Topic: running a single cable throttle?

[GK]

Do you guys see any problems running a single cable throttle on my cb400f ? The spring set up on the carbs seems strong enough to always ensure a good return but i thought i would ask those who have gone before me first.
cheers, GK.

[crazypj]

I've only done about 80,000 miles with single cable 
 I guess others will chime in saying how dangerous it is 

PJ

[GammaFlat]

I've only done about 80,000 miles with single cable  
I guess others will chime in saying how dangerous it is  
PJ

Is that why you're called Crazy PJ?  

Some of this stuff is due to liability concerns.  And because I don't want to be liable, I won't say for what.

[GK]

good enough for me PJ, ive had a single on a set of mikuni flatslides on one of my bigger bikes for years without problems and they are supposed to have a tendency to stick although i think that is the aliminium slides that have the problem

[Gordon]

I've only done about 80,000 miles with single cable 
 I guess others will chime in saying how dangerous it is 

PJ

Roll your eyes all you want, but just because you've never had a problem doesn't mean nobody else ever has or will.  

The throttle close cable is a safety item, and just like most other safety items you may never need it, but when you do you're really glad you had it.  

[the technological J]

the one plus that i can say i had from running a double cable is if had two break(both used) and the return has gotten me home with only a little bit os fenangling... (never seen that word typed before) but i got a new one for next season

[754]

The first 2 years of 750s had only a single cable..

myself.. if you have a working kill switch, I would not worry about running a single cable..

 just dont use a Toyota cable.....

[TwoTired]

The first 2 years of 750s had only a single cable..

They also had four return springs!

myself.. if you have a working kill switch, I would not worry about running a single cable..

And, if you can chose just when a single spring will fail you will also anticipate thumbing the kill switch.
Do you still have the reaction time of a 20 year old?


Anyway,
I figure the spring on mine will fail on an inside turn just when an oncoming truck approaches, and I wish to close the throttle before crossing out of my lane.  The extra "close cable" will ensure I keep from becoming a grill splatter.

Oh, and if a spring has a failure rate of once in 30 years, will yours break in 25, 30, 35, or 40 years?
Just because it hasn't broken yet, doesn't mean it never will.

[dave500]

i had a cable locknut loosen ,jam up and make my idle high,real high,i fixed it on the roadside,, but it had the potential to wipe the smile of my dial,keep the dual cable setup,,youve got nothing to gain by deleting it,,but maybe a lot to lose by doing so,im using a lighter return spring,but the pull return cable is a safety item,keep it as it is.

[BobbyR]

I will be going to the Honda dealer ina couple of hours to pick up the TWO throttle cables and clutch cable I ordered. If you look at the ergonomics of the throttle and brake handle you will notice that when you reach for the brake handle your palm rolls the throttle grip forward. With two cables this will force the carbs to close. When I start the bike cold I have a fast idle cam on the carbs. At fast idle I can push the grip forward dropping the RPMs to around 1200 and put in in gear.

Can you run with one cable sure you can. Is it worth $20 to get an extra margin of safety, you decide if you are worth $20. Trust me, Honda put no extra parts on the bike.   

[754]

I have butterfly carbs... no slides to stick..

[Gordon]

Just a few days ago I discovered a good reason to have the throttle close cable if you ride in below freezing temps.  I was on my way home from work at about 1am, temp was around 15-20F, and all of a sudden the throttle grip became really difficult to turn and required a good amount of force to make the throttle close.  It stayed like that all the way home.  At first I thought maybe one of the cables had frayed in the housing, but the next day after the temperature was above freezing for a while it worked fine again.

Apparently I got some water in the cable sheath and it froze as I was riding home.  If I hadn't had the throttle close cable the engine would have been stuck at high rpm. 

[754]

If Honda goes to Throttle by Wire, does this mean they will also have, "Return Throttle by Wire"...

[TwoTired]

If Honda goes to Throttle by Wire, does this mean they will also have, "Return Throttle by Wire"...

If they follow the lead in aircraft "by wire" controls, there will be redundant systems, and a "fail safe" to maintain control of the engine power.
It's just sound engineering practice, that those without engineering training often overlook.

A control elimination scheme follows many of the current law makers modus operandi.
It used to be that proposed laws would be scrutinized so that even if they brought something good, the language was written to ensure no harm could come of it.
Nowadays, laws are only observed for the benefits they bring and potential detriment is ignored.

[crazypj]

I guess riding motorcycles is just SOOOOOOOOOOOO dangerous you had all better stop and stay in bed, but, be careful the sky may be falling 

PJ

[ev0lve]

Apparently I got some water in the cable sheath and it froze as I was riding home.  If I hadn't had the throttle close cable the engine would have been stuck at high rpm. 

+1 We had a really good cold snap here in Seattle and, when starting it with WOT, it stuck open. The return did it's job and I was happy. Is the return THAT much of a bother?

[754]

Well it really depends on what you are building & how you want it to look..
 If you are building a clean slick custom, it will look better with a slimmer housing, and single cable..or an internal cable..

