Topic: those broke down cb750 blues...

[Geeto67]

so I am on the sruface streets of Greenpoint, Brooklyn this morning, chucking the anvil (75 cb750) through the sea of cabs when all of a sudden all goes to idle. The throttle cable snapped.  I coat to the side, swear a whole bunch and shut the bike off. I lift the seat and suddenly remember that the tool kit for this bike is sitting next to my bench polisher....at the shop....at home. I push the bike a block and a half to a car repair shop and borrow one pair of pliers. I remove the throttle close safety cable and install it as the primary throttle cable. Viola...I may have a reverse throttle but it was enough to get me to work and home again...and all it took was 5 minutes. I am so glad hondas are overbuilt.

Incidently, the reason I did not call work is that I work for a motorcycle shop and part of my job is roadside assistance for bike the shop sells. The last time I broke down I called the shop for a tow (how ironic) and was told to park the bike, taike the train into work and get the bike later. Safe to say I never called my own shop for a breakdown again.  This occured on my friend's DOHC cb750F not nearly as reliable as a SOHC.

[Lumbee]

...good thinking...snapped the cable on my 78F last spring, however us F2 owners are not so fortunate as to beable to swap the push/pull cables...   

[Boomologist]

Had the same thing happen to me on a back road about 60 miles from anything. Being able to switch the cable can be a life saver.

[HondaMan]

Happened to me in a campground in Utah in 1973. Drove for 2 days with one cable!

[sparty]

While on the subject:  When I bought my CB750 it only had a pull throttle cable and it still does, is it really necessary to have a second cable?  I have a '72 but my carbs are '78.  I know that it would be helpful if I should snap one.

[merc2dogs]

 Happened to me a while ago, cruising down the freeway, throttle was getting stiff, so I headed home, about halfway there it snapped on me, not having tools I stuck my hand under the tank and grabbed ahold of the throttle bar, 50 miles at 50mph worked great untill I actualy got into town got a little funky

ken.

[TwoTired]

While on the subject:  When I bought my CB750 it only had a pull throttle cable and it still does, is it really necessary to have a second cable? 

Define necessary.

If the throttle return spring breaks just as that car pulls out in your path... or that hairpin turn with a cliff is just ahead...
I have the return cables on all my bikes.

This topic has been discussed before.  Zealots on both sides of the issue.  I particularly enjoyed the "saving weight" argument.

Cheers,

[Boomologist]

>>>I have the return cables on all my bikes.<<<

Definitely agree with having return cables just for safety if nothing else.

[Geeto67]

I robbed a cable off my 73 to get to work this morning and noticed that it only had one cable. I am a big fan of having a backup espically since I have been having a lot of bike trouble lately so I guess she will be getting a second cable installed.

[BobbyR]

Just your riding down in Greenpoint, or anywhere in Brooklyn  impresses me. I finally figured out what they had in mind for the second cable. Working for the Japanese gives me some insight as to how they engineer. Next time you are riding, notice what happens to you hand when you apply the front brake. Your body weight turns your wrist forwand closing the throttle with the push cable automatically. If the spring were to fail, or need help, on a stop the throttle will close. Try it. Clever buggers.