Throttle Cable Balancing

scotty · Post by **scotty** » Tue Oct 17, 2006 8:28 am

The Twinmax arrived yesterday after about a 7 day wait so I was itching to get the throttle cables balanced as the bike was running rough. Took it out for a warm up run last night and back to the garage to take all the body panels off. Tools at the ready and set to go until I offered up rubber hoses to the bike and saw that they were much too big a diameter........f**k, S**t and a whole load more expletives. Totally wasted time. Has anyone got some spare rubber tubing that I could buy, scrounge, borrow or let me know the correct diameter so I can order some ?

Thanks

boxerpan · Post by **boxerpan** » Tue Oct 17, 2006 10:08 am

They supplied inserts with mine to bring the size down - who was your supplier ?

winger · Post by **winger** » Tue Oct 17, 2006 10:08 am

You've completely lost me(which isn't hard) the rubber tubes are too big,the Twin Max comes with two small plastic inserts that fit on the injectors and inside the rubber tubes.

Why have you taken panels off??? and why did you warm the bike up??,you need to do neither,just fire it up ,it will soon get to hot anyway!!!ideally you need two people,cuz you can set the TM so fine,that when you lock the right cable up it will alter on the gauge,unless you've got a neck thats a couple of feet long!!!.

scotty · Post by **scotty** » Tue Oct 17, 2006 10:44 am

I got my Twinmax from JH Motorcycles. The unit came with two sets of screw in metal inserts for use on bikes where the hole is blocked off with a screw. They are no use for the S. What inserts should I ask for ? I've tried to get in touch with JH Motorcycles this morning but they must be out as the phone is permanently on answer machine. If you could let me know of any dealers who could help me out with the right adaptor/insert or whatever I could give them a phone and get the bits sent up.

Winger - thanks for the advice re carrying out the throttle adjustment. My first time at doing this and thought panels needed to come off for access !

sproggy · Post by **sproggy** » Tue Oct 17, 2006 12:25 pm

You need two short (about 1/2 to 3/4") silicone pipes - an o/d that'll fit inside the rubber pipes from the Twinmax with an interference fit and an i/d that'll push over the balance stubs on the throttle bodies. Maybe they forgot to put them in the box when they packed your unit.

You can probably find something that'll do in a motorists store (washer tubing) or tropical fish specialist (acquarium supplies), but the ones that came with my Twinmax are a slightly softer, more flexible material than windscreen washer tubing.

Doesn't matter really - anything you can find that'll fit between black rubber pipe and brass stub without leaking will do the job!

scotty · Post by **scotty** » Tue Oct 17, 2006 2:45 pm

Thanks. Got to get this done soon as the bike's running rough. I think I'll pop into the local aquarium shop this weekend then. Should be interesting as hav'nt been in one of those places for ages. It's amazing what places you end up looking for bike bit's !

sproggy · Post by **sproggy** » Tue Oct 17, 2006 2:47 pm

scotty wrote:Got to get this done soon as the bike's running rough.

You have done the valve clearances recently, haven't you? Because balancing throttles with valve clearances out of wack won't give the best result.

Ade B · Post by **Ade B** » Tue Oct 17, 2006 3:17 pm

I think I'll pop into the local aquarium shop this weekend then.

Make sure you don't get suckered into buying an aquarium (as I did once)

Tropical fish don't know anything about throttle balancing.

Ade

scotty · Post by **scotty** » Tue Oct 17, 2006 3:33 pm

I'll give that one a miss Ade. Been there and worn the tea shirt so to speak. It was a huge tank full of fan tailed cold fish. Went back to my folks house over Chrismas once and the whole lot froze in the tank.

winger · Post by **winger** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 12:28 am

www.calamander.co.uk phone him up he's the importer and ask him to send you some.

scotty · Post by **scotty** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 1:15 pm

Thanks Winger, that's useful info. Also thanks to Sproggy for the advice to do the valves prior to balancing the throttle linkages.

I set the valves last night and was really surprised at how how out of kilter they were. The exhaust valves had really closed up so it was essential that they were done. Unlike say a jap multi the S valves must go out of adjustment quite frequently so I've factored in to my service routine to do this every 3,000m along with the throttle linkages with the Twinmax. As I've only had the bike for 4 months I'm still going round the standard service items so it was good to be able to check the alternator belt when I had the cover off to find top dead centre. I was really impressed with BMW's tappet system though with the fairly meaty ball/socket tappet end pieces which are designed to last and also give a bit of movement whilst engaging the valve stem. Quality engineering. The only pain in doing the vlaves on the S is getting the rubber bung back in the crankcase after finishing the job. It's a real pain so there must be a larger aftermarket item available somewhere.

sproggy · Post by **sproggy** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 1:28 pm

I don't check for TDC when adjusting the valves - I do the inlet with the exhaust fully open and vice versa. Just put the bike in a high gear and turn the wheel until one pair of valves is fully open and then check the other valves on the same cylinder. Takes a bit of practice to know when a valve is fully open (and to not go past that point) but it's easier than checking for TDC.

Every other service I also check/adjust the rocker end float (not part of the service schedule) which, when properly adjusted, makes the engine a lot quieter.

I guess someone will tell me I'm doing it wrong, but I always did it the same way on my RS and GS.

scotty · Post by **scotty** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 2:17 pm

Thanks Sproggy. Rocker end float ?.............never heard of that one so that's another piece of learned information I'll make a note of.

Cheers

winger · Post by **winger** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 7:36 pm

Probably to late,but don't forget with the TwinMax your only setting one side!!!

scotty · Post by **scotty** » Thu Oct 19, 2006 8:36 am

Thanks Winger. I hav'nt done them yet as I still need to get the adapter/smaller tubing. Calamander have been away at some motorcycle show in Germany so their phone is on answer machine.

I realise I only have to alter one side and balance it up to the other. My understanding is that I should balance at tickover and then at about 2,500rpm - 3,000rpm.