Adjusting throttle cables

[they call me thumper]

Hey guys.

any tips or better yet posts that explain how to adjust the throttle cable so they are as tight as they were before I took the carb off. I marked the cables so I didn't get them mixed up but can't figure out how to make then tight again. I adjusted the nuts and didn't really make it any better.

oh xr650l with stock carb btw. Took it off to do Dave's mod

[brianhare]

the only cable that is adjustable is the pull cable,,it has 2 nuts..the push cable which is the one towards the intake side of the carb has one nut,,you just tighten it down with the larger piece above the bracxket and nut below the bracket.......

 

Post a pic of the cables as you have them on the carb now..i need to make sure you have them on right first..

 

B

[they call me thumper]

So it looks like it's not loose but it's nowhere near as taught as it was.

[ScottRNelson]

Looks good to me.

 

You don't want it to be too tight or you take a chance of it binding.  Obviously you can twist the throttle the other way to get it to shut off, but it's better if the throttle return spring does that automatically.

[brianhare]

So you have the cables on right,,the left or rearmost cable is the one you adjust,,loosen the top thinner nut and loosen the bottom thinner looking nut more,,then tighten the top nut so the actual cable moves upwards will take up any play ..but as said though,you don`t want the cables real tight...you need some free play..

 

B

Edited July 21, 2015 by brianhare

[they call me thumper]

Looks good to me.

You don't want it to be too tight or you take a chance of it binding. Obviously you can twist the throttle the other way to get it to shut off, but it's better if the throttle return spring does that automatically.

the problem is when they are loose it's sticking. Could it be a lube issue or something like that? Would the carb being a bit gunked up make it stick?

[Fivefive1]

Your throttle tube could be pushed up to tight to the bar also. Or the throttle housing could be out of wack. Both of those if not set right can cause throttle stickage.

[brianhare]

was it sticking before ?????????  i would lube the throttle cables..should be done every year or 2 anyway ..i use the lunch bag method as it flushes ALL the old lube and crap out of the cables and makes them buttery smooth in operation..

 

 

LINKY:  https://www.thumpertalk.com/topic/1076826-oil-your-cables/?hl=%2Bcable+%2Blubing#entry11480928

 

B

Edited July 22, 2015 by brianhare

[ScottRNelson]

the problem is when they are loose it's sticking. Could it be a lube issue or something like that? Would the carb being a bit gunked up make it stick?

When I've had sticky throttles before on other bikes, I go through every single part from the grip to the carburetor to verify that each one is not making things stick.  If you go through everything one at a time, you'll be sure to have the smoothes throttle operation.  It can make a noticeable improvement.

[they call me thumper]

No it wasn't sticking before. I'll try adjusting the cable and lubing it and report back

[they call me thumper]

So when I'm doing the cables would it hurt to lube the slide in the carb? It doesn't have anything right now and I don't know if it'd ok to use lube there or not

[Horri]

No point lubing slides. I tried it when my 600s carb which I'd imported used from the states had a sticking carb problem. Fact is the slide was duffed ,,ie the carb was junk..I didn't blame the bike parts guy as theirs no way he would have known their was an issue with something like that. Chances are you have something assembled wrong..As has been said make sure their is a gap of 5-10mm between the end of the handlebars and the end of the throttle housing. Those clamps which hold XR throttle assemblies on the bars together are also darn difficult to get together sometimes..it's easy to get cockups in that area. Whether the 650 would be the same I dunno but wouldn't be at all surprised..You don't want really tight cables anyway..well I don't. 

[Horri]

What I really should have said about those inner parts of throttle housings is theirs bits of plastic in them that are sort of guides. If you get things a bit crossed op internally in there you'll get issues..Pull the housing apart and double check things..It can be a pain in the butt assembling those bits..thats a warning.. Tighten the front bolt on the assembly first..the one closest to you gets done second and doesn't need to be as tight as a shut clam..bit of gap there is ok..experiment with things in that area also..

Edited July 29, 2015 by Horri

[brianhare]

Lube on most parts of the carb attracts diurt,,which makes a grinding paste..which isn`t good.there really is no area on a carb where you need to lubricate..

 

B

[they call me thumper]

Would someone be kind enough to post a pic of how the cables are supposed to be adjusted at the throttle. I'm not sure with the adjustable one how much to use the adjustment

[they call me thumper]

Got it back together Saturday and the flush fixed the sticking. Thanks for the tips

[brianhare]

flushing and lubing the cables every year makes a huge difference...my clutch with heavy duty springs actual has an easier pull than the last 4 bikes i`ve had in the shop.......should be harder..

 

B