[BobG]

Do you use engine oil or something else? What type of applicator do you use to appy the oil? The manual says to use grease for the throttle cable. The throttle cable is enclosed. How do you extend it so that you can apply the grease. Do you just rub some grease on with your fingers?

Sorry if these are dumb questions.

Bob

 

[Jim]

No such thing as a dumb question, I just use oil, I adjust the cables for max play, and try and get some in with an oil can, then re-adjust. I also do the brake handles with grease by taking them off, cleaning, the greasing with lubra-plate (fine white grease), this is a noticable difference.

 

[pauljo]

I just use 3-in-1 oil on everything.

 

[allwalk]

I just use 3-in-1 oil on everything.

Ditto here!

 

[BobG]

No such thing as a dumb question, I just use oil, I adjust the cables for max play, and try and get some in with an oil can, then re-adjust. I also do the brake handles with grease by taking them off, cleaning, the greasing with lubra-plate (fine white grease), this is a noticable difference.

Jim,
At this point I'm not comfortable adjusting and/or taking things off. The Owner's Manual simply shows the throttle cable as one of the points to lube. Is there some way to lube it without adjusting it?
Bob

 

[ted clement]

Cables used to have nylon linings and required no lube. I've not lubed a cable in many many years. Have things changed?

 

[pauljo]

Virtually all of the owner's manuals I've had over the past 20 years have stated to lube the cables. Almost nobody does it - and they hold up fine. The only effective way to lube a cable is to remove it from the bike, hang it up so that it falls straight with a special small funnel device at the top and let oil slowly drip into the cable over a period of several hours. If I had a vintage Triump - I'd do that. But I've never done it on any machine I've owned since the early eighties - and I've never had a throttle cable problem. If I did have a problem, I'd simply have the cable replaced, but I honestly don't know anyone who has had to do that.

 

[BobG]

Cables used to have nylon linings and required no lube. I've not lubed a cable in many many years. Have things changed?

All I know is the owner's manual indicates it's a good idea to lube the throttle cable with grease after rain or a long rough ride.

Bob

 

[ted clement]

You don't put lube on NYLON. Following taken from web site selling new cables:

OEM-style cables are available in a wide variety of applications for most popular models
Cables are nylon lined and use precise OE component dimensions
Terminator clutch cables ...

 

[BobG]

You don't put lube on NYLON. Following taken from web site selling new cables:

OEM-style cables are available in a wide variety of applications for most popular models
Cables are nylon lined and use precise OE component dimensions
Terminator clutch cables ...

Thanks Ted, but can you explain why the owner's manual says it's a good idea to lube the throttle cable with grease after rain or a long rough ride?

Bob

 

[Randy]

Bob wrote

Thanks Ted, but can you explain why the owner's manual says it's a good idea to lube the throttle cable with grease after rain or a long rough ride?

The first reason that comes to my mind is to cover there as# !
even if it's 1 out of 10000 when a cable breaks the first question they will ask is did you ever lube it.
Also remember the parts department uses new /changed parts in building the bike.
The manual may be years behind

 

[dancote]

Cable Lube Kit

Please follow this link to a lube kit I use on my cables. I got mine at the local Honda motorcycle shop.

http://www.instantop.com/CyclePage/ChampionsChoice.htm

Regards,

Dan

 

[philtag6000]

I had a lot of different sportbikes before, and I only
lubed the clutch cable because there is not much stress on the throttle cables. Just my 2 cents. :wink:

 

[Brian]

You don't put lube on NYLON. Following taken from web site selling new cables:

OEM-style cables are available in a wide variety of applications for most popular models
Cables are nylon lined and use precise OE component dimensions
Terminator clutch cables ...

Thanks Ted, but can you explain why the owner's manual says it's a good idea to lube the throttle cable with grease after rain or a long rough ride?

Bob

The nylon lined cables Ted linked to are OEM-style, not OEM. They are after-market replacements.

Suzuki's may or may not be nylon lined, I haven't checked mine yet. The manual says to lube after rain or rough riding, because that's been standard practice for years; probably not needed on modern bikes, which have better protected cable openings.

In the late '70s I worked part-time at a bicycle shop, and we lubed cables with a pressure fitting that went on one end of the cable (after removing it from the lever) and forced light grease into the cable sleeve. We'd stop pumping when we saw the grease ooze out of the other end. (Light grease is liquid, but thicker than true oil. Don't recall the brand or weight.)