Topic: 77 CB550K 'push' throttle cable CANNOT replace 'pull' throttle cable.

[edbikerii]

Well guys,  for awhile now I've been relying upon the old advice that if the throttle cable should fail, you can attach the pull cable to the carbs and use the throttle control in reverse to limp home.

THIS IS NOT THE CASE on the '77 CB550K!  The housing on the push cable is too long, and prevents the cable from being connected properly to the throttle wheel at the carb end.  The pull cable loops around under the throttle wheel, so requires an extra couple of inches of exposed cable to hook up properly.  Unless you have some way to shorten the housing in your on-board toolkit, it ain't gonna work.

I spent about an hour and a half with the on-board OEM toolkit trying to rig up the push cable on the side of the road this Sunday.  I finally managed to limp home by raising the idle.

Don't avoid replacing your trusty old throttle cable thinking that you've got a backup system on the bike.

The original cable made it 31 years without failing, so I've ordered new OEM Honda cables all around.

I had a great ride, despite this minor setback and another issue with an aftermarket turn signal bulb shorting out internally and blowing my main fuse (that one only took about 30 minutes to figure out).

[goon 1492]

wow that sucks limping home but at least you made it, and its nice to hear that the cables are still in production, i have an 73 honda elsinore 250 and had to get the throttle and brake cables custom made, 50$ a pop.

[edbikerii]

Well, they may not still be in production.  I just got an email that they "may be delayed".  I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

[mcpuffett]

if i remember rightly you swap the cables round at the carb end  and then you use the twist grip by pushing away from you  , makes for a interesting ride home  , cheers mick.

[tinyrobot]

I just replaced all the cables on my CB750 k8 with Motion Pro oem cables.  They fit perfect.  I have much smooth throttle and clutch now as well.  The new cable made a night and day difference! 

[MoTo-BunnY]

I used new motion pro cables all around, too, and found them to be real high quality.

Some subtle differences from OEM like use of black oxide instead of chrome on the "elbows" up by the throttle grip. However, the smoothness of all new cables is most satisfying plus, the price was right - around $15 each.

Its also nice knowing I'm not relying on 34 year old cables, anymore   

[edbikerii]

Yeah, like I said, THAT DOESN'T WORK ON A 77 CB550K.

It probably works on some other SOHC4s, but not on a 77 CB550K.

Maybe it works on the models with the earlier carbs and throttle wheel, etc?

if i remember rightly you swap the cables round at the carb end  and then you use the twist grip by pushing away from you  , makes for a interesting ride home  , cheers mick.

[edbikerii]

Anybody use Motion Pro cables on a 77 CB550K?  I've heard that the pull cable from motion pro has been too short on these bikes, too.

[MoTo-BunnY]

Yeah, like I said, THAT DOESN'T WORK ON A 77 CB550K.

It probably works on some other SOHC4s, but not on a 77 CB550K.

Maybe it works on the models with the earlier carbs and throttle wheel, etc?

if i remember rightly you swap the cables round at the carb end  and then you use the twist grip by pushing away from you  , makes for a interesting ride home  , cheers mick.

I haven't tried this "workaround" (fortunately haven't needed to with the new cables) but I think it would probably work on my bike - '73 CB500, from what I saw when installing the new cables.

[Klark Kent]

Anybody use Motion Pro cables on a 77 CB550K?  I've heard that the pull cable from motion pro has been too short on these bikes, too.

my motion pro cable pulls like a champ (550K1)
-KK

[edbikerii]

Yes, I just looked at the Honda service manual for the CB500 and CB550, and the earlier throttle wheel and cable connection locations differ from the 77 CB550K.  It looks like the earlier throttle wheel has two sections (one for push and one for pull) that are about equal in size, and that the cable connection location is directly in the middle between these two, so yes, switching the cables at the carb end looks like it would work on the earlier CB500 and pre-77 CB550K models.

Yeah, like I said, THAT DOESN'T WORK ON A 77 CB550K.

It probably works on some other SOHC4s, but not on a 77 CB550K.

Maybe it works on the models with the earlier carbs and throttle wheel, etc?

if i remember rightly you swap the cables round at the carb end  and then you use the twist grip by pushing away from you  , makes for a interesting ride home  , cheers mick.

I haven't tried this "workaround" (fortunately haven't needed to with the new cables) but I think it would probably work on my bike - '73 CB500, from what I saw when installing the new cables.