Kawasaki Sportsbike Riders Club - Australia - Online Forum

Any tips for loosening up a throttle cable?

It's been fine so far, been doing a little wet weather riding lately and today I noticed the throttle is not returning. It's not hard to open or close, just doesnt return.

In the past I have removed the cable on other bikes entirely and soaked it in wd40 until it worked again.

Did you check the grip? Sometimes it's being pushed in too much and the friction caused it to feel sticky.

I had and old KLR once that had this problem.

turned out the plastic housing had cracked and the cable was fraying causing it to stick. luckily i discovered it before the cable snapped out in the middle of nowhere on me...

when i replaced it i couldnt believe the difference...
its amazing how you just get used to things.

cant go wrong with WD40 though.

I replaced the grips on my RF, and at first the throttle seemed to stick a little afterwards. It'd close, abeit over 3/4 a second as opposed to snap closed. Anyway after i took it out for a ride for a couple of hours it settled down and now works as per normal.

But i'd suggest taking the cable off of the throttle grip and see if its still sticky, or if its sticky at the throttle grip. or if its the cable, or if its at the throttle bodies. Sort ti out once yo figure which one of the three it is.


Also another thought, is it better/worse at any particular points inwhere the front wheel is turned?

WD40 sucks the big one

Sikolene Sikopen is a liquid graphite about $12 a can , just bought myself a new one after 6 years

along with a cable lube clamp about $10

dont forget to grease the nipples as well

and also clean the throttle tube so all nice and free and easy

thanks people. I only replaced the grips a little while ago and naturally when it felt sticky that was the first thing I had a look at, all clear there.

Will have a hunt for some of that graphite lube sounds like the trick.

I'm just gonna have to bite the bullet and pull the tank off so I can have a good chop at all the linkages and cables.

WD has worked in the past for me but only after a couple of days of soaking and some high pressure air etc. It tends to cause the graphite powder to clog and makes the sticking worse until you get all the graphite out.

also check that the rubber grip isnt sticking on the switchblock or bar end , quite common

Johnnie5 wrote:also check that the rubber grip isnt sticking on the switchblock or bar end , quite common

He just said that...

I only replaced the grips a little while ago and naturally when it felt sticky that was the first thing I had a look at, all clear there.

you only read the first post?

i just had the same problem a few weeks ago,
i think my handlebar was dirty or somethingg, jsut cleaned it and put the grip back on and the throttle snapped back quicker than ever
>.<

SuN~e wrote:i just had the same problem a few weeks ago,
i think my handlebar was dirty or somethingg, jsut cleaned it and put the grip back on and the throttle snapped back quicker than ever
>.<

Funny you should say that....


Had a good look at things today and found that there was a heap of wet graphite dust under the plastic sleeve on the bar end and inside the switch housing. cleaned it up and all good again.

good work, atleast u didnt take about a week to figure it out

I've just started noticing the same problem on my ride, too many wet days i guess...

i'm trying to resist spraying the shit out of it with WD40 (quick fix which doesn't last) till i can take everything apart and check for build up.


Is there a way to tell quickly whether is actually within the bar area, or a cable problem ?

i have these end bars that if over tightened make the grip stick....do u??

Neka79 wrote:i have these end bars that if over tightened make the grip stick....do u??

Nope, mines just starting sticking out of no where, i haven't replaced the grips.

you should be able to see about 3mm of your bar in betweeb your grips on either side to ensure that they're not rubbing.

or trying taking off your bar end and placing a 2 or 3mm rubber washer on, then put your bar end on so that you create a bit of space. Cheap and easy solution.

BikerBoy wrote:Is there a way to tell quickly whether is actually within the bar area, or a cable problem ?

Remove the bar ends.
Remove the screws from the switch housing.
Take note of how the switch assembly and cable housing comes apart so that you can get it back together.
Slide the grip assembly off the end of the bar.
Inspect/clean.
Re-assemble.