Topic: Carburetor cable question! Can you make it a single cable pull?

[754]

 I am going to suggest, that some of you look into a second and third kill switch..

 A second on the left bar, in case heaven forbid, your second cable breaks, and you must ride to get one..

 The third will be a racing style, tether kill, grasp with teeth, kep tether short, you never know when you will need it..

[scottly]

And, if you recall, there was a recent spate of accidents/controversy about sticking throttles on cars, too.  So clearly, sticking throttles DO happen.

Yes, I do recall the recent controversy about lack of throttle control on cars with "fly-by-wire" throttles, where the car's computer is in direct control, NOT the driver. I put more faith in a simple spring than I do in computers for some things.

[millerza]

NEWBIE says: If its a daily driver don't do it. If its a weekend rider be careful, but youll probably be ok.

oh wait you wanted specific advice how to. Sorry got lost reading others' posts

[mrbreeze]

And, if you recall, there was a recent spate of accidents/controversy about sticking throttles on cars, too.  So clearly, sticking throttles DO happen.

Yes, I do recall the recent controversy about lack of throttle control on cars with "fly-by-wire" throttles, where the car's computer is in direct control, NOT the driver. I put more faith in a simple spring than I do in computers for some things.

You got that right!!!! WTF have they done? TPMS,lights that stay on after you thought you shut them off,service engine soon lights that take a rocket scientist to reset....I personally don't see the need for BS like this but.................I'm sure someone else does and will light into my a$$ about it real quickly!!!!

[seaweb11]

I covered my eyes and jumped off a roof when I was 3  

Why stop now?
I have a pull only on my Tracy. When I switched over to the Yam controls it was a required adjustment. It does make for a hard pull though.

[millerza]

You got that right!!!! WTF have they done? TPMS,lights that stay on after you thought you shut them off,service engine soon lights that take a rocket scientist to reset....I personally don't see the need for BS like this but.................I'm sure someone else does and will light into my a$$ about it real quickly!!!!
[/quote]

RIGHT ON    You have to think that all that crap adds to the already bloated price

[Steve_K]

We all seem to love these bikes and admire the design Honda came up with.  But we change them to suit ourselves.  Don't like the bars, don't like the seat, etc change them.  Hooray we can!  We are responsible to make a safe ride and should do want it takes to get it.  I don't know if one cable is not safe or not.  Reading the replies says there has been no problem.  Satisfy yourself, its the only thing to do.
Steve

[754]

I wonder how many on here drive a car or truck, without a kill switch.. but would not ride their bike with 1 throttle cable, PLUS a kill switch..

 I can see where its needed, or can be a plus for downshifting, but I dont always run one.

 Plus I run carbs on some of my bikes that  have the pull effort of a single carb..

 I bet most dragbikes dont run a return cable..

[TwoTired]

I wonder how many on here drive a car or truck, without a kill switch.. but would not ride their bike with 1 throttle cable, PLUS a kill switch..

I wonder how many here think they are superman, invulnerable to injury, bad circumstances, and have reaction times in negative numbers?

A. A car or truck doesn't have the same carbs or control mechanisms that are on an SOHC4.

B) A car or truck has a cage around the driver to protect him or her from stupid decisions and risks.

C) Can anything be 100% safe?  No.

D) 60 mph = 88 feet per second.

E) Your total reaction time = your reflex action + your simple reaction + your Complex reaction + Discriminative reaction + the time to move your body part.

I bet most dragbikes dont run a return cable..

And drag bikes are not actually street bikes that more than 90% of the population consists of, are they?
Perhaps in your world drag bikes frequent your local roads regularly.  However, when they show up on my street and do their thing, I call the police to haul their sorry ass to the pokey.
I might also add that many of those wonderful speed bumps are the result of people and their drag vehicles on public roads.

I don't know if one cable is not safe or not.  Reading the replies says there has been no problem. 

There has been no catastrophic intance reported.  Doesn't mean there will be, there is, or never was a problem.

But, there is an identified an obvious failure mechanism that says there can be.  And, it is a fact that no machine or mechanism is 100% reliable.  And further, that a human operator is not 100% predictable with their reactive behavior.

I don't see any logic where it is worth the added risk to run a single cable on an SOHC4.  (Other than the human rational of; "I wanna".)

Cheers,

[754]

Again, I did not get my meaning across, will try to explain better..
 I dont give a flying fig about YOUR saftey in a car/truck/bike should you decide to modify ANY part of it..
 My big concern is what your mishap can do to affect other folks and property, ie the ability to take out human life/lives if your vehicle malfunction, ie throttle sticking.
 I dont think I am invincible.. got the scars{many} to prove it, you take responsibility for your own actions.
 I mentioned dragbike as the opportunity with 150+ HP to get into trouble is great.. not starting a debate about streetracing..

 Clearly some folks on here are far more enamored by  factory decisions, overiding the desire to build a bike the way they want. Some folks are minimalists, take off what they consider unneeded, if it works for them, so be it..

  I think the general thought on here is if you only run 1 cable, its at your risk, and you better have a backup plan, and be resposible for you actions..

[Cuts Crooked]

Jeeze Louise!!!!!!!

This IS a forum about motorcycles isn't it? 

Risk taking is part & parcel of riding a bike. I carry firearms too, and sometimes I don't bother putting on sunscreen Hell, I used to date a redhead!

Lotta old bikes have single cable throttles......if you can't cope with the risk, don't ride that way. But don't make a major issue outta the whole thing. It ain't proper & fittin! 

[TwoTired]

Risk taking is part & parcel of riding a bike.

So, to get the most benefit, you should maximize all the risks associated, right?

