Throttle body sync question...I'm asking a stupid one here

[pjbmw]

I finally have worked up the initiative to sync my throttle bodies. Stupid question though, which is the right hand throttle body and which is the left hand? Is the right hand side on the side of the rear brake lever or the shift lever? Or, put dumber... am a looking into the head light or looking at the taillight?

thanks for the answer and your abuse

[taosports]

Right hand throttle body is on the right side of bike as you are sitting on it facing foward...I'll leave the abuse for others

[NHighCotton]

Sitting on the bike the R/H would be the R/H throttle body.

I don't guess it wouldn't really matter as long as you pay attention to which side you hooked the hose to in relation which side you adjusted.

But if you're using the TwinMax you can strap it to tank bag and ride off for real experience in tuning, in that case, your R/H should be the R/H throttle body.

Make sure you "zero" before adjusting.

[Boxer]

Not a dumb question at all. Makes sense really to clarify right and left. I once told a tire place to check my right front tire on my truck. He asked me if it was the right facing the front or the rear and that usually they specified which tire by whether it was on the passenger or driver side. This doesn't work for bikes though, hence I stay confused myself.

Another helpful hint. Make sure both TB cables have ample slack before beginning and neither one is holding the butterfly slightly open, thus being too tight. Just feel the cable above the pulley and see if it is slightly slack with throttles closed. You can check by holding one open while you work the throttle and listen to the other one to hear the metallic click of the butterfly seating. Then do the other side the same.

Good luck. Its actually fun! Oh, and use a box fan on the headers.

[boxermania]

pjbmw.....there are no stupid questions, one asks because one does not know.

All the responses have been good....I want to take it a bit further to hel you understand what is TB Sync all about.

You have one throttle cable that comes to a pulley where there are two cabales, one for each TB. Inside the TB there is a large butterfly valve tha moves from close to fuly open withi ~ 90 degrees of travel. The idea here is to insure that when one turns the throttle both valves open the same quantity to allow the same air flow into the cylinders.

Te adjustment consists of shortening or lengthening the individual cables until this is accomplished. There are many ways of doing it, but if your bike is presently in good running order the amount of adjustment will probably be minute.

I do recomend if at all possible leave the left TB alone and do your adjustment on the right TB. Makes the process much easier and faster.

Good luck let us know how you made out.

[riceburner]

I think you're meant to do the valves first.

[DSKYZD]

Here's another way to think about it.

Picture the bike from a side or profile view. When the front tire is to the right of the rear tire, that's the right side. Conversely, when the front tire is to the left of the rear tire, that's the left side.


Great satisfaction can be had from servicing the bike yourself. When that feeler guage slides around like butter and you're sure all the valves are matched to the proper spec, then you get throttle bodies set just right, the bike just feels better. Much of it may be imagined, but what is reality, ya know? Very, very, very minor adjustments can have an effect.


DSKYZD

[boxermania]

pjbmw

If after all these sugestions you are still having problems telling the right from the left here is a fool proof way to tell.

The side with the muffler is the left side.................

[Boxer]

The side with the muffler is the left side.....

Isn't the muffler on the right side in Australia?

[towerworker]

I once worked with a man who marked his work gloves with a big magic marker R on the back of the right glove and L for the left. (serious!)


Wayne[/b]

[DIESELPOWER]

What symptoms would a throttle body cause if it is badly out of sync with the other? Thank You all.

[MikeCam]

DP,

Possibly a flat spot between 2000-2500rpm!


per your post above...this could be the problem, although The meaning each of us takes from the description of a 'flat spot' could vary our responses somewhat. Is it flat in power? In torque? In noise? In feel?

Not trying to be a smart ass.

My thoughts are 1) check air intake flow, air filter box and exhaust for restrictions that might occur; 2) check for vacuum leaks in the throttle body hoses; 3) check for throttle cable free play (per manual); 4) check fuel filter (ugh! that's tricky); 5) finally, adjust valves and check/adjust throttle body synch.

Good luck.

[DIESELPOWER]

I will check the vac lines and throttle cable free-play as you suggest. The air filter is in good condition.

The best way I could describe the flat spot is if you accelerate from 2000 RPM the engine feels like it is starving for air and labors up til 2500 RPM at which point the engine accelerates perfectly.
Thank you for your input, it is much appreciated. Joe

[Capt. Blackadder]

Joe Diesel,

My R1150R is kinda like that between idle and 2500 RPM, and I've always thought that's just part of the design. At about 2500 RPM it seems to clear its throat, gather its skirts and just go, so I think that at lower RPM the air intake velocity is just too low to fill the cylinders effectively. Above 2500 RPM it all "comes together" nicely in there, so we get that ol' torque sensation. There may be nothing wrong or out of adjustment on your motor.

[DIESELPOWER]

I have checked all vac connections and they are secure with no leaks, the throttle cable seems to be in good adjustment between the throttle bodies.

Capt. What you describe is exactly what I am feeling especially when you say at 2500 it "Clears it's Throat"

I will probably just look up the procedure for sync on the TB'S and short of that I guess I will live with this.

Other than that it is an awesome bike. I have always had Japanese bikes in the past but this one exceeds them all in looks and in fun.

Joe

[MikeCam]

You know, this might be the time for an Italian Tune-Up.

Get a bottle of Techron additive (any good fuel injector cleaner) pour 1/3 to 1/2 in next fillup. Ride like the Headless Horseman is behind you and you are Ichabod Crane: hot starts, high revs at low gearing, lots of accelerations and changes. For the entire tank of gas. Then add another 1/3 or so and repeat. Ride like a teenage hormonal freaky kid for a couple of weeks. Never idle, always rev, really send the air/fuel through that system. Then report back.

And maybe check those plugs-- are they the hotter burning ones?

[DIESELPOWER]

I am going out right now for the Techron for the bike and some LSD for myself. Can't wait to ride like you suggest! Thank You

[iowabeakster]

LSD huh? sounds like a fun ride. keep your visor open or you may fog up your helmet laughing hysterically.

[MikeCam]

Low Sulphur Diesel

Right?

[DIESELPOWER]

Well after a day of messing around the problem is solved!
What I found was about an ounce of water in the hose from the fuel tank going to the solenoid which is attached to the charcoal canister for the evaporative emissions system. Under the right side cover this hose has a connector and when I removed the connector a fair amount of wasser came out.

I also did the Italian tune-up with the injector cleaner and ran the poo out of it, that was fun..

I really liked this bike yesterday and today

The LSD I was referring to was the stuff they used in the 60's But I liked the other way of thinking as well when you consider my username..

I hope this could also benefit other owners which may exibit this problem
Thanks once again for all the input from other members.
Gotta go and ride. Joe