Do you lube your motorcycle/RV cables?

[ZZman]

Can honestly say I have never correctly lubed any of the cables on the numerous motorcycles I have owned. (Maybe I never owned them long enough to care)

I plan on doing my motorcycle cables this year and will probably use one of those cable lube tools.

What about you guys?

 

[Anon9283]

I’ve never lubed mine other than my throttle cables once but that was beyond help because some strands of wires were frayed. It got replaced. I don’t think they “should” need lubed if they stay clean of debris inside. But I’m no expert

 

[AVB]

Yes, cables oxidize if the bike gets left out in the weather. It can cause the throttle not to return properly.

 

[BrocLuno]

Have been lubing cables since the 1960's. Much smoother and easier.

I use ATF and "Yamaluber", and instead of putting the spray can straw in the port, I just hold the oil squirter tip to the port and shoot a slug in. Let drain overnight to loose any excess and good to go for another year

Have tried every sort of lube and ATF works the best for me

 

[SuperSalad]

Yes I do, multipurpose aerosol penetrating lube.

 

[ZZman]

These tools look pretty slick

 

[benjy]

lube the cables + grease the ends that fail where they are always flexing!!

 

[tomcat27]

Yes I do. The owners manual calls for it....

 

[02SE]

Having family and friends in the Motorcycle business, I've seen some neglected piles that used to be nice bikes.

If you want your bike to continue to operate like new, and be more reliable too, maintain it properly. That applies to every part of the bike.

Yes, I lube my cables. And everything else on my bikes that should be cleaned, lubed, adjusted, changed, and/or replaced.

 

[EdwardC]

I try at least spraying some lube with the plastic straw down into the cables and exercise the throttle and clutch yearly. I actually have one of those cable lubers but haven't used it in years. I also drop some lube on other pivot points like the at the levers, foot pegs, kick stand, and keyholes.

I try spray key points where the throttle cable cones down to the carbs too (and wipe off excess). I think it helps since the throttle always seems to snap back a little quicker after I do this.

 

[Silverado12]

I've found that Blaster oil (not the Blaster penetrating oil) from NAPA works well on M/C cables. I don't have a power cable lube thingy, but remove the clutch cable and let gravity do its thing.

 

[1foxracing]

Try this new style from Motion Pro, works 10 times better then the old clamp style.

 

[Ducked]

Originally Posted By: ZZman


These tools look pretty slick


Looks pretty unnecessary to me.

This too simple? Costs a few cents equivalent.

Only used it on bicycles so far but I think it'd work on other cables, though you might have to take them off to achieve orientation to "let gravity do its thing".

 

[Blaze]

Originally Posted By: 1foxracing
Try this new style from Motion Pro, works 10 times better then the old clamp style.

I use one of those as well. My clutch (cable) is on my Yamaha WR450 is just as easy to pull in as my hydraulic clutch on my KTM 450.

 

[ZZman]

Originally Posted By: 1foxracing
Try this new style from Motion Pro, works 10 times better then the old clamp style.



I watched a video of a guy using that. Looked pretty easy.

 

[MoreCowbellAz]

I lube the cables on my Harley every 6-12 months depending on the cable. I've tried all sorts lubes, what I've settled on are the dry teflon lubes, the Blaster Dry Lube w/ Teflon for the past couple of years. I don't use a cable lube tool, I just wedge the straw between the cable and housing, press a rag tightly around it, and squirt. The Blaster stuff has alot of carrier in it so it flows pretty freely, doesn't take much to see it coming out the other end of the cable. It evaporates quick and leaves teflon powder, I figure that's a good match since the cables are lined with teflon to begin with. The overspray cleans up easy since it's just teflow powder once it dries.

FWIW I stay away from wet lubes, I don't like the oily stuff migrating away from where I put it and attracting dirt. I use a dry wax lube for things where I don't want teflon powder, like chains and stuff, but teflon powder always on cables.

 

[Overfill]

I do! A lot of products work - make sure you use something that isn't viscous, doesn't attract water, and that won't gum/oxidize.
I like the B'laster Dry Lube w/ Teflon, Liquid Wrench Garage Door Lube; Dry Lube; and Penetrating oil. I haven't tried the Liquid Wrench Chain and Cable lube in my motorcycle cable, mainly because that formula is a little more tacky, which I don't care for when I prioritize viscosity and resistance to actuation; I think it would be very good in a metal tube - covering cable sometimes found on lawnmowers, weed whackers, ect.