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| johpe | | Set |  | | Reg. Date | : | 14/03/2014 | | Posts | : | 72 | | Location | : | Sweden |
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| | Posted : 02 May 2015 - 21:50 Post title : Lubricate clutch cable | | | Hi there
I've read a few posts about lubricating the clutch cable and the balls / nipples, if there is someone who would like to add info on how you do it and any specific grease / oil recommendation for it, I'd be really happy.
For example, do you guys use one of these cable lubers for the job?
Thanks.
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| davetac1 | | Thunderbird | | | Reg. Date | : | 06/09/2010 | | Posts | : | 8,379 | | Location | : | Haverhill, Ma., United States |
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| | Posted : 03 May 2015 - 03:31 Post title : Re: Lubricate clutch cable (Re: johpe) | | | This is what I do.With the machine on the side stand with a half inch thick piece of wood under the stand,I turn the bars to the extreme right so the cable has a slight downward pitch to it.[be carefull not to knock the bike over on its' right side]I then lube that end of the clutch cable with alittle CRC 556 Power Spray Lube [or equivilent] where the cable enters the shielded part on the bars,then slowly work the clutch lever to get the lubricant worked into that end of the cable and down thru it.Then I hit the round pivot points on both ends of the cable,the clutch lever on the bars, the bushing in that lever,and the other pivot point on the cable end where it attaches to the lower clutch lever on the clutch housing on the side of the motor. "OR",you could use that little tool shown in your picture to do the same thing,which probably may do a little better job. But either or will work.
Infact,I just realized that it was the first of the month again,so I just went out to my shop to lube it again and let it set over night.
In almost five years,and well over 82,000 miles,I still have the original cable,but have replaced two handle bar clutch levers and two of the bushings they pivot on as they do wear from use.I do this once a month.The whole job takes about ten minutes to do,then I just let the bike set for awhile before driving it.The clutch lever/cable is probably the most used component on any motorcycle,hence the reason I do what I do.However,I do carry a spare cable with me "JUST IN CASE" as it's better to have it and not need it,then not have it and need it. Hope that helps ya out. Dave!!!
| | Post edited by davetac1 on 03 May 2015 - 04:16 |
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| johpe | | Set | | | Reg. Date | : | 14/03/2014 | | Posts | : | 72 | | Location | : | Sweden |
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| | Posted : 03 May 2015 - 08:09 Post title : Re: Lubricate clutch cable (Re: davetac1) | | | Thanks Dave, seems easy enough to do it that way. 556 I've got already otherwise I've now read recommendations to use chain oil or similar, any thoughts on that?
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| mexicanbob | | Set | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 11/08/2014 | | Posts | : | 92 | | Location | : | Eskdale, Victoria, Australia |
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| | Posted : 03 May 2015 - 10:06 Post title : Re: Lubricate clutch cable (Re: johpe) | | | DO NOT use chain oil.  it has!! an anti fling , tacky additive so that it wont fling off the chain !
It will gum up your cable .use what Dave said:
Rob
| Badges! We don need no steenkin badges 
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| mat1600 | | Thunderbird | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 06/03/2010 | | Posts | : | 8,596 | | Location | : | Bridlington, Democratic Independant State of Yorkshire, United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 03 May 2015 - 10:57 Post title : Re: Lubricate clutch cable (Re: johpe) | | | Before I do any lubeing I degrease and clean each end where the cable terminates. I find it gets rid of all the grit and dust that the last lots of oil collected. I have gone through two cables so far and they both broke through lack of maintenance.
| My first natural instinct is to breathe. My second is to evade tax's.
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| daz | | Zeus | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 12/05/2009 | | Posts | : | 7,705 | | Location | : | United States |
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| | Posted : 03 May 2015 - 14:45 Post title : Re: Lubricate clutch cable | | | What am i missing here? MIt's been said many times not to lube them because they are permanently lubed or are teflon lined or some such thing and don't need lube.    I only lube the ends, i don't shoot anything down the cable. Whats the truth here?
| 2010 Blue/White Thunderbird, "Brutus". 1700 kit, short tors, gutted cat, UNI filter, filter seal off, custom tune. Brutus in his native habitat: Link
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| Daycruiser | | Chaac | | | Reg. Date | : | 08/11/2011 | | Posts | : | 704 | | Location | : | Garner, NC, United States |
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| | Posted : 03 May 2015 - 15:13 Post title : Re: Lubricate clutch cable (Re: daz) | | | Daz, Dave is right, (i can't believe I said that ) Anyway I took my clutch cable apart after it failed this past month. The only part of that cable that is lined is the 90 degree below the clutch release lever. The rest is either just a poly tube or is steel jacket under poly tubing. It needs lubed along with the Throttle cables. That 90 degree bend is what got me, I think the lining of that bend is plastic and not teflon so my cable wore through it and was running up against the steel tubing. I lubed the shit out of the new top to bottom before I installed it with a cable specific lubricant.
