cable lubing

Does anyone have a How-to? The reason I ask is cause I was going to do it today (really needs it),but the system they use is a bottom up and it's not easy to get to the bottom of those cables on the throttle side. Any thoughts for our bike?

Yes, I've been lubing cables on my bikes for at least 27 years. :)

Buy yourself one of those cable lubing tools that clamps over the cable from the end of the cable at the handlebar.
Simply remove the cable from the clutch lever assembly, clamp it over the end of the cable (it will probably come with directions giving details), stick the straw from your WD-40 (or similar thin lube in a spray can - NOT something that gets thick and gooey like chain lube or grease) into the hole in the tool, squirt the lube for a second, remove the cable lube tool, work the cable wire in-and-out about 10 times to distribute the lube down the cable, put a dab of grease on the cable end, and put it back together.

Plan on having to wipe up any excess lube that comes drooling out the other end of the cable, especially after the bike sits for a few hours, but the slick smoothness of the cable operation is well worth it.

I bought one of those cable lube clamps and it came with a bottle of lube, so that is what I have been using. You can buy stuff specially made for lubing cables. I would not recommend WD40 because it is a solvent and not a lubricant. One of my last cans of chain lube said that it could also be used as a cable lube.

I just undo the cable at the top near the controls, attach the clamp, and squirt the lubricant in the hole until it comes out pretty clean at the bottom. When you are done, reassemble and readjust your cables.

Old school was a spark plug wire boot and some 10W-40 motor oil. Haven't done that in years, but seems like it used to work well. I'm sure the specific lube kits are better nowadays.

Here's a method I use similar to bsumpter's old school method (I don't have spark plug boots handy):

Undo the end of the cable at the top (be it throttle or clutch), poke a hole in the corner of a zip lock baggie, feed the top end of the cable through the hole, tape up the hole really well, pour some oil into the baggie and close the zipper seal.

Let gravity do the work. Put a small empty yogurt container at the other end of the cable. Work the cable in and out of the sheathing if possible. Remove the baggie and reinstall the cable, but leave the small container at the lowest end until oil no longer drips out.

duanew wrote:

I bought one of those cable lube clamps and it came with a bottle of lube, so that is what I have been using. You can buy stuff specially made for lubing cables. I would not recommend WD40 because it is a solvent and not a lubricant. One of my last cans of chain lube said that it could also be used as a cable lube.

I just undo the cable at the top near the controls, attach the clamp, and squirt the lubricant in the hole until it comes out pretty clean at the bottom. When you are done, reassemble and readjust your cables.

i did it like this on my old R6. i removed the cables and everything. i used the special cable lube included in the kit. some dirt/lube must have clogged in there as it was much worse. clean lube was coming out the other end so it couldn't have been too blocked. i flushed it out with some ProHonda multi-purpose lube and it was right as rain. except for the exposed ends, i've never lubed another cable again. i gave away the cable lube and kept using the Pro Honda. i still have the cable lubing attachment, but i will never use it. modern cables are coated in plastic and all the lube will do is attract more dirt.

I always lube my cables on all of my bikes, whether it's a 1978 model or 2009 model.
Keeps the cables working slick and with the lowest effort possible, even ones with a lining on the inside.
I can easily feel the difference from when my clutch cable is dry vs. when lubed.