Help with sticking clutch cable

Hey guys, my bike has been sitting up most of the winter without being ridden. The clutch cable is sticking pretty bad. What's the best advice for freeing it up? So far I've just been spraying WD-40 at it and trying to work it back and forth.

Also, it's definitely the cable, the clutch has plenty of spring tension on it when the cable is disconnected.

thanks as always.

 

Best thing would be a new cable. It's probably rusted inside and "swelled" up against the sheath. Not much you can really do about that.

 

Or the WD40 is gumming it up.

WD40 is the absolute WORST thing you can use to lube motorcycle cables-- it gums up, and really quickly with exposure to heat.

WD=Water Displacement. It wasn't designed to be a lubricant originally. Great for spraying down wet ignition wires, bad for lubing cables. Very bad.

 

Try this, they make non medical syringes that have a small
hollow tube instead of a needle. You can find them at some auto
parts, walmart, food supply shops.
Disconnect at the lever and inject cable lube. I've used reg. oil
with good results.
Another method I've used is to put a funnel over the end of the
cable-seal it for leaks, and put some oil in the funnle then move
the cable back and forth. Keep the cable neer the bottom of the funnel
and don't use too much oil or you'll be cleaning it off your motor
for days lol.

 

All you guys who live in the winter snow should buy one of these:


And use it before you store, and again before you ride :wink:

 

Thanks guys. The WD was all I had on hand at the time. I generally keep a little anti-seize dabbed on the end of the cable at the clutch handle. The bike stays out of the weather and I doubt if it's rusted but I've been wrong before. I'll get it lubed up better tomorrow when I get it disconnected and try to soak it.

 

The ONLY way to fly:



It's what Hillsy is talking about. The only way to completely, thoroughly and positively flush and lube a cable.

I've had mine for about 30 years now, the Yamaha dealer gave it to me when I bought my first SR500.

Personally, I prefer Tri-Flow Industrial Spray lube as it's completely impervious to extreme temperature, hot or cold.

 

Thanks guys. I think for starters I'll just pick up a new cable from Yamaha for about 20 bucks, it was a lot cheaper than I thought it would be. Looks like that kit would be great for maintaining one for the long term before it gets as bad as mine.

 

be sure to lube the NEW cable before installing.