carburetor's butterfly shafts, check those items, too.

The throttle cable junction 'box' is more fun than a Rubic's Cube!

[Tony Smith]

Y

The throttle cable junction 'box' is more fun than a Rubic's Cube!

I agree. The first time I was confronted by a Rubic's cube, way back in the 70s, I looked at at while, derived how it worked and pulled apart and put it back together solved.

The first time I was confronted by BMW's dreaded cable junction box I recall a lot more swearing and frustration. And what really, really irritated me was that like so much that BMW does it was a solution to a problem that didn't exist, and created new problems all by itself.

I have accumulated the necessary parts to revert my 1984 to twin throttle cables - take that BMW!

[Cliff A.]

The throttle shaft on the LH carb is froze up.
It is soaking in some penetrating oil

Monte
is your comment (The two gear-toothed elements inside the throttle assembly go back together properly only if the small alignment marks -one on each gear- are directly opposite each other.) to do with the hand grip and chain gears? I had that apart and didn't see any marks.

Thanks all
Never was any good with a Rubic's cube

[Cliff A.]

Do you lube your cables?

[montmil]

... is your comment (The two gear-toothed elements inside the throttle assembly go back together properly only if the small alignment marks -one on each gear- are directly opposite each other.) to do with the hand grip and chain gears? I had that apart and didn't see any marks.

Clean and examine the throttle twist tube. You may see a part number cast into the area near the gear teeth. Look closely for a short, straight scratch mark approx 180 degrees from the cast number. This will align with a small, raised ridge on the throttle cam gear.

To aid in correct assembly, place the throttle tube on to the handle bar and position it with the mark on top. Lay the cam gear in place with the chain extended outward as far as it will go. You will probably spot alignment ridge adjacent the scribed mark.

If there is no ridge guide on the throttle cam gear, mesh the gear with the throttle tube and test with the cable and cover plate installed. Peek into the carb intake and check that the butterfly valve is fully opened. If butterflys are open and you have no twist grip binding, you're good to go. Perhaps mark both gears for future reference.

Sounds fiddly but it's really not

[montmil]

... If you have not yet confirmed smooth operations of the carburetor's butterfly shafts, check those items, too.

How's 'bout dat! Even a blind hog finds an acorn now and then.

Could be corrosion. There are two small o-rings on each shaft. Plus, to remove the shaft, you must v-e-r-y carefully figure a way to safely remove the two small brass screws holding the b'fly to the shaft. Then there's the question wether to peen or not to peen the replacement screws. Bend that brass shaft and, well, don't do that.

If you can free up the shafts, I'd leave them be until you get the engine making steam. Then, you can decide about the shaft issue, if it even is an issue.

I've never lubed a throttle cable on any of my three Airheads.

[mrclubike]

You may want to make sure your throttle shaft are free.
  

Hey i said it First  

[Cliff A.]

Thanks, will proceed

But, just stop your fighting

[wilcom]

Then there's the question wether to peen or not to peen the replacement screws. Bend that brass shaft and, well, don't do that.
 

I didn't peen and the motor ate the screw in less than 10 miles

Just say'n.................

[montmil]

Then there's the question wether to peen or not to peen the replacement screws. Bend that brass shaft and, well, don't do that.
 

I didn't peen and the motor ate the screw in less than 10 miles

Just say'n.................

Ouch! That's gonna leave a mark.

[Bob_Roller]

A hidden problem with a stiff throttle, is the gears in the throttle housing .

They are made from cheap ' pot metal ', they wear and bind up the throttle .

The throttle and choke splitters are not that big of an issue .

The problem with from what I've seen, the ' 82 and later bikes have problems with removing the cables from the plastic plug inside the splitter .

Had me puzzled for a bit !!!

Solution, open up the slots on the plastic plug at the top of the grooves for the cables, so the cables can come out the side of the side and not the top .

Once you do it a few times, it's only a two minute job .

I used to lube the cables every year, but when I got my oilhead 14 years ago, I decided not to lube them and see what happens, 14 years and 60,000 miles and still no issues .

[wilcom]

I didn't peen and the motor ate the screw in less than 10 miles

Just say'n.................


Ouch! That's gonna leave a mark.

I got lucky and it just left a few dents on the head and a few on the crown, nothing deep. Dremel'd the sharp edges and continued to march.................cudda been a lot worse.

[Matt Chapter]

If there is no ridge guide on the throttle cam gear

... clean the grease off and look again.

Speaking of, I need to lube said gears. any particular sort of grease recommended?