Triumphrat

whodatpat · 08-16-2005, 10:11 AM

I was riding into work this morning and the throtle quit responding. Once I drifted to the side of the road, I discovered that the lead ball that is usually at the end of a cable had broken off. The cable was just sitting there on the carbs. I see that I need to replace the cable.
Has anyone done it?
How hard a job it it?
By hard I realize the technical dificult would be about a 2, but what will the cussing factor be fiddling this thing into place?

Patrick

[ This message was edited by: whodatpat on 2005-08-16 08:12 ]

Rincewind · 08-16-2005, 10:23 AM

Mine snapped last season. The cable had frayed internally. I ended up riding it back to work using the idle adjuster to make it over the hills.

Replacing it was a slight PITA cause it was my first time. The throttle adjuster sits down between the carbs, and it was hard to reach. I disconnected the carbs and pushed them back from the engine for access. I think it would be a lot easier if you disconnect the carbs completely, unless you have really thin fingers.

It took me a couple of hours of cussing to get it done, but a compitent mechanic who removes the carbs first could probably get it done in less than an hour.

Good luck!

dhall10 · 08-17-2005, 08:08 AM

Mine broke last spring as well. IMHO, it is money well spent to have the shop guys do it. The carbs had to be pulled, wich means so to the air boxes.

I have heard of a few who were very dexterious and able to do it with out pulling the carbs...

Good luck!

TBAbob · 08-17-2005, 09:05 AM

We replaced the throttle cable on my son's '98 TBS a few weeks ago. If you're a decent wrench, it's about an hour job. I found it impossible to get at the carb connection without pulling the air box and carb bank first. How Alex did is beyond me. He must have the patience of a saint!

Like changing the air filter, the throttle cable design was designed by someone who never had to work on the bike! Just about every other bike in the world has ALL of the cable adjustment up at the grip. The carb connection is a simple ball or barrel at the end of the cable that slips into the slot on the throttle arm lever. Usually, this can be gotten at without pulling the bloody carbs! Not this POS! It has adjustment on BOTH ends. This means that the carb end of the cable has the normal barrel to be inserted AND a threaded shaft with two locking nuts that go thru a bracket. All of this located in a space about an inch away from the back of the block! Sigh!

Oh ya, Triumph also changed the design of the replacement cable. The original cable had the two locking nuts AND a conical adjusting nut above them. The new cables just have the two locking nuts with no adjusting nut. This means that the "locking" nuts could loosen up with time and vibration. Best bet is to put a drop of Loctite on them. What a great design!

Pulling the carbs isn't really that bad of a job especially after you've done it the first time. BTW, if you pull the carbs, you shouldn't have to disconnect the choke cable. There is enough slack in the choke cable so that you can pull the carb pack out to one side and access the throttle cable.

OR you can take it to your dealer and let them swear and throw wrenches! LOL! Good luck!

Cogito ergo equito

Bob

Greaser · 08-17-2005, 02:39 PM

YOU CAN REPLACE THROTTLE CABLES WITHOUT REMOVING THE CARBS I KNOW I'VE DONE IT ABOUT 3 TIMESALREADY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

FIrst off, the design of the throttle cable DEMANDS CONSTANT lubrication!! Buy a cable oiler and do it NO LESS than every 5000KM/3500 miles!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have broken 2 in the past, replaced 3 (one was a factory replacment that replaced the repaired one I made.)

I removed the tank, the side cover on the right side, a couple of coils and that was it. I made a long thin hook tool out of a metal coat hanger.

I used a long screw driver to hold the throttle opened all the way which gave me slightly more room to do this. It is a pain but I've gotten good at it and can do it, with out removing the carbs in about1 1/2 -2 hours.

BTW if you have the cable break out on the road, get your screwdriver out of your toolkit and use the end of it to manually push down on the throttle. You can reach by hand too but you'd better have heat resistant gloves on!!

[ This message was edited by: Greaser on 2005-08-20 16:49 ]

mdbauer · 08-18-2005, 07:17 PM

How many miles did you guy's have on your bikes when the cable broke

Rincewind · 08-18-2005, 08:54 PM

Quote:

On 2005-08-18 17:17, mdbauer wrote:
How many miles did you guy's have on your bikes when the cable broke

Around 6k.

cafetbird · 08-18-2005, 10:38 PM

Mine was 20k. It is a typical failure on these bikes, so I suggest getting a spare.

JWoodsie · 08-19-2005, 04:38 AM

Mine broke at 18'000klms. Replaced it, and got the broken cable remade for a spare. Havent had to use it yet, 50,000 klms. It gets lubed regularly, I think that is the secret. :-D

whodatpat · 08-19-2005, 07:19 PM

Thanks for all the posts. I will try the no carb removal way first. then pull the airbox and carbs, and if that dosent work take my box full of motorcycle to the dealer and pay them to do it.
I am sitting at 9,000 miles. the end of the cable dosent even look freyed. I suspect the "locking" nuts fell off, so I will soon have a spare too.
Am I really suposed to oil it every 35 miles? Seems a it much.
Patrick