How to Remove Harley Throttle Cables

Braided steel throttle cables

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Throttle cables are braided steel cables that allow you to control the speed of your motorcycle. Eventually, the throttle cables on your Harley-Davidson motorcycle will become stretched, fray or even break and need to be replaced. When this happens, it is important that you know how to remove them. The removal process is moderately easy as long as you remove them in the correct order and with the right tools.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Piece of cardboard
• T-25 Torx drive head
• T-27 Torx drive head
• Wire/cable cutters

Suggest Edits

1. • 1

     Place a 5/32-inch thick piece of cardboard, about 1" by 1", between the brake lever and the lever bracket.

   • 2

     Loosen the cable adjuster jam nuts with the appropriate-sized Torx driver head. Screw in the cable adjusters with the screwdriver until they are as short as possible.

   • 3

     Use a T-25 Torx drive head to remove the right upper and lower switch housing screws.

   • 4

     Loosen the upper screw securing the handlebar clamp to the master cylinder housing with a T-27 Torx drive head.

   • 5

     Remove the lower clamp screw and the flat washer.

   • 6

     Detach the brass ferrules from the notches on the inboard side of the throttle control grip then remove the ferrules from the cable end fittings.

   • 7

     Pull out the crimped inserts at the bent tube end of the throttle and idle control cables from the lower switch housing.

   • 8

     Remove the air cleaner from the bike by unscrewing the three screws that attach it to the bike. Remove the back plate by unscrewing its three bolts and one Torx head screw.

   • 9

     Detach the cables at the carburetor. Use the slots on a pair of wire cutters to remove the cable barrel ends from the holes in the throttle wheel and release the cable housings from the cable guides on the carburetor cable bracket.

   • 10

     Use the wire cutters to cut off the 1/4-inch cable straps securing the cables to the frame's backbone and coil bracket. Then remove the cables.

Tips & Warnings

• You must insert a piece of cardboard between the brake lever and the lever bracket to prevent damage to the rubber boot and plunger on the front stoplight switch.