Replaced throttle cables, now it won't idle

[cosmicbandito]

So I just put fresh throttle cables in my 79 GS550 last night. Seems to have worked, throttle snaps shut as it should. BUT...now bike won't idle. I know I need to adjust the throttle cables to have the right tension, but the Clymer is very vague on this point. How do I go about adjusting them? I know its by using the nuts on either side of the throttle cable "keeper", but which should I be more concerned with, the push or pull? Do I need to adjust one, and then the other?
Break it down for me, I'm a noob.

Thanks
Matt

[Dave8338]

So I just put fresh throttle cables in my 79 GS550 last night. Seems to have worked, throttle snaps shut as it should. BUT...now bike won't idle. I know I need to adjust the throttle cables to have the right tension, but the Clymer is very vague on this point. How do I go about adjusting them? I know its by using the nuts on either side of the throttle cable "keeper", but which should I be more concerned with, the push or pull? Do I need to adjust one, and then the other?
Break it down for me, I'm a noob.

Thanks
Matt

Sounds like the PULL open is too tight, holding the carbs open slightly. Adjust it first and allow for about 1/32" play in the cable when the slides are fully closed. The PULL shut can be set with little or no slack...

I assume that when you say it won't idle, you mean that the rpm's won't drop to the 900-1100 range?

[mistertoadie]

The adjustment provisions are to remove slack from the cables.There should be an idle adjustment knob on the front of the carb bank between the carbs and the cylinder head. If the slides are bottomed out with the throttle closed that's good. If there is no slack in the throttle when you twist it, that's good. If the bike stalls when you let off the throttle, then the old cable must have been too tight and holding the slides open a bit giving a "false" idle. Simply adjust your idle up. Unless it's as Dave says and the idle is too high.

[blizzard]

This may not do you any good but I had something happen to me not too long ago. I had the carbs off for some reason and when I put it back together I could not get the idle anywhere close to slow enough. After going back and looking closer I found that when I hooked up the pull cable on the throttle I did not get the little round slug on the end of the cable in the hole quite right on the throttle arm and it just shortened the cable a little and would not let the throttle close all the way.
Good luck!

[cosmicbandito]

sorry, should have clarified. When the throttle is closed, the bike dies. Holding the throttle open keeps the engine running. Having the choke open will keep it running. But if the throttle is closed, it dies immediately. I will try playing with the idle set screw.
thanks

[Sandy]

Sounds like you've got yourself a little befuddled with the cables. Firstly make sure you've got lots of slack in the pull and push cables and then set the idle with the idle adjustment knob, not the mixture or air screws. Adjust the pull cable so you've got a bit of slack in it and it doesn't cause the idle to increase when you fully turn bars left or right. Then adjust the push cable so there is enough slack in it that it doesn't bind tight when you turn the bars fully left or right. Too much slack in the push cable is better than not enough. Hope this helps.