Cable lube?

When I used to have bikes with drive chains, I'd take them off when I did an oil change on the car, and drop them into the hot oil and let 'em steep a while...they came out really supple and loose and clean...hang it on the wall and let it drip into the pan until it stopped. Worked great! Chain always ran quieter and smoother after.

I was considering doing the same with my clutch cable, maybe throttle too... Do we foresee any reason I shouldn't?

 

idk, i wouldn't personally dunk my cables in a tub of oil, but thats just me. i would rather use a dry lube instead of something like oil that would attract particles and dirt.

but thats just me

 

You can remove the cables and hang them up. Dribble a little ATF on the cable and the gravity work in your favor. Soon it will come out the other end of the cable housing. Or.........
You can buy one of those tools that clamp on to the cable and use some Spray cable lube. Then you would not need to remove the cables to lube them.

MN

 

Those are super slick.

http://www.amazon.com/Tusk-Cable-Lube-Kit/dp/B0039O2OAI

 

Yes, they are. Makes the job very easy, so you can do it every season.

I've had mine for over 30 years; it looks like the one in the linked Amazon listing except it's blue and has "Yamaha" stamped in it. The dealer gave it to me when I bought my '78 SR500.

For lubricant I recommend: http://www.triflowlubricants.com/Tri-Fl ... icant.html

 

Here's the thing that I learned, the cables made today have a Nylon sheath inside the spring steel housing which is then covered by another layer of plastic, it doesn't require lubrication, so if you feel resistance in the cable it's probably worn out. If you choose to lube your cables, you risk accelerated wear as dirt is attracted to the lube. However, if you have a way to seal the cable ends from dirt intrusion then go for it. A lube that shouldn't attract dirt comes to mind and that is graphite powder.

 

+1 to the plastic lining but it will only be worn on the inside of the radius. if you can roll the sheath 180 your back in business for awhile

 

I took the clutch cable off to see how it feels without any bends...it doesn't move real freely, but doesn't feel like it's frayed either....just feels dirty/tight.

I noticed yesterday if I was really blasting on it and shallow dipping the clutch to speed shift, sometimes it would flare for a moment as if the cable was preventing the clutch from engaging as fast as I was dropping the lever. That jives with what I see the cable doing now that it's off.

Since I don't have a car ready for an oil change, I remembered I have a gallon can of WD-40 someone gave me, so I tied the cable into a coil and dropped it in a big shallow container so I could submerge it. I'll give it all night to soak, then hang it up and let it dry, and then if it feels good I'll chase it with some lithium or graphite or something...

I'll let you know what happens...

 

I wouldn't have used. WD-40, it's not a Lubricant...

 

RE LUBE that cable; flush it with something first.

WD40 IS NOT a lubricant; and used as a motorcycle cable lube it will quickly GUM UP once exposed to a few heat cycles. I nearly crashed my Norton because I'd lubed the throttle cable with WD40.

WD40 is made to displace moisture (WD=Water Displacement) and can be used as a penetrant; it will actually DE-LUBE parts you use it on.

Give these a read: http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=13731.html

and http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=14175.html

 

You guys just see WD-40 and go into that mode without reading to the end?

I'm well aware of WD-40's limitations.