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Main Area => General GS500 Discussion => Topic started by: weaselnoze on May 31, 2005, 08:32:21 PM

Title: cable lube
Post by: weaselnoze on May 31, 2005, 08:32:21 PM
my clutch seemed a lot harder to pull then anyother bike i have felt so i decided to lube it up.  clymer says to remove the cable and use a cable lube tool.  is there anyother way to lube the cable without removing it from the bike?  also what kind of lube should i use?  

i dripped some 3-in-1 oil down the tube at the lever end and it seemed to help a bit but not enough..
Title: cable lube
Post by: Frost on May 31, 2005, 08:33:26 PM
go to your bike shop and buy a little cable lubing clamping thingy...
Title: cable lube
Post by: weaselnoze on May 31, 2005, 08:37:51 PM
that would require me removing the cable correct?  im trying to avoid having to purchase a tool and also removing the cable
Title: cable lube
Post by: Frost on May 31, 2005, 09:12:28 PM
you just have to expose the cable...
Title: cable lube
Post by: Kerry on May 31, 2005, 09:33:06 PM
See if these threads will help:stiff clutch (http://gstwins.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3144)

Lubing Clutch Cable, help?? (http://gstwins.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=16972)

Adjusting the clutch cable (http://gstwins.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=8375)  (See especially the info on lubing starting about halfway down.)[/list:u]Bottom line: get the upper end of the cable to come out of the housing.  This may require that you loosen the adjuster on the lower end of the cable.  Then lube the cable using whichever method from the threads above appeals to you most.
Title: cable lube
Post by: weaselnoze on June 01, 2005, 01:51:12 PM
thanks kerry.  i think i will try the saran wrap method.  3-in-1 oil is ok?
Title: cable lube
Post by: Kerry on June 01, 2005, 02:06:34 PM
Quote from: weaselnoze3-in-1 oil is ok?
Oops - I meant to cover that point.  You could try 3-in-1, but I think you want something a little thicker.  A light oil like that is liable to make its way down the cable and leave you high and dry again before too long.  The Cable Life stuff is really slimy and sticky.

I believe the old-timers just use engine oil.  :dunno:
Title: cable lube
Post by: scratch on June 01, 2005, 02:09:59 PM
Not that I'm an old timer, but they used the saran-wrap method using newspaper and straight 80 or 90 weight engine oil.
Title: cable lube
Post by: weaselnoze on June 01, 2005, 02:13:51 PM
ya 3-in-1 isnt very viscous (vocab word for the day).  i'll try the engine oil first