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| johpe | | Set | | | Reg. Date | : | 14/03/2014 | | Posts | : | 72 | | Location | : | Sweden |
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| | Posted : 03 May 2015 - 19:12 Post title : Re: Lubricate clutch cable (Re: Daycruiser) | | | This is what I got from the store when asking for clutch cable lube:
Am I good to go with it?
| | Post edited by johpe on 03 May 2015 - 19:12 |
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| daz | | Zeus | | | | Reg. Date | : | 12/05/2009 | | Posts | : | 7,705 | | Location | : | United States |
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| | Posted : 03 May 2015 - 22:21 Post title : Re: Lubricate clutch cable (Re: Daycruiser) | | |
Daycruiser wrote:
Daz, Dave is right, (i can't believe I said that ) Anyway I took my clutch cable apart after it failed this past month. The only part of that cable that is lined is the 90 degree below the clutch release lever. The rest is either just a poly tube or is steel jacket under poly tubing. It needs lubed along with the Throttle cables. That 90 degree bend is what got me, I think the lining of that bend is plastic and not teflon so my cable wore through it and was running up against the steel tubing. I lubed the shit out of the new top to bottom before I installed it with a cable specific lubricant. |
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Geez, so wrong advice given in the past....nice. No wonder mine went bad at about 35-40k. I didn't lube it because i was told here not to. I had bought one of those cable lube jobs in the pic above and never used it because after i bought it i heard that here. Well, best do it then. What lubes are you guys using. I bought some but i can't recall what it was and i'll have to find it. I think it was something like "PJ" or like that.
| 2010 Blue/White Thunderbird, "Brutus". 1700 kit, short tors, gutted cat, UNI filter, filter seal off, custom tune. Brutus in his native habitat: Link
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| Irish | | Chaac | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 28/10/2013 | | Posts | : | 854 | | Location | : | New England, NSW, Australia |
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| | Posted : 03 May 2015 - 22:24 Post title : Re: Lubricate clutch cable (Re: daz) | | | right.that is it, I am going to lubricate mine today. hang the expense! 
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| Daycruiser | | Chaac | | | Reg. Date | : | 08/11/2011 | | Posts | : | 704 | | Location | : | Garner, NC, United States |
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| | Posted : 03 May 2015 - 23:30 Post title : Re: Lubricate clutch cable (Re: Irish) | | | The stuff I'm using is called Cable Life. I think there are many good quality cable lubricants out there. Just don't use anything made for Chains.
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| Daycruiser | | Chaac | | | Reg. Date | : | 08/11/2011 | | Posts | : | 704 | | Location | : | Garner, NC, United States |
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| | Posted : 03 May 2015 - 23:36 Post title : Re: Lubricate clutch cable (Re: johpe) | | | WD40 Specialist PTFE
From what I've read no don't use it. Not very good for encased cables, fine for open cables. Apparently this stuff will clog up in the cable housing. Get something specific to motorcycle cables at a Motorcycle shop if possible.
| | Post edited by Daycruiser on 03 May 2015 - 23:37 |
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| davetac1 | | Thunderbird | | | Reg. Date | : | 06/09/2010 | | Posts | : | 8,379 | | Location | : | Haverhill, Ma., United States |
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| | Posted : 04 May 2015 - 00:23 Post title : Re: Lubricate clutch cable (Re: Daycruiser) | | |
Daycruiser wrote:
Daz, Dave is right, (i can't believe I said that ) |
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Are you feeling alright Daycruiser???  When's the last time you saw a doctor. I can't believe you said that either????????? "YOU" actually gave "MEEEEEEEEEEEE",a "COMPLIMENT"???? Christ,I think I'm about to suffer a MAJOR heart attack after reading that!!  
