Cruise Control Problem

[Freebird]

OK....this is one of those things that I don't WANT to admit but it might help somebody else so I guess I will. I've been finishing up all the little things that I wanted to do to the bike before leaving for Fort Collins. Yesterday I changed the oil, changed the differential oil, etc.

I got the Flanders bar, clutch lines, throttle cables, front brake lines, etc. all changed over the past couple of weeks but had decided to wait on changing the rear SS brake line after getting back. This morning I decided that I was just being lazy so I went ahead and changed it and got the rear brake bled and that is done.

Then I decided to take if for a little ride. I still hadn't double checked the calibration of the Speedohealer so I found a road with mileage markers, got up to 60 MPH, hit the cruise and NOTHING. The set light came on but it would not engage. So....I went ahead and checked the Speedohealer without using the cruise. It was dead on at 7 1/2% error calibration so that is good.

Got home and decided to work on the cruise. I figured it had to be in the throttle cable box under the gas tank. That's the only thing I had messed with that would screw up the cruise. So I pulled the seat, gas tank, etc. and opened up the throttle box. There was a spring that I wasn't sure how it was supposed to go when I put it back together so I was pretty sure that was the problem. Really couldn't tell how it should go and there is no drawing of it in the manual so I changed it and figured I had it right. I put the gas tank, seat, all that junk back on and went for another ride. STILL no cruise.

So...got home and pulled the seat, gas tank, etc. again and opened up the throttle box a second time. This time it was as obvious as it could be. I had the cable from the cruise actuator wrapped around the wrong direction. :( Stupid mistake as it's fairly obvious which way it should go.

So, if you change out your cables, make sure you wrap the cruise cable the right direction. I hate to admit to such a dumb mistake but if it saves somebody else from making it, then I guess it's OK.

[Monsta]

Don't be so hard on yourself! :D

That's an easy thing to overlook and bringing it up will undoubtedly help others. :happy34:

[Redneck]

Show me some one who never makes a mistake and I will show you some one who has never done anything.

[nelsonrl]

You big dummy

[muffinman]

Don being man enough to admit to making the mistake is punishment enough. Get yourself on the scoot and take the wife to DQ and we will forgive you for not getting it right the first 2 times.

Jeff

[Eddie Fulmer]

I believe there is a verse in the Holy Bible that goes like this. Jesus said "Let the man that is without sin cast the first stone". This was in front of a crowd that wanted to stone a woman because of infidelity. So I think it applies in this case to.
Just a little different but you get the pic.

Thanks for the help.

[SaltyDawg]

Yeah I put Kuryakyn ISO grips on last weekend and had to go into that throttle junction box. As soon as I opened it that spring did it's thing and sprung out onto the ground. It took me over an hour of serious searching on the net to find a picture of it that showed how it went in. I put it together but my cruise is not operating properly. I set it on straight and level and she drops 2 MPH then accelerates to 3 MPH faster than the set point before slowing down to the set speed only to do it all over again in about 30 seconds.

There must be some adjustment I can make to fix it.

[Freebird]

It may be the free play that needs adjusting. You have to remove the lower left cowling to get to the vacuum actuator. There is a nut on the actuator..actually two nuts..where the cable goes through where you adjust the free play. Instructions are in the manual if you have one. If not, let me know and I'll see about posting the picture.

[Freebird]

Maybe these pics will help. This is the vacuum actuated located under the left lower cowling.

[SaltyDawg]

Thanks Freebird, I will get to that today and get back to you .

Thanks again,

Wayne

[SaltyDawg]

Well I didn't get to the actuator yet. I did look up the procedure in the Clymer book. When I did I saw that the first thing it said to do was "Make sure the lock nut on the throttle cable at the hand grip was tight." Went outside thinking that it is possible that I didn't tighten it down when I finished the grip change and I didn't. Tightened it down and it holds pretty steady now only moving 1 MPH up or down occasionally. I might tear into the actuator and adjust there just to see if I can get it to stay steady. I know going up and down elevations will effect it so I'm going to give it a couple more days and check on flat level roads.
Thanks Freebird.

Wayne

[Christo]

I just got back on Monday from a ride my wife and I took to the Maker's Mark distillery in Kentucky. When I used my cruise control I am having some of the same issues you folks are posting. Once I am at the speed I want to be at, I set the cruise, it drops down, like almost 5-10 MPH then it SLOWLY moves up to speed. A couple of times it would start to accelerate after I set it and it dropped and it seemed as though it would just cancel itself. I found that I had to set it, then keep hitting the accel up switch for it to get to the speed I had intended it to be cruising at. So maybe I need to have that vacuum actuator thingy adjusted on mine as well.

Any other advice would be helpful, thanks!

[wkboard]

I am having the exact same problem on my 99' as Christo described.

Anyone know how to fix it?
I'd hate to spend hours troubleshooting if someone has already experienced it!

