Valkpilot
Member
Posts: 2151
What does the data say?
Corinth, Texas
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« on: July 25, 2013, 03:19:16 PM » |
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...of parts to carry on trips.
My throttle cable snapped right at the throttle tube, while riding west of Aluquerque, 70 miles into a 800 mile day that would terminate in San Diego.
Rigged a repair by swapping the return cable into its place, but it's not a good fit and required two additional re-repairs. Cost us four extra hours and made for long, loooonnnng day of riding.
Note to self: Add to future wrench party agendas.
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« Last Edit: July 25, 2013, 05:19:43 PM by Valkpilot »
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VRCC #19757 IBA #44686 1998 Black Standard 2007 Goldwing   |
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Skinhead
Member
Posts: 8724
J. A. B. O. A.
Troy, MI
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« Reply #1 on: July 25, 2013, 04:46:27 PM » |
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I put a spare in my bag after Smokin'joe had one go out on him.
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 Troy, MI |
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hotglue #43
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« Reply #2 on: July 25, 2013, 06:53:05 PM » |
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I've got a brand new set in the shop.... think I'll just put 'em on so I don't have ta carry them...  |
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 blue=3 times green=at least 4 times When they are all 'green'.. I'll stop counting. |
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BuzzKill
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« Reply #3 on: July 25, 2013, 07:06:14 PM » |
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Or you could just lay off the throttle a bit.... nevermind... we should probably all get one then!
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hotglue #43
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« Reply #4 on: July 25, 2013, 07:15:18 PM » |
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Or you could just lay off the throttle a bit....
Yeah .... Right!!!!!! |
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blue=3 times green=at least 4 times When they are all 'green'.. I'll stop counting. |
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BnB Tom
Member
Posts: 1708
Where'd old times go?
Frisco, TX
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« Reply #5 on: July 26, 2013, 05:07:30 AM » |
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I know you packed at least an extra 143 parts in your saddle bags. Just hope you remembered THIS bag!   |
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LL
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« Reply #6 on: July 26, 2013, 05:11:38 AM » |
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I've got a brand new set in the shop.... think I'll just put 'em on so I don't have ta carry them... You haven't installed those YET? LL |
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 VRCC #472 |
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MarcusS
Member
Posts: 311
New To Me August 2013
North Houston
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« Reply #7 on: July 26, 2013, 05:23:43 AM » |
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I replaced my cables when I replaced my starter switch. Kept the old ones. They are cheap and easy to replace when you are in your garage.
How can they be inspected for wear?
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Life goes on whether you are in it for the ride or not.
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hotglue #43
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« Reply #8 on: July 26, 2013, 06:30:51 AM » |
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I've got a brand new set in the shop.... think I'll just put 'em on so I don't have ta carry them... You haven't installed those YET? LL I'll do it when I pull the carbs to re-build with new rubber parts... |
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blue=3 times green=at least 4 times When they are all 'green'.. I'll stop counting. |
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SideCar
Member
Posts: 1493
Bikers don't need shrinks!
Colleyville, TX
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« Reply #9 on: July 26, 2013, 01:24:57 PM » |
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I think I'll change mine over to the "fly by wire".
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Wanderer
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« Reply #10 on: July 27, 2013, 07:01:12 AM » |
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I think I'll change mine over to the "fly by wire".
... when you do the EFI and ABS mods! ~Jeff |
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More Valk Pics...had a couple of Valks once upon a time 2004 DRZ400S 2005 GS1200 1978 CB550K 1977 CB550F
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Valkpilot
Member
Posts: 2151
What does the data say?
Corinth, Texas
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« Reply #11 on: July 29, 2013, 06:52:05 PM » |
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So...JC and I are back from California.
When the throttle cable snapped on Wednesday, I called my son in San Diego and asked him to contact a Honda dealer near him and get some cables ordered. The dealer didn't have them in stock, but they were available from a local warehouse, so we picked them up Thursday and installed them on Friday. Good as new.
Wait, they are new. Never mind.
I should report that the repair that I jerry-rigged worked, but required a couple of modifications before it finally got us the last 500 miles without further adjustment.
You have to swap the cable positions at both the throttle sleeve and down below on the spring cam for the throttle assembly. Unfortunately, you have to pull the tank to properly access the danged thing. So three times worked on means three times the tank was pulled. It gets old.
