What is throttle free play?

One hallmark of a skilled rider is the ability to precisely deliver the right amount of throttle at the right time. To check the throttle free play, hold the grip between your fingers and roll it back and forth until you begin to feel the pull of the cable. Pick a spot on the grip and watch it to measure the free play.

What is free play motorcycle?

Adjusting your clutch lever “Free play” is process of achieving the correct amount of slack of the clutch cable, as measured at the pivot point of the clutch lever. The clutch cable is always engaging the clutch (just a little bit), separating the clutch plates, and causing accelerated wear.

How much play should throttle have?

Most motorcycle manufacturers recommend about 2 to 3 millimeters of throttle free play, but over time the cables will stretch and settle into their housings and you’ll end up with more slack.

How does throttle work on motorcycle?

The throttle controls how much air is allowed to flow through the carburetor, and the flow of air is what controls how much fuel is also fed into the engine. This drop in air pressure draws fuel up and out of the carburetor bowl through a series of precisely machined jets and passages, and into the cylinder head.

Why clutch free play is important?

Anything less than the correct amount of free play (or clearance) will result in clutch slip, because the pressure plate will be unable to exert its full pressure on the friction plate. Failure to cure this fault will quickly lead to a burned-out friction plate, and possibly a ruined pressure plate.

What does throttle mean in bike?

In an internal combustion engine, the throttle is a means of controlling an engine’s power by regulating the amount of fuel or air entering the engine. In a motor vehicle the control used by the driver to regulate power is sometimes called the throttle, accelerator, or gas pedal.

How do you measure throttle free play on a motorcycle?

If you have trouble visualizing the measurement, hold a metric tape measure up to the grip. Most factory manuals will tell you that 2–3mm is the correct amount of throttle free play. The adjuster actually changes the length of the cable’s exterior sleeve to alter the free play.

How much free play should be on a motorcycle engine?

Space is tight in the engine compartment, making free play adjustments a slow, trial-and-error task. Food for thought: While 2–3mm free play may be the factory spec, many riders prefer even less free play, giving them the feeling of a seamless connection to the carburetors or injector housings.

What happens when you open the throttle wide on a motorcycle?

Yup a rolling snap on the throttle at say 20 MPH . an 800 pound motorcycle will raise up and take off like a shot . Depends entirely on the moto and the power band of the engine. On a 250, not much happens when you open it wide. It has maybe 15–25 horsepower.

What is a smooth throttle transition?

Smooth transitions on and off the throttle play a vital role in keeping the chassis stable in a corner. Since the throttle cables are still, for the majority of bikes, the direct link between your hand and the butterfly valves in the mixers, minimizing slop in the system will pay big dividends.