Throttle Cable Replacement!

[79GS425]

I just received my motorcycle license on Friday and bought my first bike yesterday: a 1979 GS425. The engine runs great but the bike still needs a battery and more importantly new throttle cables. Can someone please walk me through a throttle cable replacement on this bike so I can get out on the road?! This should be something I can do myself, right? I'd really appreciate any comments or suggestions. Thanks so much.

[Nessism]

I don't have a 425 so these comments are generic.

You are going to have to take off the fuel and vacuum lines from your petcock, and after removing the bolt(s), remove the fuel tank - life up in rear and pull straight back.

Once you have the tank off, you should be able to see the cables and where they attach to the carbs. Hopefully, you can remove the cables without removing the carbs.

You are also going to have to take out the screws under the throttle twist grip and split open the clamshell. It's all fairly easy, but hard to describe here. You might want to do one cable at a time if you are not sure what goes where.

Good luck. Report back here, with photos, if you are not sure about something.

[79GS425]

Thanks kindly for the help and quick response! How do I split open the clamshell?

[Nessism]

How do I split open the clamshell?

I added highlights to my post above.:-D

[scotto58]

Welcome to the "Family"!

Just a little caution-- make sure that the petcock(fuel valve) is not in the Prime(PRI) position when you take off the fuel line. If it is, the gas will flow out all over the bike and you.
I second Nessism's suggestion to do 1 cable at a time, eliminates the chance of switching the cables.

Good Luck.

Scott