Throttle Cables Clean and Lube
Cleaning and lubricating of throttle cables should be done periodically to ensure that the cables move freely and do not stick during operation. When I removed the lower end of my throttle cables, water spilled out of the steel tubes. Lubrication of the throttle cables will also help displace moisture that collects in the cable housings.
The cable cleaner/lube tool seems to be fairly universal in design.. I don’t know that one brand would be any better than another. They may all be made by the same manufacturer. The only difference that I saw among the many cleaner/lube tools online was that some had one screw and others had two. I chose the 2 screw Cable Life cleaner/lube tool (available from Denis Kirk) and I think that was probably the best choice. However, I have never tried the 1 screw cleaner tool. The Cable Life lube/cleaner tool is the brand of tool that is sold with Cable Life cable lube (also available from Dennis Kirk). I bought the 2 screw Cable Life cleaner under the assumption that the seal created by a 2 screw cleaner would be superior to the seal of a 1 screw cleaner. Along with the clean/lube tool, I purchased a couple refill cans of Cable Life spray lube.
I am satisfied with the cleaning and lubricating properties of Cable Life lube but I see no reason why any other reputable brand of cable lube would not work as good or perhaps a be bit more to certain individuals’ taste. Any aerosol can of lube that can be sprayed through a small straw attached to the valve could be used with the cleaner/lube tool. Personally, I would not use anything that was not well known and designed to lube motorcycle cables. I noticed a popular brand of chain wax also claims to be an excellent lube for cables. That is a good chain lube but I would absolutely NOT use that or any type of wax lube for cables.
I sprayed about one third of a can of lube through my throttle cables to clean and lube them thoroughly. The job should be done outdoors over a drip pan. The lube will squirt or mist out of the cleaner/lube tool and it will drip out of the cable ends.
Do first:
Remove Throttle Cables (THROTTLE CABLE REMOVAL, steps 1-9) <<click
Inspect cables. Pull each cable as far as it will go out of the plastic tube and look for rust or broken cable strands. Replace a worn or damaged cable.
Tools:
Cable lubing tool
Aerosol Cable lube with straw
1. Pull a couple of inches of lower throttle cable from the steel tube. Position the cable end so that it protrudes from the end of the rubber seal of the cable lube tool.
2. Place the flange of the steel tube in the rubber seal of the cable lube tool.
3. Tighten the screw(s) of the cable lube tool so that the rubber seal is compressed against the steel cable tube and the cable that protrudes from the end.
4. I used Cable Life lube. It is a product made for motorcycle cables and it is also made to be used with the lubing tool I purchased. Place the straw which is included with the can into the spray valve of the can.
5. Insert the free end of the straw into the hole in the cable lube tool. Squirt blasts of lube into the tool. The liquid will probably spray out of the top of the tool where the cable protrudes. The other end of the tool where the steel tube flange is compressed in the rubber seals very tight and should not leak.
Spray lube into the tool until you see lube bubble out of the cable adjusters. Spray a few more times to purge dirt from the cable housing.
6. Insert the straw from the spray valve into the slot in the plastic tube at the upper throttle cable. Spay lube directly into this area.
7. Repeat steps 1-6 with the the remaining throttle cable.
8. Hang the cables for about 30 minutes. Reinstall the cables. (THROTTLE CABLE REMOVAL, steps 10 through 20).
9. Lube the cable ends before positioning them in the reels on the throttle tube and throttle actuator.
I use high temperature grease for the lower cable ends.
Silicone grease for the upper ends that fit into the throttle tube.
* Last updated by: Rook on 1/1/2018 @ 4:52 PM *