Help with throttle issue - T3 California

[Anomaly]

Bike: my beloved 1981 T3 California
Issue: 1a) throttle "sticks" and won't always return to zero throttle when released; 1b) the little wire clip that holds the "plug" end of the throttle cables into the socket on the throttle keeps coming undone while riding.

I don't know if these are related or separate issues. I have tried to check for kinks or tight bends in the cables and don't see any. Hard to get a good photo of the wire clip in question, but I have attached the best I could come up with 

[Tkelly]

Strands of the cable can break,remove it and work it manually to check.

[DoubleGuzzi]

The clip looks like the same thing on my v50II.
How about gently easing the central part with needle-nose pliers? I'd support the side(s) with standard pliers whilst doing so. Should be able to tighten the clip by doing this. Be gentle and only a small amount of additional bend!
I found that if I tighten the tension screw on the underside of the throttle body too much, then the throttle doesn't fully close under spring action alone.
[Edit] My clip does need a fair bit of pressure to attach to the body -suspect that it hasn't been un-clipped that many times.

[wirespokes]

I suspect a frayed wire could be the issue.

[Anomaly]

Thanks folks for the replies/suggestions. We're in the middle of olive harvesting, so I'll have to delay further action until we're finished but I'll pursue your suggestions and report back.

[Dukedesmo]

Agreed on the cable fraying being the likely cause.


I had it happen to me twice on cars, most recently as I pulled out of a junction in my Wife's car and the throttle just jammed fully open. Luckily I shut it down quickly and then found I could get it to return by putting my foot under the pedal (bike gear-shift style) but I often wonder what might have happened had the Wife been driving, likely with young kids in the back, at the time.    [size=78%] [/size]


Also, if it's an old cable then it may not be as smooth as a more modern version with a teflon? lining, a new cable might transform the throttle feeling.


I suppose one benefit of modern drive-by-wire throttles is that this can no longer happen.

[n3303j]

<SNIP>
I sulppose one benefit of modern drive-by-wire throttles is that this can no longer happen.

Guess you young 'uns have forgotten the whole Toyota debacle where the drive by wire gas petal would get jammed up by the carpet. Meanwhile the drive by wire programming gave a gas petal command priority over a brake petal command so the cars went howling down the highway.

Subject of a recall where they installed anchors on moveable floor mat and removed some material from back of factory floor mat. And most importantly they reprogrammed system to give a brake application priority over a throttle increase command.

[Moparnut72]

Driver side carpets can be a real problem affecting safety. Also other things, to clear the change oil light on my 2013 Ram I have to push the gas pedal to the floor three times. My first change I couldn't clear the light. It took some time to determine the carpet was limiting pedal travel.
kk