Cable Lubrication

[vanagon40]

I have a 2001 Standard with only 36,000 miles.  Today, my speedometer cable broke.  In 2009, at 20,000 miles, my choke cable broke.  Last summer, Uncle Bob said my choke cable broke due to lack of maintenance.  I guess I have to agree as I have never lubed any cable on the bike.  On the other hand, Uncle Bob is a motorcycle fanatic, who lubes every cable once a year (in the 70s and 80s, he also used to rebuild his bike every winter in the living room of his apartment [but he also had one of the fastest bikes in Cleveland]).  I digress.

So, my question is, do you regularly lubricate the cables on your Valkyrie?  If so, how do you apply the lubricant?  Having the speedometer or choke cable fail (and need to be replaced) is not a big deal (the speedometer cable is less than $7), but now I am starting to worry about the throttle cables.

Any suggestions for maintenance this winter?

[Bighead]

17years and haven't touched them and haven't had a problem with any of them.

[hubcapsc]

I've lubricated my throttle cables, and liked the results...

Lubricating our choke cables is a good way to end up
stuck holding the choke on when you crank your bike...

-Mike

[Michvalk]

In general, Valk cables are designed to not need lubrication for the life of the cable. Once they need lube, they are supposed to be replaced. I think adding lube just draws dirt and dust, and shortens life of the cable. I had a choke cable snap off at 12,000 miles (about 10 years old) and replacement was cheap. I know many lube them, and it's not a bad idea, per say, but not really necessary

[hubcapsc]

In general, Valk cables are designed to not need lubrication for the life of the cable. Once they need lube, they are supposed to be replaced. I think adding lube just draws dirt and dust, and shortens life of the cable. I had a choke cable snap off at 12,000 miles (about 10 years old) and replacement was cheap. I know many lube them, and it's not a bad idea, per say, but not really necessary

The service manual describes when and how to lubricate the throttle cables in the
maintenance chapter...

-Mike

[Michvalk]

In general, Valk cables are designed to not need lubrication for the life of the cable. Once they need lube, they are supposed to be replaced. I think adding lube just draws dirt and dust, and shortens life of the cable. I had a choke cable snap off at 12,000 miles (about 10 years old) and replacement was cheap. I know many lube them, and it's not a bad idea, per say, but not really necessary

The service manual describes when and how to lubricate the throttle cables in the
maintenance chapter...

-Mike

Ya, I saw that...Just repeating what I was taught working for Honda

[Valkpilot]

17years and haven't touched them and haven't had a problem with any of them.

Tick, tick, tick...

The throttle pull cable on my '97 broke on a trip from Dallas to San Diego last year.  It took some creative (and time consuming) roadside engineering to complete the trip.

I had one fail on my '98 several years ago.

There are other reports of broken cables as well.  I believe Smokin' Joe had one fail on a trip.

With use and age, it's just a matter of time, I think.

I now carry a spare throttle pull and return cable on each bike.

[BobB]

The choke cable has a plastic liner between the cable and the outside housing.  Went I saw this, I assumed that lubercating it with a petroleum product would only do it harm. 

I inspect and lube both throttle cables every winter.  The inspection is as important as the lubercation.  Cables usually break at the ends where they are kinked, a single strand of wire breaking at a time.  It's easy to detect a potential failure that may happen during the next riding season.  Oiling is done by opening up the throttle housing and hanging it up, dripping motor oil into the cable ends, a little at a time, and let gravity take over.  I do not remove any cable ends, that only stresses the cables.  It takes time but we have a lot of that over our winters.

[Gryphon Rider]

I carry throttle cables in my "long trip" tool kit.  I've replaced throttle cables twice.  My memory is fuzzy on this, but I think I've always caught them before they snapped.  I just recently snapped, then replaced, my choke cable.  I have lubed my throttle cables, but not the choke cable because the cable itself is jacketed (not talking about the sleeve).

[Gryphon Rider]

Quoting the service manual:

Page 3-4
"Throttle Operation
...For cable lubrication: Disconnect the throttle cables at their upper ends. Thoroughly lubricate the cables and their pivot points with a commercially available cable lubricant or a light weight oil."

Page 3-5
"Carburetor Choke
...If operation is not smooth, lubricate the cable and check the cable condition."

According to the maintenance schedule, throttle and choke operation should be inspected every 8000 miles (12,800 km).

[Bighead]

17years and haven't touched them and haven't had a problem with any of them.

Tick, tick, tick...

The throttle pull cable on my '97 broke on a trip from Dallas to San Diego last year.  It took some creative (and time consuming) roadside engineering to complete the trip.

I had one fail on my '98 several years ago.

There are other reports of broken cables as well.  I believe Smokin' Joe had one fail on a trip.

With use and age, it's just a matter of time, I think.

I now carry a spare throttle pull and return cable on each bike.

Yeah it could happen and the handle bar could snap off at the riser also but that don't mean I will replace the handle bar until it does. When you get to 100k on a car do you start carrying a clutch cable or throttle cable around in the trunk? OR a spare alternator? I would guess NOT.

[The emperor has no clothes]

17years and haven't touched them and haven't had a problem with any of them.

Tick, tick, tick...

The throttle pull cable on my '97 broke on a trip from Dallas to San Diego last year.  It took some creative (and time consuming) roadside engineering to complete the trip.

I had one fail on my '98 several years ago.

There are other reports of broken cables as well.  I believe Smokin' Joe had one fail on a trip.

With use and age, it's just a matter of time, I think.

I now carry a spare throttle pull and return cable on each bike.

Yeah it could happen and the handle bar could snap off at the riser also but that don't mean I will replace the handle bar until it does. When you get to 100k on a car do you start carrying a clutch cable or throttle cable around in the trunk? OR a spare alternator? I would guess NOT.

I don't carry much for spare parts. Just a petcock  cover set,wheel bearings, tire plugs, metal tire valves. But I can understand the reason for more. If you have a problem in a car it's pretty simple and quick to go to auto zone or another parts store for what you need. On the bike you can be stranded for days waiting for what you need.

[Bighead]

All part of the adventure my friend all part of the adventure. People who carry a spare engine around are the folks who plan rides down to the minute. I for one would rather go where the front tire takes me and stop when I am ready and travel as many or as few miles I want in a day without trying to keep to a schedule.

[hubcapsc]

I carry a couple of bits in my saddlebag... on group rides, when someone breaks down,
someone usually has one of what they need... 

-Mike "Joe was the guy with the scrap of sandpaper that saved a ride..."

[cokebottle10]

Don't forget about the seat latch cable.

Thanks, David in Fletcher NC.

[vanagon40]

Hey, thank you for all the responses.  Something to think about this winter.

. . . .  Lubricating our choke cables is a good way to end up
stuck holding the choke on when you crank your bike...

-Mike

I actually have that problem with a 1982 GL500 SilverWing Interstate.