What lube for choke/throttle/clutch cables?

[instigator]

Hi

I bought a little device for lubing cables from Hein Gericke the other day. In their catalogue they show a great little oil canister with a specific nipple to fit into this device yet for some fuck-witted reason, they don't sell the canister.

I am only able to fit the spout off a can of chain lube in it and have used that but pretty sure it doesn't feel like the right kind of lube to be using.

What should you be using?

[Paxovasa]

I use 3 in 1 oil or the cheaper version of it

Currently I have some Carlube - Handy oil

https://2bb.lv/userfiles/Image/db_katalogs/c539/ext_75634.jpg
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Suzuki GSF600 K3 (in the fastest colour, black).

[tatters]

Remeber not to oil nylon coated/lined cables as the oil will casue the nylon to swell up.
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Past:NRG50,AF1125(x2),NSR125RR,ZZR250,CX500,VFR400,KR1S,ZZR600(x2),CB400N,YZF1000(x2),KH125,Z200,FX400R,CBR954RR(x2)GPZ500S,GT550,VFR750F(x2),RD350N,XR650R,CBR600F,CB250,KDX250,YZF750R,CRM250,400EXC,KLR650,TTR600RE,DR350S,R100GSPD,RGV250,VMAX1200,DL650,KZ750 Present:G650XC,C12,CRF450X,1190ADV

[Acemastr]

how would you oil an enclosed cable?
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2017 KTM 350 XC-F - 2014 Yamaha R6 - 2005 Yamaha YZ125
2016 Toyota Tacoma Limited

[Walloper]

[instigator]

Tatters - No idea if it's a nylon covered/lined cable, how can you tell from visual inspection? its a k1 gsxr1000.

My first clutch cable snapped (granted it was 45k old) and the second one is already, within 1k, nearly at the end of it's stretch. I fitted a new clutch a week ago in the hope that it would need adjusting and buy me back some length but it's now nearly at the end of it's adjustment already. Both at lever and at the locknut at the other end.

[tatters]

Check the workshop/owners manual (can be found on-line) if it states that the clutch/throttle cables should be oiled as part of the bikes maintenance then there bog standard cables.

I,ve never oiled cables on any of the bikes l,ve owned, never felt the need too on a cheap disposble part such as cables, l think BMW use lined cables as standard as theres a warning about oiling them on my GS also Venhill make good feather light cables which are lined for a smoother feel/long life.
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Past:NRG50,AF1125(x2),NSR125RR,ZZR250,CX500,VFR400,KR1S,ZZR600(x2),CB400N,YZF1000(x2),KH125,Z200,FX400R,CBR954RR(x2)GPZ500S,GT550,VFR750F(x2),RD350N,XR650R,CBR600F,CB250,KDX250,YZF750R,CRM250,400EXC,KLR650,TTR600RE,DR350S,R100GSPD,RGV250,VMAX1200,DL650,KZ750 Present:G650XC,C12,CRF450X,1190ADV

[instigator]

[DrDonnyBrago]

[Vincent]

[jay12329]

I tend to get a little plastic bag, small hole, elastic band and fill with WD40. Leave it to hang for 24 hours and its all lubed up and ready to go!
HTH

J

[DrDonnyBrago]

[The Artist]

Never tried with bike cables but on boat steering cables which are a bit thicker than your average throttle cable, I use a condom filled with a thick oil. Thicker than 3 in 1. Not sure how to describe it. Like hot grease maybe...

Anyway, condom full of that, put the opening of the condom over the end of a cable and squeeze it, and the oil will works its way down through the sleeve getting into every little nook and cranny.

If the cable has a thin white covering on it within the outer cover then do not lubricate it. It doesn't need lubricating. If it is stiff then it needs replacing.

[Vincent]

If you were to dip the cable in a jar of lube, it might capilarise* up the cable itself. It probably won't go the whole way up so just turn the cable over and start again.



* Capilarise/Capillarity; The tendancy of a liquid in a narrow tube or pore to rise or fall as a result of surface tension.