Throttle Spring Danger

[jaster]

I just returned from a five day trip to Arkansas on my 06' AE. While on a spirited run down 341 I got a surprise. I was braking for a posted 30MPH corner and found that I wasn't slowing for the corner. :dribble: The throttle was stuck open. I then found out how the ABS system worked. I was able to get it shut down in time but it was a close call.

I had taken the advise about the stiff throttle and popped the center spring off of its pin. The spring was loose. Back at the motel I found that the spring had gotten bound up, enough so that it held it open. I was unable to re-install the spring, so I tightened up the push-pull cable assembly so that I could force the throttle off if needed. This worked well enough to get me home, though it still wanted to stick occasionally.

The spring is going back on as it was designed. A sticking throttle is especially fun on a bike with no clutch lever.

I just wanted to warn everyone to the potential danger of unhooking this spring. I will learn to live with a stiffer throttle.

 

[RadioHowie]

Fred?

 

[twowheelnut]

Fred?

...has left the building. No help from there, now.

 

[kaitsdad]

Jaster,

Was the center spring completly unwound, or had you just removed one wind from the spring? That may be the problem.

I've done the mod on my A, and it's just removing a single wind of the spring, allowing it to reconnect to the tab. Now at 6K + miles, and no problems.

 

[T120TT]

Jaster,
Was the center spring completly unwound, or had you just removed one wind from the spring? That may be the problem.

I've done the mod on my A, and it's just removing a single wind of the spring, allowing it to reconnect to the tab. Now at 6K + miles, and no problems.

I mistakenly released the left TB return spring instead of the center spring. I completely removed it because it was hanging loose, not caught on the tab. I did it in order to avoid the possiblitiy of the situation described. I should have released the center spring one turn so that it catches back on the tab {duh} and all would have been OK. Releasing and removing one of the side springs had little effect. I'd like to re install the left spring that I removed and release the center spring one turn instead. However, it appears to be a mofo to get back on. Has anyone done this and is it?

 

[radman]

I mistakenly released the left TB return spring instead of the center spring. I completely removed it because it was hanging loose, not caught on the tab. I did it in order to avoid the possiblitiy of the situation described. I should have released the center spring one turn so that it catches back on the tab {duh} and all would have been OK. Releasing and removing one of the side springs had little effect. I'd like to re install the left spring that I removed and release the center spring one turn instead. However, it appears to be a mofo to get back on. Has anyone done this and is it?

Use a piece of wire with a small loop in it, route it around the shaft and get it hooked on the spring end, then pull it around and attach the spring. Not a biggie. For what it's worth, over 23,000 miles with the center spring hanging, and I have yet to have any issue.

 

[RadioHowie]

For what it's worth, over 23,000 miles with the center spring hanging, and I have yet to have any issue.

...and grandaddy Howie inhaled 2 packs of smokes a day 'til he coughed up a lung at 102. Might have lived to 102.5 if he'd stopped smoking.

HOWEVER....the constant intake of carcinogens prolly killed the ebola virus in the back of his throat.

 

[jwilly]

Red switch near your right thumb will fix stuck throttle everytime.

 

[RadioHowie]

Phuquing newbie....

.....the first responder with the right answer.

:****:

 

[Fred H.]

In the above photo you can see the resting point of the end of the spring when it is released one turn and the throttle is at idle. You can clearly see there is a gap between the spring hook end and the tab. As you pick the throttle up off idle, the loop should engage the tab and hold the spring in position.

Without seeing how the wire caused the throttle to stick for myself, I am not sure what happened, but it does appear that it is possible that the end loop of the spring could migrate off the tab and cause binding between the loose end of the wire loop and the throttle pulley. An easy solution would probably be just to reach in with some needle nose pliers and crimp the loop onto the tab so it couldn't come off, though I not sure how easily the wire can be bent. There may also be other effective ways to fasten the end of the loop to the tab so it can't come free and cause binding, but my first try would probably be to just bend the end of the loop down to close it around the tab.