 BTW, sounds like a few on here may not enjoy pre 68 bikes, as most manufacturers had potentially unsafe throttles..

[Gordon]

I guess riding motorcycles is just SOOOOOOOOOOOO dangerous you had all better stop and stay in bed, but, be careful the sky may be falling 

PJ

PJ,

I realize you may not be aware of this, but it is actually possible to have your own opinion on a subject and express that opinion without disrespecting the people who happen do disagree with you.

I have never been involved in a wreck on a motorcycle, but I still wear a helmet every time I ride.  Do you think that's as ridiculous as you seem to think having a throttle close cable is?  Would you treat my opinion on that subject with the same juvenile attitude were I to suggest to someone that they should wear a helmet, too?

 

[BobbyR]

 BTW, sounds like a few on here may not enjoy pre 68 bikes, as most manufacturers had potentially unsafe throttles..

Actually you are correct, a lot of early designs are unsafe. Safety regulations usually come from misfortune. Or to quote my friend Safety Joe " safety regulations are written in blood". Can anyone say Toyota?  

[Gordon]

 BTW, sounds like a few on here may not enjoy pre 68 bikes, as most manufacturers had potentially unsafe throttles..

Actually you are correct, a lot of early designs are unsafe. Safety regulations usually come from misfortune. Or to quote my friend Safety Joe " safety regulations are written in blood". Can anyone say Toyota?  

Exactly.

I'm not going to go out and remove the air bags, and disable the ABS in my modern cars just because cars didn't used to have those safety features back in the day, but I will still drive a car from a former era that never had those things to begin with.  It doesn't have to be an all-or-nothing issue.   

[mgbgt89]

Just a few days ago I discovered a good reason to have the throttle close cable if you ride in below freezing temps.  I was on my way home from work at about 1am, temp was around 15-20F, and all of a sudden the throttle grip became really difficult to turn and required a good amount of force to make the throttle close.  It stayed like that all the way home.  At first I thought maybe one of the cables had frayed in the housing, but the next day after the temperature was above freezing for a while it worked fine again.

Apparently I got some water in the cable sheath and it froze as I was riding home.  If I hadn't had the throttle close cable the engine would have been stuck at high rpm. 

My 650 sticks really bad when it gets below 20. It's almost unridable. The trusty old 350, which runs way better in the cold than the 650 anyway, doesn't seem to have any issues.

Some mornings i am afraid i'm going to break the choke lever on the 650 it's stuck so solid.

[754]

 OIL it, and your choke. Waterless, lubed cable  is what you need.. I have broke a CB 350 throttle by forcing it when frozen.

 I threw a used clutch cable on the 750 in the fall, the kind that has plastic wore off it, and we had a lot of rain a while back.. It got moisture in it and froze.. If you warm the bike up, it melts.. and you can ride off. But if its say 25 F or lower it starts to freeze again as you ride.. if you stop and idle it freed up again.

 At any rate, if you were only running one throttle cable, make sure it in very good lubed condition, as well as the linkage.... Should be anyway, regardless of how many cables you run.

[IHWillys]

Devil's advocate response first...

In the same vein as the return spring breaking thereby making the return cable's function greatly appreciated, the return cable could fray and jam the throttle open despite the return spring working to close it.

Then...

The fact that Honda deemed it worthy of including despite the cost of doing so should carry some weight even if it were simply a liability issue.  The vast majority of cable throttles in existence use a single cable but with atleast a double return spring.

Ken

[crazypj]

I guess riding motorcycles is just SOOOOOOOOOOOO dangerous you had all better stop and stay in bed, but, be careful the sky may be falling 

PJ

PJ,

I realize you may not be aware of this, but it is actually possible to have your own opinion on a subject and express that opinion without disrespecting the people who happen do disagree with you.

I have never been involved in a wreck on a motorcycle, but I still wear a helmet every time I ride.  Do you think that's as ridiculous as you seem to think having a throttle close cable is?  Would you treat my opinion on that subject with the same juvenile attitude were I to suggest to someone that they should wear a helmet, too?

 

Gordon, I always wear a helmet, that's comparing apples to alligators
 You can check cables but you don't know if some jerk is going to run you off the road (maybe deliberately)
Unlike you I have had plenty of wrecks, some racing, some doing dumb stuff, some trivial, some serious, I've only been riding 41 yrs though, and only done about half million miles in all weather (even blizzards can be fun)
 I have NEVER had a throttle stick because it had single cable, in fact, my 1995 Suzuki only has single cable, it was made that way, and, it doesn't have a stupidly heavy throttle return spring.
I have had twin cable throttles freeze open (wasn't my bike) but, kill switch is there for a reason.
 Believe it or not, main reason for twin cables is monetary, if your going to sue someone because you did something stupid (like forgot to close throttle), make sure they have the cash.
 Honda has a bunch but don't want to get sued, it's easier to fit an unnecessary cable than settle out of court

PJ

[campbmic]

Are the two cables interchangeable? I have a messed up return cable. I was planning on getting two new ones but don't see the reason if I can just replace the one.