Very Strange...

[Brad]

Today I was riding and when I would engage my clutch, the engine would idle really high, let the clutch out in gear to slow the engine down and it returned to normal. It did this about 5 or 6 times, then my clutch cable broke at the throttle end, thought nothing of it, changed it. The same problem is back. When I rev the engine with the clutch cable engaged, it stays at high rev. Any thoughts?

[cywelchjr]

Today I was riding and when I would engage my clutch, the engine would idle really high, let the clutch out in gear to slow the engine down and it returned to normal. It did this about 5 or 6 times, then my clutch cable broke at the throttle end, thought nothing of it, changed it. The same problem is back. When I rev the engine with the clutch cable engaged, it stays at high rev. Any thoughts?

Either the carb sync is off or the carb idle mixture is too lean. Setting the idle mixture properly and doing a sync will likely fix it. Of course make sure there are no vacuum leaks as well, but every time I've had a bike that behaved like you describe a good sync coupled with adjusting the idle mixture fixed it.

[bikerphil]

Check the routing of your throttle cable, might be hanging up or it might need more slack at the handlebar adjustment point.

[DGXSER]

Yep, carb synch is the no 1 cause, followed closely by no 2 vacuum leaks. Synch should be done either way. You can check for vacuum leaks by spraying carb cleaner or the like around the intake boots or unlit propane torch opened up. Engine idle will jump up if there is a vac leak.

[Brad]

Thanks for the tips

Thanks for the tips guys, just finished riding since my last post without a repet of the problem. What I did was change the slack adjustment to a few different settings to find a good setting. When there was very little slack and I gave it lots of throttle, seemed to slip, not grab at higher rpm's. I added some slack and the problem was less, I adjusted until the problem went away. So now that I'm very confused and since I'm also quite new to fixing my XS11, can someone please tell me that if having a tight cable can cause this problem or is this a combination of things?

[petejw]

hi brad,
yep the cable can definately cause the idle to hang,
bikerphil had already commented on the throttle
cable hanging, check the routing and have a small bit
of free play in the cable.

[cywelchjr]

Yep, it can, it's a little less often than the other issues, but as you have found it can and does happen. It can also cause it to rev when you turn the bars if it's too tight as well. There do happen to be common items and I would say that the cable being too tight (or dry and sticking) is the third most common cause.

[Brad]

Thanks again for the info all, I know that the high rev can happen when the throttle cable hangs, my high revs happend when I was in gear and engaged the clutch side.

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Brad,

The clutch cable has nothing to do with the throttle cable...unless it's routed in a way as to put some pressure or pulling affect on the throttle cable when you put tension on the clutch cable, so check your routing....they cross over the engine under the tank!

Aside from your clutch slack adjustment at the handlebar, have you adjusted it at the ENGINE under the round cover on the right side crankcase?? See the tech tips for how to adjust the clutch lever. If the lever is too tight, it can cause the clutch to slip and you will get increased rpms without increased bike speed or velocity, more so in the higher gears!
T.C.