 

[twowheelnut]

Hey, Freddie! Nice to have you back! Really!

 

[Mike-H]

Phuquing newbie....
.....the first responder with the right answer.

:****:

Just gotta love a happy guy with an upbeat attitude ..... :derisive: ....

 

[Rickster]

good to hear from you Fred!

I've been holding off on many mods to the stock AE throttle stuff (barbarian mod, Fred jerky throttle fix wire, spring release) -- to understand the inputs to the AE computer a little better. If the throttle response changes due to less return spring, or the diameter change (Fred's fix), any change to throttle response that may 'trick' the YCCS computer -- may fix throttle issues, and create shifting issues on the AE.

If I had an A model -- Fred wire would be in, spring removed, etc... but I don't know exactly how the changes to the throttle affect shifting -- note: there's a sensor on the right hand throttle input on the AE model, and i know that's an input to the computer.

I still don't have definitive info on exactly what inputs affect shifting on the AE -- so i'll hold stock until i know more.

 

[Toecutter]

While on a spirited run down 341 I got a surprise. I was braking for a posted 30MPH corner and found that I wasn't slowing for the corner. :dribble: The throttle was stuck open. I then found out how the ABS system worked. I was able to get it shut down in time but it was a close call.

Glad you made it unscathed. Surprises while riding are rarely pleasant.

 

[Ari Rankum]

Red switch near your right thumb will fix stuck throttle everytime.

Actually, the button on the left grip works better. Every time my throttle sticks WFO, I just get on the horn and start making really big, sweeping swatting motions with my right hand as I scream, "GET OUT OF THE WAY!!".

Just as with every single g-damn little glitch on the FJR, this sticking throttle problem is being blown WAY out of proportion. Hell, once you're used to it, getting on the horn is like second nature. It's even kind of fun. Man, when it happens in 5th, my FJR really gets movin'. Yeeeeeeeehaaaawwwwwww!

 

[temp357]

Fred! Nice to have you back! Don't let these YoYo's get to you. There are a lot of us that appreciate what you share with us!

 

[Warchild]

I've been holding off on many mods to the stock AE throttle stuff to understand the inputs to the AE computer a little better.

Very wise to do so, IMO.

I can't say I've ever been a fan of dinking around the throttle mechanisms, whether it is simply unwinding/unhooking a spring, or the outright introduction of FOD in the throttle pulley area. Bad things could potentially happen, as we have now seen here with jaster's hair-raising experience.

Still, y'all are big boys and girls who can make your own decisions about what to do with your bike, as long as you accept the consequences of them, however catastrophic they may be.

 

[Mark G]

? Whud I miss? Fred snitted? Who was mean? Not nice. Fred, in the five months since I bought my bike, and the four and a half since I've ridden it, I've followed lots of your advice. Today I got to ride for the first time, with all the mods in place...well, with the two throttle mods, anyway, and a quick hundred miles gives you my vote for Dude! Lighter throttle, linear power input, I did stop and take all the slack out of the cable, and that also helped a lot.

Later tonight will tell the tale whether my busted tailbone has finally healed enough to get back on the road more.

 

[T120TT]

I mistakenly released the left TB return spring instead of the center spring. I completely removed it because it was hanging loose, not caught on the tab. I did it in order to avoid the possiblitiy of the situation described. I should have released the center spring one turn so that it catches back on the tab {duh} and all would have been OK. Releasing and removing one of the side springs had little effect. I'd like to re install the left spring that I removed and release the center spring one turn instead. However, it appears to be a mofo to get back on. Has anyone done this and is it?

Use a piece of wire with a small loop in it, route it around the shaft and get it hooked on the spring end, then pull it around and attach the spring. Not a biggie. For what it's worth, over 23,000 miles with the center spring hanging, and I have yet to have any issue.

The wire has been completely removed. I would have to buy a new return spring and install it from scratch.