This settles it. I'm not mechanically inclined and never will be.
#31
08-30-2010 | 08:55 PM
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 11,474
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From: Passaic County, NJ
Must have needed a night to vent and clear my head. Went back outside tonight and it took me a half hour to get the grip reinstalled and the switch covers back into place (loosening the cable tensioner made it a lot easier for the front cable). I did take the opportunity to replace the switch cover hardware with the chrome/stainless hardware (hopefully the brake levers/housings aren't misaligned too badly).
One thing I noticed though. When I got it all back together I noticed there was a lot of play in the throttle. I turned the little spring adjustment **** underneath a half turn or so and now there's just enough play so that it doesn't get stuck under load. Is that what it's supposed to be used for?
Thanks for the encouragement everyone!
One thing I noticed though. When I got it all back together I noticed there was a lot of play in the throttle. I turned the little spring adjustment **** underneath a half turn or so and now there's just enough play so that it doesn't get stuck under load. Is that what it's supposed to be used for?
Thanks for the encouragement everyone!
#32
08-30-2010 | 09:09 PM
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Joined: Aug 2009
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No. You adjust throttle play by loosening or tighting those nice chrome fittings near the top of the cable. What you did is tighten the throttle twist. It's like a very poor man's cruise control. Your throttle should snap back to 0 position. Im sure now you have to twist it back to 0 position.
#35
08-31-2010 | 01:21 PM
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 477
Likes: 31
From: north jersey
the switch housings can be a pia. especially aftermarket ones & the throttle side.
i put custom chrome ones on my bike & went with a new harness with chrome switch buttons back in 2002. no problems with the install at that time.
springr 2009 tear the bike down to do cams & tensioners. also removed the throttle side switch housing to fix my non working brake light switch.
beatuiful sunday morning i get the motor back together. just needed to get the switch housiing back on to get a test ride in.
back together, put ignition switch on - motor spins without hitting starter button - ahhh wire came out of starter switch. get that soldered up, put it back together, ignition on, blow a fuse - pinched a wire.
took a while & one more pinched wire before i got my test ride in.
i put custom chrome ones on my bike & went with a new harness with chrome switch buttons back in 2002. no problems with the install at that time.
springr 2009 tear the bike down to do cams & tensioners. also removed the throttle side switch housing to fix my non working brake light switch.
beatuiful sunday morning i get the motor back together. just needed to get the switch housiing back on to get a test ride in.
back together, put ignition switch on - motor spins without hitting starter button - ahhh wire came out of starter switch. get that soldered up, put it back together, ignition on, blow a fuse - pinched a wire.
took a while & one more pinched wire before i got my test ride in.
#36
08-31-2010 | 01:40 PM
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 272
Likes: 0
From: Atlanta, GA
I find that at the end of the project while working by flashlight the last nut or bolt or clevis ring will fall to the ground never to be seen again, until tomorrow when the bright sunshine and clear head prevails. Of course you just could be inept.
#37
08-31-2010 | 01:40 PM
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Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 5,323
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From: NJ
Tried the "simple" operation of replacing the stock switches on my 09 FXDF this afternoon.
Over 90 minutes later, and not only are the switches not replaced, I can't get the spring for the stock horn switch back into place, I can't get the right side switch housing back together, and the throttle is completely off and I can't get that back on either (I also lost one of the brass throttle cable ferrules that I eventually found).
Now I'm going to need the dealership to come out, pick up my bike, and fix my mistakes. I'm done working on my bike myself.
Over 90 minutes later, and not only are the switches not replaced, I can't get the spring for the stock horn switch back into place, I can't get the right side switch housing back together, and the throttle is completely off and I can't get that back on either (I also lost one of the brass throttle cable ferrules that I eventually found).
Now I'm going to need the dealership to come out, pick up my bike, and fix my mistakes. I'm done working on my bike myself.
Geeze that sucks but dont feel bad. That job takes time and frequesnt "head breaks"......Very tedious.....live n learn....
#38
08-31-2010 | 01:46 PM
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 4,933
Likes: 8
From: Kentucky
When I had a couple of Hondas I never had any inclination to work on them. It seems like I have become more mechanically inclined in recent years - I guess years of working on gun and guitars helped, then I bought a house and discovered I can fix almost anything - washers, dryers, refrigerators, water heaters, plumbing, electrical, carpentry, etc., is really easy, but it probably relates back to things I learned on the guns and guitars. Now I have a Harley and I like working on it and making changes and find that pretty easy too. I guess you have to build up to it.
My wife, on the other hand, had never done anything electronic in her life, so about 15 years ago we saw a documentary about Léon Theremin and she bought the parts and built a Theremin (look it up) in 3 days of working nearly all night - taught herself to solder as she went - it still works perfectly. I painted the case for her. Now when I have trouble with electronics she offers to fix it for me.
My wife, on the other hand, had never done anything electronic in her life, so about 15 years ago we saw a documentary about Léon Theremin and she bought the parts and built a Theremin (look it up) in 3 days of working nearly all night - taught herself to solder as she went - it still works perfectly. I painted the case for her. Now when I have trouble with electronics she offers to fix it for me.
Last edited by brenn; 08-31-2010 at 01:53 PM.
#39
09-01-2010 | 07:01 PM
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Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 5,323
Likes: 35
From: NJ
Since were on the subject....did the op get HIS bike back yet? Is all OK OP?
Lesson number two......or question number 2.....DO YOU OWN A JACK?
If you do........sell it
"I'm only saying" because the only thing I can think of is you in good faith jacking her up to clean the tires or something and the next thing that Mr. Murphys law will do is ..........YUP...KNOCK your bike right off the jack for ya.
Seriously if you do own a jack and you still have this desire to do your own stuff thats very cool. Just be carefull cause there is only one right way to put the bike on a jack and lift it and about ten ways for it to fall off on ya when you least expect it.
Don't know why I went off in that direction but I'm only trying to help.
I knocked my fat boy off the lift back in 93...I remember it clear as day to this day. What a nightmare...mlol....just a bonified nightmare....
Kudos to you for attempting the switches. Thats a tedious job.
Lesson number two......or question number 2.....DO YOU OWN A JACK?
If you do........sell it
"I'm only saying" because the only thing I can think of is you in good faith jacking her up to clean the tires or something and the next thing that Mr. Murphys law will do is ..........YUP...KNOCK your bike right off the jack for ya.
Seriously if you do own a jack and you still have this desire to do your own stuff thats very cool. Just be carefull cause there is only one right way to put the bike on a jack and lift it and about ten ways for it to fall off on ya when you least expect it.
Don't know why I went off in that direction but I'm only trying to help.
I knocked my fat boy off the lift back in 93...I remember it clear as day to this day. What a nightmare...mlol....just a bonified nightmare....
Kudos to you for attempting the switches. Thats a tedious job.