I had a hunch...............

[jeffe]

Last week I was going thru my head and thinking about some other things I should replace on my 78E. The first thing that popped into my mind was "I bet these are the original clutch and throttle cables. " They are working fine, I've even lubed but them, but they are 28 years old. But that was as far as it went, but I had a hunch.

Wife and I went for a nice ride this last Saturday. 350miles down thru Southern Ohio. Nice lunch at the great 50's style Diner 23 in Waveley, a stop at Serpant Mound , and finally worked our way back up to Springfield to see my mom. Great day so far......
As we were heading back to Westerville on route 40 the bike went back to idle and the throttle turned uselessly in my hand. &^%&$$^%$%$*% I thought. "What happened?" my wife asked. "The **&&*^&^^$*****@!@~~ THROTTLE CABLE broke. " I said. "Is that bad?"she said. "What the *(&*&^^#@!** do you think?" I replied. Then the conversation went downhill from here.
Well anyway. After a not succesfull try at a roadside repair got the bike towed back home. Don't ask how much that was.

My point is if you have a hunch that something needs attention there is probally a reason. Needless to say there is a new throttel cable installed and spare throttle and clutch cable in the trunk.

[webbcraft2150]

Similar grief.
'95 model boat w/mercruiser. Has two relays, fuel pump and ignition. H'mmm, maybe I should carry a spare since they are both the same relay. Ah, I will get em next trip. Last trip out, 15 miles from where I put in, the fire breathin small block goes dead. No restart. Open the hatch and take a look, no fuel to motor. Fuel pump not giving its usual "whirring" noise. $300 tow back to the ramp. Dump the now POS boat in the driveway. Better frame of mind the next day to troubleshoot. $14 relay took a dump. Replace relay, put spare in glovebox. Finish beer left over from previous day and ponder my $300 tow bill while eyeing my 80g with orginial cables. Now, where's my Dennis Kirk catalog?

[jeffe]

It is so easy to be smart after the fact isn't it?

[webbcraft2150]

Also make ya think about those fuses under that cover and the "main" under the left cover. Don't forget the little flashlight you stashed on the bike so you don't have to change a blown fuse with a lighter, in a 10 mph breeze, while it raining. We won't even talk about where the spare key is stashed, in the sock drawer is not a good place.

[UncleSpot]

...and WHERE did you get your new throttle cable...??

I, too, have a hunch - to replace the throttle cable (NOW) because:
....'got a trip planned (finally) to the N.rim of the Grand Canyon right after Labor Day - an old friend, whom I haven't seen in several years, stopped by the shop yesterday and he is up for the ride there - he's got a FJ1200 and we're gonna do a 'Blitz-ride' through Yosemite, over the hill into Nevada and up to Zion Natl park and down into the N.Rim (Grand Canyon). We should be camped out at the East Rim the 1st night... Then we're just gonna ride where it looks "right"

...and I could just see the cable breaking in the middle of NOwhere........... so, if I order one now I'll still have time to replace it BEFORE the trip.......

[webbcraft2150]

From my days of the cable eating Norton, run the spare next to the operational one. Tape it or wire tie it. Cover the exposed end with black tape and your on the road swap should be alot easier, as long as you have the right tools. (I practiced this in the garage to make sure I could do it).

[BOYZSBLUE]

WHERE TO GET CABLES

DIDO; ANY GOOD PLACES TO GET CABLES






BOYZSBLUE [ LEON ]

[jeffe]

Bikebandit has one for a 79. I was told by other people on the site that should fit. I ordered the spare for the new one from Rice Paddy here in Central Ohio. They have a website.

[UncleSpot]

I DID find both cables at BikeBandit...

this was for an 80 SG:

Bike Bandit
under Handlebar-Cable
item # 4: CABLE,THROTTLE 1
part Nr: 34288-001
Price: $21.62


item # 6: CABLE,CLUTCH
part Nr: 34289-001
Price: $18.66

[BOYZSBLUE]

CABLES

THANKS UNCLESPOT,


GOING TO GET RIGHT ON THIS.
DON'T WANT THAT HAPPENING OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERES. THATS JUST MY LUCK THANKS AGAIN




BOYZSBLUE [LEON ]

[Lamric]

My throttle cable went this summer when I was 50 miles from home.

Following advice from a fellow XS'ive I turned the idle speed right up as far as it would go, put the bike into first gear, clutch in and started her up.

She made between 30 and 40 mile an hour on the way back depending on the hills. The engine screams at traffic lights so hit the kill switch and leave it in gear.

Now I carry a spare under the tank !

[mro]

Spares?

Spare H4 blub when outa town would be nice.

Last time low beam went out, took out high beam too........



mro

[AKMac]

You know, I accidentally ordered a throttle cable off bike bandit. I'm not really sure how, but I was completely surprised to see it in my giant box of parts.

Do you think that's a sign I need to replace it?

[jeffe]

I think it is a sign!!!