GL1500 cruise engage lag

[spiralout]

For the year I've had my 1500 the cruise has been really slow to take hold when engaged. When I'd set it and let off the throttle I'd lose 5-10 mph before the cruise would engage and bring it back up to the set speed. Since I do a lot of interstate riding, this was not only a nuisance, but a safety concern, too, so I've been setting the cruise then holding the throttle in position for 5-10 seconds until the cruise finally engaged. This was another one of those things that I always meant to get around to fixing and finally did today. The FSM has the procedure for adjusting the cruise actuator cable but it involves removing enough plastic to get to the rubber inspection cap on the left radiator and aligning index marks, similar to the reverse adjustment.

Normally, I have no problems pulling plastics and wondered why others always try to avoid it. Today I decided to be lazy and do it in a different way that only involved removing the left side cover and left front engine cover. I'd have had a lot better access with the inner fairing lower off, but like I said, I did it the lazy way.
This is the cruise actuator on the left side under the front engine cover, below the reverse handle, if equipped.

Close up of the cable adjustment. Red arrow is the adjuster, blue is the lock nut and green is the rubber boot.

I slid the boot back out of the way, and ran the lock nut back down the adjuster threads some. I turned the adjuster (top towards me) until the cruise cable increased the idle from my normal 750-800 rpm up to about 1k. This took many turns. Then I backed off the regular idle adjuster most of it's travel until it was just the cruise holding the RPMs up. Turning the adjuster (top away from me) I lowered the RPMs to about 500, locked it down, then brought the idle back up to normal using the regular adjuster. I went for a test ride and the cruise engage was instant, no speed loss at all.
This wasn't "by the book" by any means, but was a quick easy fix for me. One day when I get time to pull the plastic, I'll check the alignment marks and see just how close this got it.

[WingAdmin]

This is great - I have the same issue, and even though I set mine by the book using the alignment marks, it still lags. Next time I have things apart, I'll use your technique.

[RoadRogue]

I like it, thanks for sharing your technique.

[dingdong]

Thanks! I have seen that same method posted elsewhere. I haven't tried it but now I will. It looks like a good option. I have adjusted with the "by the book" method but it didn't work for me either.

Tom

[brettchallenger]

And I thought the lag was due to my GL1500 simply having old technology (my newish Ford works instantly but everything is electronic). I will certainly look at this.

Thanks

[Mh434]

This might be a nice addition to the GL1500 DIY articles...sooner or later, I'm going to need to find this!

[spiralout]

Thanks! I have seen that same method posted elsewhere. I haven't tried it but now I will. It looks like a good option. I have adjusted with the "by the book" method but it didn't work for me either.

Tom

I'd seen this method posted on a few assorted sites and decided to finally try it and it worked for me. Figured I'd post it here, where I hang out

This might be a nice addition to the GL1500 DIY articles...sooner or later, I'm going to need to find this!

Boss man moved it to the DIY's for easy reference

As a followup to my OP, I had to readjust the cable the day after. I didn't get to do any riding the day I did the adjustment except for the test ride. The day after, I put a good 30 miles on it and noticed my idle was up to around 950 rpm after coming up to temp. I tried to turn it down some but couldn't because the cruise was holding it up. I had to back off the adjuster a hair to be able to idle it back down to normal. I rode 200 miles this morning between 45-75 mph and it worked perfectly so I'm attributing this to the bike not being completely up to operating temps the day before.

[dingdong]

Interesting. Let us know if the idle stabilizes when at cold or normal temps. I will be doing this adjustment this week sometime. Leaving on vacation in a couple of weeks and would like to have the cruise working then.

Tom

[Fatwing Chris]

I know back when I got my 1500 there were guys complaining about a lag even after adjusting the cable and what someone had come up with was to hit the set button and then hit the resume right after.Not saying it's right,but it did work.Hopefully this new way of adjusting eliminates the need for hitting both buttons.

