Boxerworks.com

Hi all

My 1988 R100RS mono has about 15mm of free play, measured at the twistgrip (ie, if you close the throttle until it hits the stop, then open the throttle, there is 15mm of free play measured at the outer edge of the grip before it starts to bite). Maybe 20 deg of turn?

The throttle body is assembled correctly - the line on the gear that pulls the cable is aligned with the line of the twistgrip.

Cables are maxed out.

What I don't know (or can't remember) is if it's always been like this, or if this is the result of over 91,000 miles of use?Neither the gear or the grip look worn.

What I do know is it doesn't feel quite right. BUT I've been riding an F800ST which has no free play almost.

Thanks, Andy

I must qualify my comments on this issue. I have never seen the gears, or anything else, on a bike that new. My comments are about older bike throttles, but I suspect that they are the same, or similar.

The solution is very simple. Just ignore those marks and insert the throttle tube where the freeplay is gone.

You said, "Cables are maxed out." and I infer that to mean that the cable adjusters are adjusted all of the way out. This means that your cables have too much inner cable exposed. I like to make my own cables just to get them the way I like, but few owners have the parts to do this.

If your cables are original, it really is time to replace them. I bet that you will see a difference in the exposed part. It should be quite a bit less.

It is possible that you aren't getting full throttle too.

Got to use the marks Duane to give full pull.........so to speak.

Check the splitter under the tank, assuming the 88 also has a splitter. The cable splitter adjuster is used to remove cable slack between the splitter and twist grip.
Too much slack at the twist grip is shite. Almost all slack can be removed from the twist grip through the adjuster.

See, I knew that I didn't know what I was talking about. I would guess that the splitter could be hidden under the tank and not available for easy adjustment.

Nope, one need not use the marks to get the full travel on the older bikes. Maybe on new bikes like this 1988 it works like that. All that would happen was that the gradual cam action was altered and the throttle might open more quickly.

Thanks for the replies guys.

There is no splitter on the monos. Both my RS and 1990 RT (now departed) have a dual-cable setup whereby two independent cables are used. and the gear on the handlebars takes two cables.

I've tried not aligning the marks Duane, but as ME109 says you run out of movement (gears).

I just an wondering if what I am seeing is normal (left the factory like that) or if there is wear and this is where the play is coming from.

I am glad that I qualified my comments to allow for changes.

"I've tried not aligning the marks Duane, but as ME109 says you run out of movement (gears)."

Seems that they changed that too.

I think that I would change the cables.

I would leave the cables out of the throttle assembly and align the marks and, leaving the cover off, see if there is play before the chain moves the cable carrier. That should tell you if the play is in the throttle assembly or in the cables. You can also do a similar test with the cables to try to isolate where the play comes from. It may be a little on each or all in either the handlebar assembly or all in the cables.

Chuey

How worn are the throttle gear teeth? Thats where the play begins.

How do you like the ST?

I might have Room for a more modern bike!