lubing cables


Technical information and Q&A applicable to all years and models of Goldwings
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A2Wing
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lubing cables

Post by A2Wing »



It all looks and sounds very simple. But, I'm one of those guys that always finds out too late. Clutch and speedo cables look simple, loosen, or remove from back of speedo, shoot some lube down the case...but, the throttle cable ends are inclosed. What kind of surprise will I find? Is it gonna be easy to understand when I see the way they are hooked up?


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A2Wing
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Re: lubing cables

Post by A2Wing »

Oh yeah...talking about 1983 interstate.
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tom84std
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Re: lubing cables

Post by tom84std »

Don't know which is more important, the lubrication or the corrosion preventative. Either way, these days it's easy to do. You only need to remove one end of each cable. For about ten bucks you get a little apparatus to fasten to the loose end of the cable. An aerosol can with a snorkel tube which inserts into a little hole will inject the lubricant into and all down the length of the cable. Go to Amazon.com and search "motorcycle cable lube" and go to youtube.com and search "lubricating motorcycle cable".
Forty miles from the nearest town I broke my throttle cable. I limped into that town only to find there was no motorcycle shop there. I rode 200 miles leaning over my gas tank operating the throttle by hand. My bikes have the greasiest cables in town nowdays.
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redial
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Re: lubing cables

Post by redial »

When you have cleaned the cable, hit it with some "White Lithium Grease". It sticks like excreta to a blanket, and is not easily flung off. Make sure you do not fling it everywhere.
Len in Kapunda

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Re: lubing cables

Post by WingAdmin »

Have you read through How to replace your throttle cables? It shows pretty much exactly what you're going to see.

As far as lubing the cables, I use a Motion Pro lubricator:


It is a simple, cheap (under $10) little thing. You clamp it around the end of the cable, which seals it. You then stick the tube of the aerosol spray of whatever you're lubricating the cable with into the little hole, and spray until it drips out the other end of the cable. Then remove it, and you're done.

Personally I use dry graphite lubricant on all of my cables. You spray it in, the solvent carrier dries quickly, and what's left is an extremely slippery coating of dry graphite. You just need to be careful however as the stuff goes on (and dries) like black spray paint, so don't do it near your bike in case of an accidental overspray etc.


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