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| Leethal | | Zeus | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 24/01/2011 | | Posts | : | 6,485 | | Location | : | Australia |
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| | Posted : 04 May 2015 - 05:57 Post title : Re: Lubricate clutch cable (Re: Irish) | | |
Irish wrote:
right.that is it, I am going to lubricate mine today. hang the expense! |
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What about your cable?
| Experience is something you get just after you needed it
1600,Foran Razorbacks, Meerkat bypass, Dyno tune, real headlight,plenty of chrome,switchblade pegs, Hagon Nitro shocks & Ikon progressive fork springs etc. Scorpion Western Low handlebars. PH adjustable fork caps.
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| nelson | | Set | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 19/02/2014 | | Posts | : | 145 | | Location | : | Geelong, Victoria, Australia |
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| | Posted : 12 May 2015 - 20:56 Post title : Re: Lubricate clutch cable (Re: daz) | | | I have been lubing my cables on every bike i ever owned and i have been riding for over 40years and never never broken a cable. i use a plastic bag and a cable tie or for you yanks a zip tie i make a small cup to hold a small amount of lube i use a teflon based lube or a crc product and support the cable frrom my garage ceiling and leave it there for an hour just enough time to down an ale or two. Agree or dissagree i dont care as i said i have never broken a cable. This advice came from a mechanic pal of mine years ago and it works for me. 
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| edmontonstorm | | Jupiter | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 12/09/2014 | | Posts | : | 1,054 | | Location | : | Alberta, Canada |
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| | Posted : 13 May 2015 - 14:19 Post title : Re: Lubricate clutch cable (Re: nelson) | | | aside from a few dirt bikes in my younger days i have never lubricated cables, never have one broke on me either in say 30 years or so. But with reading about some of the cable issues with these bikes i am gonna have to sart doing it i guess, went out and bought some lub and one of them there cable lub tool thingy's now i just have to figure it out LOL.
| Gloss Black 2013 Storm ABS - K&N (seal removed) - Mustang Seat - Hogslayer pipes - PCV-AT300
| | Post edited by edmontonstorm on 13 May 2015 - 14:19 |
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| mat1600 | | Thunderbird | | | | Reg. Date | : | 06/03/2010 | | Posts | : | 8,596 | | Location | : | Bridlington, Democratic Independant State of Yorkshire, United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 13 May 2015 - 19:28 Post title : Re: Lubricate clutch cable (Re: edmontonstorm) | | | I found that just oiling the cable is not sufficient. I removed the cable from the lever (easily done by slackening the adjuster screw and pushing the engine end lever with your foot while you unhook the nipple at the hand lever end). I took the pivot screw out to remove the lever and found it to be packed with muck. Over a time the lube collects muck and it build up where you cant see it. Put it all back together and is as smooth as new.
| My first natural instinct is to breathe. My second is to evade tax's.
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| vic20 | | Set | | | Reg. Date | : | 01/11/2009 | | Posts | : | 234 | | Location | : | north lincolnshire, United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 18 May 2015 - 15:40 Post title : Re: Lubricate clutch cable (Re: mat1600) | | |  If you remove the cable from the lever you can check for this kind of damage, looks like its caused by the plastic sleeve snagging and not allowing the nipple to rotate in the lever  couldn't see the damage with the cable in place.
| | Post edited by vic20 on 18 May 2015 - 15:42 |
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| davetac1 | | Thunderbird | | | Reg. Date | : | 06/09/2010 | | Posts | : | 8,379 | | Location | : | Haverhill, Ma., United States |
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| | Posted : 18 May 2015 - 17:47 Post title : Re: Lubricate clutch cable (Re: vic20) | | | To me,it looks like lack of lubrication.
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| davetac1 | | Thunderbird | | | Reg. Date | : | 06/09/2010 | | Posts | : | 8,379 | | Location | : | Haverhill, Ma., United States |
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| | Posted : 18 May 2015 - 17:48 Post title : Re: Lubricate clutch cable (Re: vic20) | | | To me,it looks like lack of lubrication.
