lubeing control cables

[benford46]

How do you you lubricate the clutch cable and throttle cables?
Ben in Texas
XL1200C '03

[Buckshot]

I haven't done the throttle cables yet, and I haven't done the clutch cable yet myself either...BUT my friend has shot some WD-40 down the clutch though. Don't really know what I think about that either.

[dabronco]

They make this thingy that clamps on your cable end and accepts the extension tube of wd-40 or a similar lube. It forces the spray down the cable housing. I have put the tube of a spray lube against the opening of the housing, next to the cable and wrapped good electrical tape around the arrangement tightly and most of the lube goes down the housing. Try this; get a foot or so of clear vinyl tubing, large enough to fit over the cable end. Slide it down about an inch over the housing, wrap with tape to make a good seal, place the other end into lube of your choice,(teflon based ''super lube'' is good) place the vinyl tube in yer mouth and suck! You can draw the stuff up the housing like soda thru a straw, and the CLEAR vinyl lets you see when to stop!

[benford46]

I thought about trying the squirt wd 40 down the clutch cable at the lever end ,probably try that,just wondered what other folks were doing.
Thanks

[IronMick]

A light oil is a good choice. WD40 may be too light. If it is an old cable not well maintained as on an old 2nd hand bike i would use WD40 1st to clean the cable then a good light oil to lube it more permanently.

Those cable lubers cost only about $5.00. Any m-cycle shop should have them. They work on some cables, not on all. Depends on the style of cable end.

Whatever technique you use, even with a good cable luber, lots of oil will end up on the floor. Put down LOTS of newspaper.

While we are on the topic, remember that the mechanical speedo cable [if you have a mech speedo] will not be lube'd like this. It is to be removed from the caseing and greased.

[AZbiker]

I have one of the thingeys that clamps on the end of the cables and it doesn't work on the clutch cable. It might work on the throttle cables, haven't tried it yet on those.

WD40 is a water displacer and mild solvent with a tiny bit of lube in it. I would not recommend using it to lubricate the clutch or throttle cables. A specific cable lube or 3 in 1 oil would work much better. I lube my clutch cable each time I change my primary fluid (every 5k miles).

With the cable end loose, I just spray the lube down the inside of the cable housing and work the cable back and forth. So far, the bike has 36.5k miles on her and the clutch cable looks fine.

[dabronco]

It's also good to know when to cry uncle! If you're trying to free-up old, stiff, kinked cables, it's usually better to just replace the things. They are one of the cheaper things to replace on the bike, and the feel of brand new cables is like,...well...new socks! Alot of times the cables on a used bike aren't routed like they oughta be. On a bike that's gotten new bars,the previous owner may not have changed the length accordingly and merely re-routed them, causing them to bind.

[flathead45]

you can try cutting the corner outa a ziploc bag slip it over the cable and tape or ziptye it on then put a bit of oil in the bag and then work the cable back and forth a while

[bigdogbark]

I use super lube and the needle fits down into the cable tube. Just watch the throttle little cable holders. They are very small and can easily get lost when/if you take the cables off the throttle.

As a side note a picture is worth a thousand words but a video is much better. Do a web search or check on Ebay for a video that will show you how to do the maintenance. I picked up a CD off EBAY ($20) and I knew how to do it but I still found a few new short cuts. Also get the manual for HD.

[Chuck]

[QUOTE=flathead45]you can try cutting the corner outa a ziploc bag slip it over the cable and tape or ziptye it on then put a bit of oil in the bag and then work the cable back and forth a while[/QUO

Hey flathead, that avatar has got to go.