Fast idle lever

[towerworker]

Wondering if any of you have ever had to disassemble the fast idle lever assembly? Mine is giving issues and I'm afraid to use it further as I almost could not disengage it this morning. Something has given way inside the housing it slides in and looks like taking it apart is in my near future.

Curious as to how much is involved?

[EasyBee]

I never use the fast idle switch. My bike always starts at the first attempt without using the fast idle. Even when it's cold outside. So I wouldn't bother.

[kirby]

Fast idle, two positions.

All they do is crack the throttle a SMALL amount and that is all. If your is not working it is mechanical in the handlebar housing. It is good for cold morning starts and raises the rpm a bit till the engine is warm.
Never had one apart and with the info you have supplied can't help.

[towerworker]

I know what it does, and I am aware of the two positions. I've been using it for 12 years and 100,000 miles. Mine has started hanging up on the first position or "stop". And the lever itself has somehow become loose on whatever it's attached to within the housing. I'm simply curious to the construction within the housing. My bike will start within 2 or 3 revolutions regardless of temps but the idle lever will help keep it running when you do an immediate pull off from a cold start with cold weather. I'm not concerned with it in these warm temps but once winter comes it will become more of an issue. I guess at some point I'll pull it apart and see what's inside.

[kirby]

did not want to imply you did not know what it did. But that is all I know about the control as I have never had one apart.

Maybe you can share what you find when you get into it. I find it very useful in my travels and would not be without it.

[towerworker]

did not want to imply you did not know what it did. But that is all I know about the control as I have never had one apart.

Maybe you can share what you find when you get into it. I find it very useful in my travels and would not be without it.

No problem, it's not high on the priority list at the moment but it will move up as temps start to drop. I'll report back when I get into it. Thanks....

[peels]

mine is jacked up too. adjusted weird.

ill give it attention this winter. It starts fine withoutbut if its been sitting awhile it needs fast idle to stay running for. VERY briefly. Iv'e learned the exact throttle position to do this though. lol.

[gregor]

I've always had to hold mine manually fully open as the engine stalls ,when cold, when released to the half-way position. Fine after a few hundred yards then I can return to the normal running position.

[swamper]

Maybe coolant spilled on it TW ???

[towerworker]

Maybe coolant spilled on it TW ???

Good point!! I must have spilled some last time I topped off the radiator on that side.

[sweatmark]

There's a hidden screw holding the mechanism in place.
Not much inside except for spring that flies out, never to be found again.
Otherwise simple.

[swamper]

The spring is in the Black Hole!!!

Good to see you still have your Sense of Humor TW, might be just a few of us left on the 1150 site.

[riceburner]

Wondering if any of you have ever had to disassemble the fast idle lever assembly? Mine is giving issues and I'm afraid to use it further as I almost could not disengage it this morning. Something has given way inside the housing it slides in and looks like taking it apart is in my near future.

Curious as to how much is involved?

Yes, I have.

it's ....... fiddly, from what I remember, there's a ball bearing in there which likes to jump out and disappear.

[CycleRob]

towerworker,
Did it a long time ago . . .
Patience and the right moves are required. My advice is to do it directly over the center of a king sized bed sheet in the driveway so you don't loose the tiny steel ball and small spring. This thumbnail will take you to the pic with its embedded info:



Edit: To change photo provider.

[Boxer]

Wayne, it is not a difficult thing to take apart. The difficult part is finding that little spring after it goes flying in the garage! Seriously, do what Rob suggested, or hang a big white bucket under the handlebar or something. I did it on my 1150 and finally got it all back together after searching for that spring for about 4 days, and it worked much better. The little steel ball gets all rusty or corroded with dirt or something.

[riceburner]

IIRC it's a similar diameter spring to most cheap ball-point pens.....

[towerworker]

Thanks for all the help and the pictures (Rob). One weekend soon I'll take a closer look at it. Right now the weather is warm enough to where it's not an issue. That will change before we know it. Right now I'm getting ready for Hungry Mother!