Alan..

[Mean Dog]

I just got back on Monday from a ride my wife and I took to the Maker's Mark distillery in Kentucky. When I used my cruise control I am having some of the same issues you folks are posting. Once I am at the speed I want to be at, I set the cruise, it drops down, like almost 5-10 MPH then it SLOWLY moves up to speed. A couple of times it would start to accelerate after I set it and it dropped and it seemed as though it would just cancel itself. I found that I had to set it, then keep hitting the accel up switch for it to get to the speed I had intended it to be cruising at. So maybe I need to have that vacuum actuator thingy adjusted on mine as well.

Any other advice would be helpful, thanks!

I noticed that my bike would do the same thing as you described. If I set the cruise while the bike was accelerating this cured the problem for me.

:thumbsup2:

Dog

[KiteSquid]

Firebird,

Chalk it up to a learning experience. You learned something from this and became wiser.

I want to thank you for posting your experience HERE so we ALL can learn from it.

A wise man has lots of knowledge, a kind man shares it!!!!!!!


You sir, are VERY kind!!!!!!:cool10:

I also belive that a day that you did not learn something in is a day wasted!!!!!!

[royalstarjac]

I am having the exact same problem on my 99' as Christo described.

Anyone know how to fix it?
I'd hate to spend hours troubleshooting if someone has already experienced it!

Alan..

I believe if you push the button down to engage cruise, then push it up to res/acl and release it,that will solve that issue. I think that's how the manual says to do it and it works for me.-Jack

[monte312]

Thanks for the post ...same thing happening here ....so which way does it wrap on the juction wheel ? Thanks

[Freebird]

I'll be honest. That was so long ago that I really don't remember now. I just know that I had it opposite of the way it should have been. I'm really sorry that I don't remember. I should have taken pictures.

[Gentleman George]

OK, Mary Kay (the wife) and I took a trip to Grand Maria yesterday about 125 mi and about 1/3 way my cruise on my 87 won't engage, today on the way home it worked with some extra efert , when I got home I sprayed W-D 40 in the switch thought maybe it was not getting a good contact to send the signal (to wherever it goes:bowdown:) took it out for a test run and no problems. Keeping my fingers crossed....

[05RSMVTEXAN]

My problem with the cruise control is that it will cut off on it's own at times. I can be just flying down the road and it will just cut off for no reason. It stays on, but it disengages as if I touched the brakes.

[V7Goose]

My problem with the cruise control is that it will cut off on it's own at times. I can be just flying down the road and it will just cut off for no reason. It stays on, but it disengages as if I touched the brakes.
Assuming you don't have any fringe on your levers (very bad if you do), then I'd check that all the levers are freely moving back to the rest position. I had to spray lube in the pivot of my clutch lever a while back to free it up. If the clutch, front brake, or rear brake levers do not fully return to rest, then the cutout switches will be very close to coming on and any jarring of the bike may make momentary contact. You might also need to adjust the position of the rear brake light switch. Make sure you have a little motion of the foot brake before it comes on. :080402gudl_prv:
Goose

[05RSMVTEXAN]

Will do. Thanks Goose for the tips.

Assuming you don't have any fringe on your levers (very bad if you do), then I'd check that all the levers are freely moving back to the rest position. I had to spray lube in the pivot of my clutch lever a while back to free it up. If the clutch, front brake, or rear brake levers do not fully return to rest, then the cutout switches will be very close to coming on and any jarring of the bike may make momentary contact. You might also need to adjust the position of the rear brake light switch. Make sure you have a little motion of the foot brake before it comes on. :080402gudl_prv:
Goose

[Venturing Sole]

OK....this is one of those things that I don't WANT to admit but it might help somebody else so I guess I will. I've been finishing up all the little things that I wanted to do to the bike before leaving for Fort Collins. Yesterday I changed the oil, changed the differential oil, etc.

I got the Flanders bar, clutch lines, throttle cables, front brake lines, etc. all changed over the past couple of weeks but had decided to wait on changing the rear SS brake line after getting back. This morning I decided that I was just being lazy so I went ahead and changed it and got the rear brake bled and that is done.

Then I decided to take if for a little ride. I still hadn't double checked the calibration of the Speedohealer so I found a road with mileage markers, got up to 60 MPH, hit the cruise and NOTHING. The set light came on but it would not engage. So....I went ahead and checked the Speedohealer without using the cruise. It was dead on at 7 1/2% error calibration so that is good.

Got home and decided to work on the cruise. I figured it had to be in the throttle cable box under the gas tank. That's the only thing I had messed with that would screw up the cruise. So I pulled the seat, gas tank, etc. and opened up the throttle box. There was a spring that I wasn't sure how it was supposed to go when I put it back together so I was pretty sure that was the problem. Really couldn't tell how it should go and there is no drawing of it in the manual so I changed it and figured I had it right. I put the gas tank, seat, all that junk back on and went for another ride. STILL no cruise.

