K5 500F carb removal & throttle cables

[jbanst]

I'm a complete novice in the mechanics department, but I have my manual, a set of tools, and all winter to figure this stuff out.  Yesterday I removed the gas tank and ran the fuel out of the carbs.  This morning I proceeded to remove the carbs.  Overall removing them wasn't that difficult, though I ran into a snag when I had to remove the throttle cables.  The manual says to detach the cable nipples from the throttle cam with the cables loosened.  I loosened the cables though I wasn't able to release the cable nipples from the cam on the carbs.  It was a very tight squeeze in there and I wasn't able to get anything in there to release them.  I ended out removing the throttle cables completely, then released the nipples once I had the carbs off.  Is this what most people do, or is there a trick to getting the nipples off the cam while the carbs are on? 

[mister]

You said "nipples" 



Michael

[mitch79]

Yes. There's two adjusters on the top of the carbs. I remove the cables from there first, then the throttle cams.

[benntn]

. 

Yes. There's two adjusters on the top of the carbs. I remove the cables from there first, then the throttle cams.

I'm trying to do the same but that's easier said than done.  Exactly how did you disconnect the nipples from the cams?  There is no way that I can tell at least.  BTW my bike is an 04 gs and my manual says you have to disconnect them from the throttle housing on the handle bar, is that true or is there an easier way?

[Roxtar]

i had trouble with it too... I left them "connected" until I pulled the carbs out so I had more room to disconnect.

[dmartins]

I had to disconnect mine a while ago. I didn't touch anything at the throttle end. Just loosen off the adjuster nut on both cables at the carb side so that you can free the cables from the metal bracket. This should give you the slack you need to disconnect the cables. Remove the cable going around the front side first. To remove the rear one I had to rotate the cam to all the way open by hand so I could get enough slack to remove the cable.

[00sanchez]

I always lift the throttle with my finger (to get more slack in the cable) and use a pair of needle nose pliers to maneuver the cable through the slit and get the nipple out.