Also, the return cable is about 1 to 1.5 inches shorter than the throttle pull cable. This means that it won't fit in the stay bracket by the cam unless you're comfortable with the bike idling at about 2500 rpm. So, first I tried to wedge it in place, which led to the first re-repair. Then we zip tied it, which worked better, but eventually led to the second re-repair. This re-repair held, but I had no slack in the throttle, which resulted in some interesting standing starts.
I had a 10 am engagement in San Diego on Thursday that was a must-be-there event. All in all, the repairs cost us about 4 hours. Neither JC or I like riding in the dark, but this meant that we had to -- from Phoenix to San Diego, including a stretch of mountains east of SD with winds so strong they almost pushed the wheels out from under us as we leaned through the curves. In the dark. Which we hate. We arrived at 1:30 am on Thursday instead of the planned 9:00 pm on Wednesday. In total, 730 out of 800 miles was ridden with the cable swap in place.
P.S. When JC sends me his photos, I'll post yet another picture of my gear scattered all over an interstate shoulder. We could make a collage.
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VRCC #19757 IBA #44686 1998 Black Standard 2007 Goldwing |
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RainMaker
Member
Posts: 6626
VRCC#24130 - VRCCDS#0117 - IBA#48473
Arlington, TX
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« Reply #12 on: July 30, 2013, 04:36:05 AM » |
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I've ordered a set of cables while in Omaha and will add them to my "saddlebag of tricks". Let's see - alternator, u-joint, kickstand spring, kickstand bolt, mushroom plugs, throttle cables, tools to repair, road flares - CHECK.
If only I had the talent to come up with such inventive methods of using what I have when something breaks. Would save a lot of bag space!
Glad you and JC have returned safely from la-la land.
RM
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 2005 BMW R1200 GS 2000 Valkyrie Interstate 1998 Valkyrie Tourer 1981 GL1100I GoldWing 1972 CB500K1 |
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BnB Tom
Member
Posts: 1708
Where'd old times go?
Frisco, TX
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« Reply #13 on: July 30, 2013, 05:18:23 AM » |
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So...JC and I are back from California.
When the throttle cable snapped on Wednesday, I called my son in San Diego and asked him to contact a Honda dealer near him and get some cables ordered. The dealer didn't have them in stock, but they were available from a local warehouse, so we picked them up Thursday and installed them on Friday. Good as new.
Wait, they are new. Never mind.
I should report that the repair that I jerry-rigged worked, but required a couple of modifications before it finally got us the last 500 miles without further adjustment.
You have to swap the cable positions at both the throttle sleeve and down below on the spring cam for the throttle assembly. Unfortunately, you have to pull the tank to properly access the danged thing. So three times worked on means three times the tank was pulled. It gets old.
Also, the return cable is about 1 to 1.5 inches shorter than the throttle pull cable. This means that it won't fit in the stay bracket by the cam unless you're comfortable with the bike idling at about 2500 rpm. So, first I tried to wedge it in place, which led to the first re-repair. Then we zip tied it, which worked better, but eventually led to the second re-repair. This re-repair held, but I had no slack in the throttle, which resulted in some interesting standing starts.
I had a 10 am engagement in San Diego on Thursday that was a must-be-there event. All in all, the repairs cost us about 4 hours. Neither JC or I like riding in the dark, but this meant that we had to -- from Phoenix to San Diego, including a stretch of mountains east of SD with winds so strong they almost pushed the wheels out from under us as we leaned through the curves. In the dark. Which we hate. We arrived at 1:30 am on Thursday instead of the planned 9:00 pm on Wednesday. In total, 730 out of 800 miles was ridden with the cable swap in place.
P.S. When JC sends me his photos, I'll post yet another picture of my gear scattered all over an interstate shoulder. We could make a collage.
And so ends another chapter in "Repairs on the Road" by Dave 'Valkpilot' Barnett. (Or - "How I Spend My Motorcycle Vacations")  I'm just jealous. You're very creative. I'm glad you were able to make the fix work well enough to make it to your meeting on time |
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Disco
Member
Posts: 4896
Armed Man=Citizen; Unarmed Man=Subject
Republic of Texas
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« Reply #14 on: July 30, 2013, 08:29:23 AM » |
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Glad you two are back safe and relatively sound.
Looking forward to pics of the failed cable.