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| Daycruiser | | Chaac | | | Reg. Date | : | 08/11/2011 | | Posts | : | 704 | | Location | : | Garner, NC, United States |
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| | Posted : 18 May 2015 - 21:17 Post title : Re: Lubricate clutch cable (Re: davetac1) | | | Dave you're repeating yourself, go take your medication
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| Leethal | | Zeus | | | | Reg. Date | : | 24/01/2011 | | Posts | : | 6,485 | | Location | : | Australia |
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| | Posted : 18 May 2015 - 21:58 Post title : Re: Lubricate clutch cable (Re: vic20) | | | I had a similar looking cable at the clutch end (a bit further up), put it down to the lube I was using down the inner dragging dirt into and beyond the rubber boot. I clean and lube both ends to stop binding.
| Experience is something you get just after you needed it
1600,Foran Razorbacks, Meerkat bypass, Dyno tune, real headlight,plenty of chrome,switchblade pegs, Hagon Nitro shocks & Ikon progressive fork springs etc. Scorpion Western Low handlebars. PH adjustable fork caps.
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| davetac1 | | Thunderbird | | | Reg. Date | : | 06/09/2010 | | Posts | : | 8,379 | | Location | : | Haverhill, Ma., United States |
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| | Posted : 19 May 2015 - 02:42 Post title : Re: Lubricate clutch cable (Re: Daycruiser) | | |
Daycruiser wrote:
Dave you're repeating yourself, go take your medication |
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You noticed that!! I think I sprained my head,instead of my ankle!!
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| DrMooman | | Set | | | Reg. Date | : | 09/08/2016 | | Posts | : | 73 | | Location | : | Wales, Wales, United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 20 Sep 2016 - 20:32 Post title : Re: Lubricate clutch cable (Re: johpe) | | | try my procedure Link see what you think
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| PapaSmurfMC | | Chaac | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 03/10/2013 | | Posts | : | 871 | | Location | : | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States |
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| | Posted : 20 Sep 2016 - 23:12 Post title : Re: Lubricate clutch cable (Re: DrMooman) | | | DrMooman wrote:
try my procedure Link see what you think |
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Great guide for replacing and adjusting the clutch cable. Kudos.
As far as cable lubrication: "Spray some ACF-50/WD-50"; I think you meant WD-40 (steps 6 and 7)?
But....WD-40 is not a very good lubricant (except maybe the WD-40 PTFE Dry Lube); it's made for displacing water and it dries out pretty fast. Cable lubricant is much better. And....you didn't really lube the cable at all, just the ends. Cable lube needs to be injected or dripped into the cable until it runs out the other end. And....there is controversy over whether the clutch cable has a nylon/teflon liner that shouldn't be lubed at all. We can't even get a definitive answer as to whether to lube our cables or not!
| 2013 Blue Marble Haze Thunderbird 1600 ABS
2009 Black Bonneville A1 ("Mag")
Buncha farkles
| | Post edited by PapaSmurfMC on 20 Sep 2016 - 23:18 |
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| DrMooman | | Set | | | Reg. Date | : | 09/08/2016 | | Posts | : | 73 | | Location | : | Wales, Wales, United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 21 Sep 2016 - 18:33 Post title : Re: Lubricate clutch cable (Re: PapaSmurfMC) | | | Thanks for spotting the WD-50 mistake. I've changed it to ACF-50/Cable lubricant.
And yes i just lubed the ends because I've read a quite a few posts from people saying that lubing the whole thing wrecked their clutch cable and have reportedly taken it apart to make sure that it was the lubrication at fault. Others have said they just lube the ends and it has been fine for many many miles.
I hoped that the guide could be such that if you wanted to lube it completely it would be just one extra step at the owners discretion.
I lubed just the ends and it definitely improved it, I'll see how it's longevity goes.
Again, thanks for spotting the WD-50 mistake and making suggestions  , I'd like to keep improving the site based on people's feedback so the community feels invested in it and makes use of it. However, i didn't get an e-mail to know that someone responded to my post- might be easier for me at least of you wanted to post on the associated Facebook site if you see something, as i can't miss that and can make sure i action it.
:-)
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| PapaSmurfMC | | Chaac | | | | Reg. Date | : | 03/10/2013 | | Posts | : | 871 | | Location | : | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States |
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| | Posted : 22 Sep 2016 - 13:05 Post title : Re: Lubricate clutch cable (Re: DrMooman) | | | Lubrication needs to go where the friction is and the friction is greatest anywhere the cable bends.
| 2013 Blue Marble Haze Thunderbird 1600 ABS
2009 Black Bonneville A1 ("Mag")
Buncha farkles
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