New (to me) cable lube trick

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oldwings 78
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New (to me) cable lube trick

#1

Post by oldwings 78 »

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I am giving the old girl a little attention today. I went for the proper clutch cable adjustment and ended up starting on the lifter arm and working my way back to the lever to get it all correct. I started lubing the cable (pita) and thought that there must be a better way. Here's my idea. I took an old spark plug boot and cut off all but 1/4 inch of the part that goes on the plug wire. (Makes it easier to get over the lead barrel on the cable) I zip tied it to the bars and filled it with my favorite cable lube. After three fills I could see drops coming out on the bottom end. I'm sure this isn't the first time it's been done, but it works well for me.
Terry
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Re: New (to me) cable lube trick

#2

Post by fish »

oldwing that is brilliant!
I gnu there wasa reasson I was saving those old sparkplug wires!
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oldwings 78
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Re: New (to me) cable lube trick

#3

Post by oldwings 78 »

Thanks Fish, I put bearing grease on the lever pivot and the amount of effort needed to disengage the clutch is a lot less. It helps a lot at those long red lights,and it may give the clutch cable a little extra life. Throttle cables tomorrow.
Terry
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"A man who will sacrifice freedom for security deserves neither" Benjamin Franklin
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Re: New (to me) cable lube trick

#4

Post by Placerville »

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Re: New (to me) cable lube trick

#5

Post by Whiskerfish »

I was talking to Backyardbob a few years back and he told me removes his cables every winter and hangs them. He places a zip tied baggie of gear oil on the upper end and waits until it comes out the other end then reinstalls them. Last I knew he had over 300,000 miles on the original cables.

Old guy tricks are awesome!!
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zman
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Re: New (to me) cable lube trick

#6

Post by zman »

Dont all cables have Teflon sleeve that negate the need to lube? I have heard of people lubing them but was told never to lube them because it slows down the action and eventually gums up.
Is this a last ditch effort because the cable sleeve is old?.
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oldwings 78
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Re: New (to me) cable lube trick

#7

Post by oldwings 78 »

I'm not sure if all cables have a teflon sleeve or not. I am sure that after lubing my clutch cable and lever pivot, the effort needed to disengage the clutch was reduced substantially. As far as a last ditch goes, see the Whiskerfish post above.
Terry
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Re: New (to me) cable lube trick

#8

Post by Motowalt »

Brilliant idea! anim-cheers1

I hang old cables over the garage sink and pump them full of wd40 to cleanse and then lube PB Blaster or other various lubes I have on hand...I'm often amazed at the crud/dirt/rust that comes out the bottom..
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Re: New (to me) cable lube trick

#9

Post by rayray76 »

I use the blue cable tool for dirt bikes with spray Silicone, don't use WD40 or any type corrosion spray...
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Re: New (to me) cable lube trick

#10

Post by rjdoles »

Great idea. I wish that I had seen this sooner.

I bought one of the cable luber tools with the rubber insert and the two thumbscrews. After several attempts to lube my throttle cable and with the lube dripping all the way down both arms I discovered that the hole where you insert the swizzle stick of the luber can was not a through hole. After drilling it out, I was able to lube my cables and the lube only dripped halfway down my arms.

It's bad when you have to rework a new tool before it will work as intended.
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Re: New (to me) cable lube trick

#11

Post by Sidecar Bob »

Lubing new cables before installing them (they are hanging above the garbage can so it will catch the drips). You can't see it but I'm pointing at a drop of oil coming out the bottom.
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Re: New (to me) cable lube trick

#12

Post by CYBORG »

I do it the same way. Has always served me well. I even do it on cables that are still on the bike. (the funnel and tape part)
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Re: New (to me) cable lube trick

#13

Post by Sidecar Bob »

Many people fall into the assumption that since their new cables are covered with a sticky/slimy substance they are lubed but what they are covered with is actually anti-corrosion storage grease so they should be lubed before installation.

BTW: I've found that ordinary engine oil works as well as anything for me.
Mr. Honda ('83 GL1100/Dnepr) summer How a motorcycle evolves thread
The Famous Eccles ('84 CX650EI/VeloUral) winter Never Ending Build (CX500forum)
Click: Colour schematics for all GL1000 & GL1100 and GL1200 standard models plus instructions on how to download the full size version
"A guy with two sidecars can't be all bad." - Cookie
Another guy with two sidecars..... Hmmmm... must be something to that....
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Re: New (to me) cable lube trick

#14

Post by CYBORG »

Sidecar Bob wrote: Mon Sep 28, 2020 1:12 pm Many people fall into the assumption that since their new cables are covered with a sticky/slimy substance they are lubed but what they are covered with is actually anti-corrosion storage grease so they should be lubed before installation.

BTW: I've found that ordinary engine oil works as well as anything for me.
I use engine oil
1978 custom GL1000
1977 custom with 1200 engine
1985 gl1200
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Re: New (to me) cable lube trick

#15

Post by Whiskerfish »

Backyardbob claimed to have the Original cables on his bike with over 400 k on the odometer. Told me he removed them every winter and did what you show in the pic above but with gear oil. Let it hang for weeks till it came out clean then reinstall on the bike.
"Agreement is not a requirement for Respect" CDR Michael Smith USN (Ret) 2017
"The book is wrong, this whole Conclusion is Fallacious" River Tam
2008 GL1800 IIIA "TH3DOG"
1975/6/7/8/9 Arthur Fulmer Dressed Road bike
1975 Naked Noisy and Nasty in town bike
and a whole garage full of possibilities!!

Psst. oh and by the way CHANGE YOUR BELTS!!!!
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