So...got home and pulled the seat, gas tank, etc. again and opened up the throttle box a second time. This time it was as obvious as it could be. I had the cable from the cruise actuator wrapped around the wrong direction. :( Stupid mistake as it's fairly obvious which way it should go.

So, if you change out your cables, make sure you wrap the cruise cable the right direction. I hate to admit to such a dumb mistake but if it saves somebody else from making it, then I guess it's OK.


This is the post I was remembering. I believe I may have the same issue with my reassembly of the junction box. Seeing as you didn't remember which way is the correct way to run the cable around the wheel, I'll first try reversing it from what it is now. Maybe I'll get it right the second time.
:doh:

David

[massey130]

what exactly qualifies one to have to hit the donate button?

[RandyR]

If it makes your conscience feel better.. :2133:

[N3FOL]

Well, it only happened to me just once so far...as I was cruising down the highway and placed it on CC and it won't engage with the 'SET' light lit. Tried to turn off and cancel and re-engage CC with no success. I was just travelling at 70 mph:cry:...got home, parked the bike and rode the next day. Long behold, CC is working once again.:happy34: Never had any problems ever since...so far.

[truckin48]

Got tired of screwing around with it. Took it to the shop (which I should have done in the first place, since it is under warranty). Come to find out my problem was that the pump was bad and of course they had to order one. Went by the shop to get some of my stuff out, the mech showed me the old pump and what it wasn't doing. By the way, had a Cops for Kids toy run Sunday and used a friends Buell Thunderbolt, which was different, but a heck of alot of fun to ride. Could get into some serious trouble with it!:thumbsup2:

[Seaking]

This is the post I was remembering. I believe I may have the same issue with my reassembly of the junction box. Seeing as you didn't remember which way is the correct way to run the cable around the wheel, I'll first try reversing it from what it is now. Maybe I'll get it right the second time.
:doh:

David

Oh gees, my cruise control had stopped working this fall and it was AFTER I had a shop install the black braided steel cables throughout the bike.. (throttle cables)..

methinks I shall be paying them a visit again in the spring to get THIS sorted out.. I most likely will have the tank off the bike this winter when I change the plugs, what exactly should I be looking for in there (where exactly?)

That would make sense why it stopped working after the cable change over.. Hmm

[hydraulicman]

My cruise control kicks off for no reason also, but only if I do not have my hand on the grip. As long as I have my hand on the grip it holds fine. Dealers said it is possible a problem with cable adjustment.
Anyone have any ideas?

Barry

[dmoff1698]

My CC has always seemed "weak" to me. As long as I am on a level road it works fine, but get into some hills and it will let the speed drop to the point where it disconnects completely.

I've also noticed that the problem is worse if the engine isn't performing at it's best. Warn plugs, sluggish carbs or carb balance effects how well the Cruise works.

My thoughts are that my vacuum pump may be marginal, working just enough for the easy stuff, but when it has to react quickly to hills there is not enough ooomph there to make the transition. I've checked for leaks in the line, but have no idea how to check for full operation of the pump.

[dingy]

My CC has always seemed "weak" to me. As long as I am on a level road it works fine, but get into some hills and it will let the speed drop to the point where it disconnects completely.

I've also noticed that the problem is worse if the engine isn't performing at it's best. Warn plugs, sluggish carbs or carb balance effects how well the Cruise works.

My thoughts are that my vacuum pump may be marginal, working just enough for the easy stuff, but when it has to react quickly to hills there is not enough ooomph there to make the transition. I've checked for leaks in the line, but have no idea how to check for full operation of the pump.


I have a vacuum pump from an 88 that I am going to put on my bike this winter.

I just hooked it up to a Mighty Vac II unit and got a reading around 3.5 inches of vacuum.

Don't know if this will help you, I guess I'm bored and looking for something to do !!

Gary

[dmoff1698]

I have a vacuum pump from an 88 that I am going to put on my bike this winter.

I just hooked it up to a Mighty Vac II unit and got a reading around 3.5 inches of vacuum.

Don't know if this will help you, I guess I'm bored and looking for something to do !!

Gary

I'm a little supprised at 3.5 inches, would have expected a higher reading, but what do I know.

Now I have to figure out how to hot wire the pump to get it turned on while on the bike. My understanding is that the pump does not start until the CC is engaged and cruise will not engage until the speed is up around 40-45.

I'm quick, but not that quick.

Dale

[dingy]

I'm a little supprised at 3.5 inches, would have expected a higher reading, but what do I know.

Now I have to figure out how to hot wire the pump to get it turned on while on the bike. My understanding is that the pump does not start until the CC is engaged and cruise will not engage until the speed is up around 40-45.

I'm quick, but not that quick.

Dale


Page 8-72 of the service manual shows how to hot wire pump.

Screen shot is below.

Gary