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2000 Bumblebee "Tourer", 98 Yellow & Cream Tourer, 97 Rescue blower bike 22 CRF450RL, 19 BMW R1250RT 78 CB550K 71 Suzuki MT50 Trailhopper .jpg) VRCC 27,916 IBA 44,783 |
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HayHauler
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« Reply #15 on: July 30, 2013, 09:16:48 AM » |
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I'm thinking relatively sound is about the same condition that they left in. No? Glad you 2 are back safe. Hay  Jimmyt P.S. makes me glad I replaced mine with Motion Pro braided stainless ones while I had her down for paint and maintenance. |
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Valkpilot
Member
Posts: 2151
What does the data say?
Corinth, Texas
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« Reply #16 on: July 30, 2013, 09:46:31 AM » |
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I've ordered a set of cables while in Omaha and will add them to my "saddlebag of tricks". Let's see - alternator, u-joint, kickstand spring, kickstand bolt, mushroom plugs, throttle cables, tools to repair, road flares - CHECK.
If only I had the talent to come up with such inventive methods of using what I have when something breaks. Would save a lot of bag space!
Glad you and JC have returned safely from la-la land.
RM
It was intensely frustrating. I'd gone over the bike with a fine-toothed comb. I had serviced the rear drive line from the output shaft back; replaced both tires; swapped the rear wheel with a spare when, during the tire change, I found the bearings were going bad; new brakes front and rear; changed oil; changed coolant. Was going to change the blinker fluid, but the heavy weight wasn't in stock. I was prepared for most repair scenarios with a full tool set and spares of most of the stuff-that-might-break: u-joint; front & rear bearings; valve stems; electrical kit; tire pump; jumper cables; petcock cover set (which I did, in fact, use); spare clutch, brake levers, & bushings; kickstand bolt & spring; rear drive o-rings & thrust washer; vacuum tube & caps... All to no avail. |
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VRCC #19757 IBA #44686 1998 Black Standard 2007 Goldwing |
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BnB Tom
Member
Posts: 1708
Where'd old times go?
Frisco, TX
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« Reply #17 on: July 31, 2013, 05:35:54 AM » |
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And the irony of it all Your riding buddy on this trip (JC) took almost no preventative pre-flight actions and had ZERO problems  Go figure |
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« Last Edit: July 31, 2013, 05:38:44 AM by BnB Tom »
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HayHauler
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« Reply #18 on: July 31, 2013, 06:48:02 AM » |
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Funny (strange kind) that I did exactly everything you did, but add rebuilding the clutch and front brake master cylinders, rebuilt the front calipers, replaced the intake o-rings, replaced the carbs, AND replaced the throttle cables with new Motion-Pro units. Maybe I should have replaced the choke cable too? Oh well, throttle cables won't keep her from running down the road. Hay Jimmyt |
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Valkpilot
Member
Posts: 2151
What does the data say?
Corinth, Texas
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« Reply #19 on: July 31, 2013, 07:03:08 AM » |
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Funny (strange kind) that I did exactly everything you did, but add rebuilding the clutch and front brake master cylinders, rebuilt the front calipers, replaced the intake o-rings, replaced the carbs, AND replaced the throttle cables with new Motion-Pro units. Maybe I should have replaced the choke cable too? Oh well, throttle cables won't keep her from running down the road. Hay Jimmyt Looking at the parts fische, I might could have moved the choke cable over and used it as the throttle cable. It appears that the attachment at the switch housing is the same and the length might have been more amenable to fitting in the stay at the cam. Something to store away in the ol' electro-chemical RAM in our noggins for future emergency purposes. |
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VRCC #19757 IBA #44686 1998 Black Standard 2007 Goldwing |
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franco6
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« Reply #20 on: July 31, 2013, 08:52:32 AM » |
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It s always what you don t have that you ll need .I realy see a reason for a trailer!  or like the bike clubs have a spare parts van following! course they were hardlys  |
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Enjoy the ride!
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Valkpilot
Member
Posts: 2151
What does the data say?
Corinth, Texas
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« Reply #21 on: July 31, 2013, 07:07:11 PM » |
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As promised:  |
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VRCC #19757 IBA #44686 1998 Black Standard 2007 Goldwing |
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Big Ed
Member
Posts: 333
2001 Standard - 1998 Project Bike
Dallas - Fort Worth, TX
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« Reply #22 on: August 08, 2013, 10:13:40 AM » |
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Dave,
Another example of good old fashioned American ingenuity. The things that made this country great.
Awesome job jerry-rigging the cable to get you to your destination. With that type of engineering prowless you should run for Chapter President.
Oh wait, you already are. Nevermind...
Good job..!!
Ride safe....
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