Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums General Tech Are we supposed to lube throttle/clutch cables?

I was just wondering and is there a recommended lube and procedure to use.

ImOk,
I do, with lithium spray, using my 31 year old YamaLube CableJector. About every six months I'll give cables a little shot.
Ride Safe,
Dennis

Good question. I haven't lube mine yet, (16k miles)I looked everywhere and there is no reference at all in the shop manual or the service book. The dealer shrugs his shoulders. I figure I'll use it, and if it starts to feel wonky I'll give it a spray of the silicon.
When I had the Mikuni carbs on, the cables that came with them said not to ever lube them. They were a different brand, but looked like similar compnoents on the inards, from what I could see.

I've never lubed mine. Perhaps now I'm getting some miles on it (14,500+) I should start doing more of my own maintenance.
I usually rely on dealer services ..

Man, I unhook the cable at the bar lever end, poke a hole in a sandwich bag, wrap the cable end in the bag and tie it off with a rubber band, put some 30 wt in the bag and leave it until it runs out the other end. Wipe down the excess, put everything back together and hit the road.

Have had a look around for this info but cannot find any ref on how and when, or if they do, or if they dont need a lube. ?
i know on a old yam i had years ago in the uk, you could get oil down the cable from were it entered the lever, but our ones all seem sealed and no gaps to get the stuff in. lets hope someone has the answer.
safe riding all.

I have'nt lubed my cables yet but when I do I'll use Dry Lube. A guy I ride with has a dirt bike, and the only way he can make his throttle cables last is to use this stuff. It goes on wet, and then drys out so it won't attract and gum up with the dirt and dust. It has a needle attachment which you stick into the end of the caseing, makeing it easy to use. He buys it at a bicyle shop.

make that a bicycle shop!

Hi leonard,

Did a search on Dry Lube and found that a lot of bicycle/dirt riders use this kind of product. Interesting stuff...

Here's one site:
http://www.trisports.com/noname7.html

Hey Moe, I KNOW you have some input here!

Phil,

Amsoil makes a product called MP (Metal Protector). It sprays on wet and leaves a dry lubricate and won't gum up. It also has rust inhibitors and will not damage or discolor cloth, plastic, rubber or paint. I have seen several bicycle shops use it.

Tom

Hey,
Fellow Americade TBA rider!
The answer is Motorcycle Chain Wax!
How often? I do mine once a season
Take the cables off at the levers & spray down into the cables with the spray wand that comes with the wax.
*Do NOT use WD40 or other penetrating oils as they will break down metal.

Sincerely,
Gary James