Total Motorcycle Community Forums

Hello,
I am new to mc's, I bought a used 99 Honda Shadow vt600, and I was practicing my stopping, when i stopped by my house I put it in neutral and was getting ready to park it for the night, when all of a sudden it just died, so I started it again and the same thing. Lets fast forward to later, when I did some searching, I check alot of things just to be sure. Theres Gas, oil, checked spark plugs, battery.....etc

Thats when i noticed a cable hanging down... again after doing some searching and reading the repair guide...I see that it is the idle adjustment cable with the screw on the end. That came out of where?
That is the question where did it come from, is this something i am going to have to take alot of parts off to get to the place it belongs?

I would like to try to fix it myself, before giving up and sending it to a mechanic.
(there where to pieces still on the screw, which is a spring and a washer)
Please help
Thanks,
Dan

Should be able to just screw it back in... if memory serves. Basically the idle adjuster just holds the needle part way open allowing some air to move through and let the engine idle.

A couple of pictures would go a long way towards helping you.

streetfigherzfan wrote:...I see that it is the idle adjustment cable with the screw on the end...

Hi Dan,

Are you sure it is an idle adjustment cable? Might be the choke cable, if like the Kawas I have had, the choke is on the handlebars. Also, does your speedometer and tachometer (if you have one) work? It is possible the cable is from one of those. If it has a square flexible rod in it, that can be pulled out, it is likely.

The two things could be unrelated. Follow the loose cable back to where it is connected, and that should let you know for sure what it is. Like Sev says, pic would help if you can provide any.

Good luck,
Dave

Hey guys,
I will post some pictures this weekend, I have been busy, with a new job, brothers been in the hospital for two weeks. But i do appreciate the responses.

To clear up any confusion: the choke is on the left side close to the engine, (apparently like a HD), next to it is the idle adjustment (i believe) the knob is attached to the a tab on the frame, and it is a rubber hose type cable, and when i go to the right side the end of the cable was laying down between the V of the engine and it is a screw, so when you turn the knob the left side, it turns the screw.
So I am not sure where the actual screw would go. When I get some pictures, im hoping someone has a better understanding than me, where it would go.

Just my thought, i would think i would have to take the air filter housing off, but i will post the pictures before i do anything major.

Thank you,
Dan

streetfigherzfan wrote:...when you turn the knob the left side, it turns the screw...

I am not familiar with carbed Vs. Are there two carbs on the bike or one?

If there is one, it sounds like the cable is there so you adjust the idle which is placed somewhere hard to get to. The screw end probably sets the idle, so the throttle is closed when you are not giving it gas. This might be why your bike dies when you don't give it gas.

This info from a single carbed Suzi, but likely applies to your Honda: The Suzi had a thumb screw next to the throttle arm. Tighten the screw, idle goes up. Loosen the screw, idle goes down. All the screw did was set the no-hand-throttle position of the throttle arm.

Look at your carb and twist your throttle a bit. You should be able to see the throttle arm moving - another cable will likely be pulling it. Behind this arm (the direction it goes when you release the throttle) you should see a threaded extension that will hold your screw end.

Like you said, this might take some disassembly to get to. They likely would have just put a screw there if you could get to it easily. Hopefully you don't need to pull the tank

--Dave

Thanks everyone,

For giving me your input, but last night I fixed the problem, after looking for a short time, I came across where the screw is supposed to go. WOO-HOO. Now I just have to wait for speedo cable and new throttle sleeve to get here.

Again, I appreciate everyones help

Thanks,
Dan