[spiralout]

I've put well over 300 miles on it since readjusting the cable to allow me to idle it down some and all's good so far. I still haven't gotten a chance to pull the lower fairing yet to check the index mark, though. I'm still curious as to how close the mark is.

Sent from my HTC One (M7)

[onawing69]

I am curious, do you have any surging, now that you have adjusted it ?
Thanks
Brian
1994 GL 1500 Aspencade

[spiralout]

I am curious, do you have any surging, now that you have adjusted it ?

None at all, dead on rock steady. The only surging I ever get nowadays is when partially choked. (errmmm, I mean enrichened )
I've backed off my idle when up to temp and the lowest I can get it with the adjuster is 500 rpm which means the cruise cable is holding it at where I wanted it my first attempt. Seems that 250 rpm difference between cruise cable and idle is the sweet spot for mine.

[dingdong]

I was in the process of trying the cruise lag adjustment suggested here. Then thought there has to be a simpler way to accomplish this same thing. So I tried adjusting the cruise linkage by rotating the adjuster until the idle just started to increase. Then I backed off the adjuster 3/4 (arbitrary number) turn. It worked. No more lag. Sets instantly now. The increase speed button functions faster now. Faster response when going up a hill also. Tried many settings between 50 and 75mph. So far so good. I will be going to California in a couple of weeks so I will give it a good test. Will let you know when we return.

Tom

[spiralout]

I was in the process of trying the cruise lag adjustment suggested here. Then thought there has to be a simpler way to accomplish this same thing.

'Cause, you know, idling down then back up is a really complicated pita
Kidding aside, glad you found a way that worked for you. Mine ended up being around a half turn to get it where I wanted it.

[WingAdmin]

I had my bike apart this weekend to fix the reverse, so seeing as I had the bodywork off anyway, I did this procedure - using dingdong's method. I cranked the adjustment out until the idle just barely started to climb, then backed it off just about 3/4 turn and locked it with the jam nut. It works! The lag is gone.

[john3xv1]

Took my '08 to the dealer for the same condition while it was still under warranty. Was told it was normal; they all do it.

[MasterDaniel904]

Well, another thing I thought was just "normal" explained! I'll be fixing this one as soon as I find some time! But this brings up a question, which if answered elsewhere I apologize, but I've discovered since living in NM that the cruise control tops out at 75mph. Out here, Interstate 25's speed limit is 75, and realistically, 80 wont even wake up the state troopers. Texas has a few sections posted at 85mph. Is the cruise governed at 75mph or is there an adjustment I'm missing?

[amsoilguy]

Could this adjustment be so out of whack as to keep the cruise from engaging at all?

[spiralout]

Is the cruise governed at 75mph or is there an adjustment I'm missing?

It's governed. Here's a way to fool it. viewtopic.php?f=14&t=41908

[MasterDaniel904]

Thank you, spiralout!

[spiralout]

Thank you, spiralout!

[WingAdmin]

While riding to work today, I hit my cruise SET button, immediately let go of the throttle, and my bike held speed with no lag whatsoever. I smiled and thought of you, spiralout.

[spiralout]

While riding to work today, I hit my cruise SET button, immediately let go of the throttle, and my bike held speed with no lag whatsoever. I smiled and thought of you, spiralout.

I know. It's nice, right?
In actuality, I can't take any credit for this. I'd seen this method posted around the internet for a couple of years and finally tried it and posted it here. And by the way, I smiled and thought of you today when I used the JIS screwdrivers I won here to remove the 14 pita screws holding the electrical cover on a Yamaha waverunner.

[ct1500]

With properly adjusted cable and vacuum system components working correctly, slow engagement or cruise engage lag is caused by poor contact within handlebar switches.

I have restored to almost instant engagement two 1500's that had the condition by opening the handlebar switch halves and applying a liberal dose of Lock Ease spray lubricant into the micro switches.

This will obviously not work on previously damaged/broken switches.

[freedoug]

can you tell me if this same procedure would work on the GL1800, has I too have "lag-time" when setting and resuming the cruise.