Few things are as satisfying in life as solving a problem of the mechanical sort. I've never known for sure why this is true, I only know it is. Perhaps it is because we live such chaotic and abstract lives. So much beyond our immediate control. Technology that is increasingly disempowering as it withers our ability to do anything with it. Yet since I was a child I gained enormous satisfaction from tightening a bolt down firm after fixing something on my bike or lawn mower. Hear a squeak? Find squeak. Oil squeak. Smile.
I've solved my throttle stick problem and appreciate the hive mind help of all you ladies and gentlemen (there must be a handful of ladies on this forum!). Tonight I went into the garage and for the first time took apart my throttle grip. The first time around I lubed the shaft which I had found dry, though I don't believe that was much of a problem. Then I lubed the cable barrels a bit more. Then I dripped Tri Flow down the cable housings several times. Put it all back together and no luck. Still tight, and sticky. Scratch head. Smile. Poor ******* bike does not know who his master is yet! Our family motto is "when you gotta do it, you just stick to it!" It's been useful to brainwash my sons in some sense of persistence, and has its uses for me as well. Always liked the Shackleton motto of "through endurance we prevail", though it seems a little grim.
I noticed on my Gen III that there is a rubbery hose inside the housing contained by the two halves of the casing. I'm not sure what is in this pliable hose, but when you move your throttle this hose is given room in that housing to scrunch up a bit. I went ahead and lightly lubed the hose and housing so it could slide more easily. Still no happy.
Scratch my balls, itch my head, give the bike a good stare, and smile.
I had done the easy things and now needed to move the tank and check cable routing. I had installed the MV risers some months ago (love them!!!) and not had a problem, so had no particular reason to think that was the cause. But I was just at the PNW tech day (what a joy) and did TB sync. I found when I propped the tank up tonight and looked at my cables that they were over on the far right as they were from the factory. Though not kinked at any bad angle, it was just enough of an extra bend to tighten up the cables and make turning to the left a little resistant.
So I popped the two cables under the T bar and over toward the middle of the tank. This freed up a good amount of slack in the cables and WHOOPPEE. Happy me. Joy Joy.
Now that throttle snaps back like it should and the bars turn freely and easily to full lock both ways with no binding. While down in there I sprayed some ACF 50 on the throttle springs and assembly for good measure.
Problem solved. Learned how that whole assembly goes together (a pain to reassemble the first time, but by my 15th time it was easy!).
Thanks again and keep the rubber side down.