Lotta old bikes have single cable throttles......

And a lotta old bikes have a different mechanical arrangement for throttle actuation and return.  You cannot reasonably compare all those other designs to the SOHC4.

Some old bikes were superceded by better designs for a reason.

Make the choice for yourself.  Don't be recommending for others an increase in their risk taking.  Or, try to hide the fact that there IS an increased risk.

To that I will add another Jeeze Lousie!!!

  I think the general thought on here is if you only run 1 cable, its at your risk, and you better have a backup plan, and be resposible for you actions..

Agreed.

But, of course, no one would ever sell a modified bike to someone who hasn't made that decision or is prepared with said backup plan...
Whose responsibility is it then?

[Cuts Crooked]

Or, try to hide the fact that there IS an increased risk.

Did I sound like I was hiding it?

I kinda thought I was just telling like it is........

"Reality" You ride, you take a chance. Only YOU can decide for yourself. What has been acceptable for many bikes for many years is no more going to kill you than most of the other activities you engage in on a bike daily.

[754]

 added risk... no chicken strips, comes to mind...

[TwoTired]

Or, try to hide the fact that there IS an increased risk.

Did I sound like I was hiding it?

Yes, with the blanket statement that other bikes only use one and not mentioning the different mechanical arrangement found on "other bikes", implying what is good for other bikes is also good for the SOHC4.  There are LOTS of details about other bikes that don't apply to the SOHC4.

That is hiding details of function and requirement, both are needed to properly assess risk.

[seaweb11]

,

[BobbyR]

I bought a push pull cable set from Honda and I like it, very smooth and gives me good quick variable control during maneuvers.  Now I am very comfortable with my decision and the few bucks extra was nothing to talk about.

I have made the right decison for me for all of the reasons TT gave and my personal experience. Now, if you think you only need one cable, put on one cable. What you do to your bike is really of no concern to me.

[Cuts Crooked]

I have made the right decison for me for all of the reasons TT gave and my personal experience. Now, if you think you only need one cable, put on one cable. What you do to your bike is really of no concern to me.

+1

[Cuts Crooked]

Sorry TT, but I didn't hide anything. Don't try to put words in my mouth. I clearly stated that this arrangement works, I didn't say anything at all that could be construed as trying to hide something. Making a blanket statement is NOT hiding anything, especially in this format. All the facts/ arguments/statements have been "mentioned".

What you are doing is called projecting.....If you want to project your beliefs about what I did or did not do/say, that's fine, but I'll call you on it every time.

I have a lot of respect for your knowledge, but sometimes............

[TwoTired]

Sorry TT, but I didn't hide anything.

I disagree.  It was pretty blatant.

Don't try to put words in my mouth.

I put no words in your mouth.  I only responded to what you wrote.

I clearly stated that this arrangement works, I didn't say anything at all that could be construed as trying to hide something. Making a blanket statement is NOT hiding anything, especially in this format. All the facts/ arguments/statements have been "mentioned".

No way you "mentioned" anything but what you favor.
You hid the fact in your "blanket statement", that not all bikes have the same arrangement for cabling and throttle return designs for specific reasons.

There is such a thing as a lie by omission.

What you are doing is called projecting.....If you want to project your beliefs about what I did or did not do/say, that's fine, but I'll call you on it every time.

I didn't project anything.  I took what you wrote literally.  And, it was clearly incomplete and misleading, whether you intended such or not.
I will not let you turn this around.

Lotta old bikes have single cable throttles....

Explain how this statement does NOT condone/recommend doing the same for the SOHC4 in the context of this thread.

[dave500]

carbs with a compression type spring directly on top of the slide are almost immune to this failure,each carb has a spring and run a single cable,if the extention type spring breaks on this design you have no other means off backing off with one cable,it might break entering your favourite curve at speed,take care and be aware.i had a cable lock nut come loose and foul up in the cable crank area and cause a 2500rpm idle,that was bad enough.fixed on the road side,vowed never to remove the push cable.

[Spanner 1]

If you have a 4 cylinder bike with 4 carbs and it's 1969-70 and no-one has had such a set-up and you sell loads of these bikes and someone sues you ( Honda ) over a stuck throttle then a return cable on the K1 and later bikes is a very sensible insurance... what's the problem... leave it off if you want to increase your risk...... no-one should care, actually IMO.

[Dr. Honda]

Dag on! I just got done telling someone how nice, friendly, so on.. this website is, compared to all the other bike sites with forums which are made up of mostly A-holes.  I'm hoping this is a fluke, cause a positive website is much more inspiring to look at than one of your wrong I'm right.   I think we should tone it down a few notches, we are all here cause we have a similar interest, lets keep it that way.


I get your answers and opinions fully, there are two camps.  I'm with the camp that says go for it.  I get the purpose of the second cable, but I think my plan is to place a second spring on the carbs, I cant imagine that both springs will explode at once, plus I'm not going to be riding the crap out of the bike everyday.  I'm in it more for the build and experience.  I want it to look very minimal and clean.

What I'm doing that made me ask this question is I am going to end up putting an internal throttle on the bike.  I'm machining out my bar clamps to accommodate 1" bars.  Most of the internal throttles are for 1 inch bars, the 7/8's version are few and far between and are way expensive.  

Lets get back on track and stop quoting others pointing out how they phrased things.

psychological treatment provided by

Dr. Honda

[dave500]

youve gotten a good range of info here,youve made your decision,this old honda site will always give good results,the a hole sites might mostly be younger late model bike riders,old age and treachery will always win over youth and inexperience.

[Cuts Crooked]

Like I wrote before TT.....sometimes <shrug> No point in discussing something with someone who can only see what they want too.