Walkers World - Super smooth throttle action

Walker's World
Words & photos by Geoff Walker

You really can't beat smooth controls when you're racing. People often talk about the dreaded arm-pump - especially in their throttle arm. Well, you can help combat the problem with a little time spent before and during the race day action.
A little touch of throttle preparation is a five-minute job and will make your ride a much more pleasurable experience. As the main pic shows, Brian Jorgensen's spanner spinner is taking the operation very seriously.

Smooth Move
Make sure of a smile on your race face with a small dose of throttle love

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Step 1
If your puppy's sporting some rubber cover action just pop it out of the way and undo the bolts or screws holding the throttle housing together and the lock-nuts on the cables (if there are any - think Honda).

step 1

Step 2
When the bolts are removed you can split the housing halves and release the cables from the throttle tube as shown.

Step 3
With the cables released give them a spray with some lube and wipe clean with a soft cloth so the nipples and inner cables have no debris left on 'em. After this little manoeuvre check the cables for any signs of fraying or other damage, then get your spray lube and use some patience to work a little bit of oil down into the cables by spraying then pulling on the pull cable to ease the oil down. Hold a rag underneath - just like in the picture - to stop any excess oil getting where it doesn't belong. After that pop a wee smidge of racing grease onto the nipples and bare inner cables.

Step 4
With the cables prepped the next step is to clean the other parts. The throttle tube is incredibly important to keep perfectly clean from day one of your bike's life - this stops any internal burring from occurring as the tube gets damaged and also the handlebar can get grooved up.
I find the best way to clean the inside of the throttle tube is to screw a soft cloth with a little spray lube on it into the shape shown and work it into the tube with a turning motion - you may have to do this a few times depending on the amount of crap residing in there.
With an airline, blow clean the inside section of the tube and wipe clean the outside running areas, spray a bit of lube inside the puppy and place it back on the cleaned handlebars. Give it a wee spin around on the bars to make sure there's no crap left in it - if there is repeat step four until sparkly. Okay?

Step 5
The throttle housings can be cleaned with contact cleaner or in a parts washer. After cleaning take any rough edges off the contact areas where the throttle tube runs using Scotchbrite and finally blow the housings off with the airline.

Step 6
All parts are now fully prepped so slip the cables back into their slots on the throttle tube and place the two halves of the housing carefully into position being careful not to pinch a cable in the process. Put the bolts back in and get them finger-tight, find the stop where the throttle tube bottoms out and then move the unit out a couple off millimetres so the tube's not touching the handlebars. Now nip the bolts up evenly on both sides and set a couple of mil of freeplay with the cable adjusters, making sure you lock 'em up after.

Step 7
Pop your covers back into position, check the smooth operation of said tickled item, step back and tell yourself you are the nuts.