I'm all choked up

[Aitch]

I fired up the bike for a ride to work after the bike had set for a while outside uncovered. It had been rained on.
Now the choke button will not return to the off position and I'm at a constant fast idle.
It acts like the cable is frozen in the sleeve.
Please let me know if you can suggest a cure!

aitch

[Boxer]

Aitch, There's a little metal ball in there that sits on a spring and rides in a groove of the plastic. It has one spot where it tightens up for the lower "high-idle" position. That metal ball and spring get rusty and gunky if left to sit. Spray lots of WD-40 or Silicone lubricant all in there around that switch and work it back and forth. To do a really good job, you have to take it all apart and clean the ball and the tiny spring...But watch out! It will pop out on you and you will never find them!

I doubt the problem is down i the junction box, but it may be stuck there as well.

[towerworker]

Mine did the same thing and as I recall it was after alot of wet weather riding. Like Boxer said .....lots and lots of WD-40 did the trick. Mine was so hard to move initially I thought I was going to break something.

Wayne

[riceburner]

Aitch, There's a little metal ball in there that sits on a spring and rides in a groove of the plastic. It has one spot where it tightens up for the lower "high-idle" position. That metal ball and spring get rusty and gunky if left to sit. Spray lots of WD-40 or Silicone lubricant all in there around that switch and work it back and forth. To do a really good job, you have to take it all apart and clean the ball and the tiny spring...But watch out! It will pop out on you and you will never find them!

I doubt the problem is down i the junction box, but it may be stuck there as well.

Agreed - I've done the strip and clean myself, and it's a right b*stard. There's fixing screws in all sorts of odd places so take it easy if things appear to be sticking while you're taking them apart.

[Aitch]

I slathered it liberally with Kroil and finally, with a frightening amount of pressure, managed to move the button past the detent to its home position. Worked it for a bit but it's still quite stiff. I may have to resort to disassembly if the situation does not improve.