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1981 r100rt throttle cable part number issues

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EthanS
Posts: 8
Joined: Tue Jan 28, 2025 2:51 pm

1981 r100rt throttle cable part number issues

Post by EthanS »

Hello all,
I am wrwapping up work on this bike and I hit a dilemma. For my throttle cables, I am using part # 1 242 135 for my L/R lowers and # 1 242 217 for my upper throttle cable. Stock bike, stock bars 40 mm Bing carbs.

My issue, the #135 upper cable doesn't have enough 'travel' to have full throttle range
#127 is 529mm cable / 442 mm Sheath = 87 mm travel
#135 is 755mm cable / 675 mm Sheath = 80 mm travel
Bing travel is 35 mm (measure near middle of hole to retain cable from the top of the shoulder that the adjuster screws into)
At the throttle the pull is around 25 mm.
I also need all adjusters to be run in all the way (made to be shortest possible) just to make things fit.

I feel like I need a #135 cable assembly with more cable to it. However, this cable is a perfect match to the unlabelled one that was on the bike. I am hoping I am just missing something very obvious

Would love to hear some thoughts please!

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schrader7032
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Re: 1981 r100rt throttle cable part number issues

Post by schrader7032 »

I am unfamiliar with those part numbers, but I do find them on the EME site. But when I go to either RealOEM or MaxBMW, I find the throttle cables as part number 32731236616 and they are listed as 1108mm long.

But when is take EME's full OEM part number, I get the cables for the accelerator cable/choke cable which is a different animal. Maybe the '81 RT has a single cable at the handlebar and a splitter from there. Again, my /7 has two long cables.
Kurt in S.A.
'78 R100/7 '69 R69S '52 R25/2
Fast. Neat. Average. Friendly. Good. Good.

EthanS
Posts: 8
Joined: Tue Jan 28, 2025 2:51 pm

Re: 1981 r100rt throttle cable part number issues

Post by EthanS »

Thank you Kurt,
Yes, in this generation there is an upper cable from the throttle to a BElden connector, where it joins to a Left and Right lower cables. Those are the EME part numbers and IIRC are associated to the BMW part number.
Not sure what you looked up on MAX, but if you are comparing our two generations, they are totally differnet in their cable managment. My bike definitely doesn't have a 1100 mm choke or throttle cable anywhere
cheers,
ethan

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schrader7032
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Re: 1981 r100rt throttle cable part number issues

Post by schrader7032 »

I do see where Max says "...thru 1980" and then another "1981 to 1984". So, is this your first go at this bike or were there parts on the bike before? If so, how does the new parts compare? If you bought these from EME, might be worth a call to ask them for some assistance. Maybe someone with this bike will come by here shortly...
Kurt in S.A.
'78 R100/7 '69 R69S '52 R25/2
Fast. Neat. Average. Friendly. Good. Good.

EthanS
Posts: 8
Joined: Tue Jan 28, 2025 2:51 pm

Re: 1981 r100rt throttle cable part number issues

Post by EthanS »

Thanks Kurt, I hope so as well and further hoping to hear " I had the same problem and I....."

The Long history made short. I have had the bike 2 and a half years. It has been off the road since 2008 at which time the engine had new rings, heads were fully addressed and carbs were rebuilt and then the bike was never put back into action as the PO moved onto new hobbies when the engine was out getting wortked upon. Carbs were locked solid when I got them and had to re-rebuild them. New cables match old, but I could never confirm if the old were ever actually working, but yes the cables appearred to have had some life in them aside from sitting for so many years

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srankin
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Re: 1981 r100rt throttle cable part number issues

Post by srankin »

Congratulations on bringing another bike back onto the road. The 81 year of the RT was kind of a cross road from the two cable systems of the older year bikes and carbs to the newer style.

Yeah, I looked at the microfiche and got confused. At this point I would give Max a call and talk to one of the parts guys. Same goes for EME.

Both are very good at figuring thing out. Good luck. St.
Owner of a 84, R80RT and 79 R100RT being stripped naked for summer, turned Into a frame up restoration,

EthanS
Posts: 8
Joined: Tue Jan 28, 2025 2:51 pm

Re: 1981 r100rt throttle cable part number issues

Post by EthanS »

Happy to report that fresh eyes, fresh mind, a few Youtube lessons from Brook Reams and I got everything squared away
Yes, '81 was a transition year and I think it was October '80 was a cut in point for a few design changes. Mine is a slightly later unit or a 'true'

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