How to remove rust on throttle cable ends?

[Bugslayer]

For a 17 year old bike, my '97 Tourer is in excellent condition. Except for the ends of the throttle cables. (the chrome ends that attach to the throttle housing.) They're getting pretty rusted.

Anyone have any secrets to removing rust? Or are new cables needed?  If I get new throttle cables, do these chrome ends come with the new cables?

Thanks.

[salty1]

New cables will come with the polished housings. You might want to soak the rusted end in Evaporust and see if they clean up to your liking. While you have them off lube them.

[Jess from VA]

First try OOOO steel wool with aluminum polish paste.  If really bad, use a small fine wire wheel on a drill, then polish them.

[Michvalk]

After taking time several times, when I got them clean again, I painted mine with testors model paint in silver. Stopped the problem altogether.

[Bugslayer]

Looks like I have a project for my day off , Friday. Every post had a great suggestion. Thanks!

Just curious, how hard is it to replace the throttle cables anyway?

[Skinhead]

oxalic acid.  Available at drug stores.

[JetDriver]

If it's not too bad, chrome polish removes rust.  I use it on those throttle adjusters, rubbing with some old t-shirt, then also use a toothbrush.

[rekit]

Or if your lazy like me, wrap it with black electrical tape. No one looks that close...........

[Bugslayer]

I'm off tomorrow. I'll give it a shot and see what happens..... Thanks!

[Bugslayer]

Well, what do you know... It actually worked.   

I bought a small/fine wire wheel, but my big ole "two handed" drill was just too big to fit in there.

I mixed up some baking soda and water into a thick paste. Smeared it all over the rusted throttle end and nut. Then I used some crumpled up aluminium foil and used it like a scrub brush. Every bit of rust is gone.... Looks great. 

[Bighead]

Now seal it with clear or paint it because the rust is coming back as we speak.

[Bugslayer]

Fixin to do that right now...... Thanks!

[Jess from VA]

Clear nail polish holds up pretty well.

[pancho]

Or if your lazy like me, wrap it with black electrical tape. No one looks that close...........

HA....   you don't need to look close to see that.

[Bugslayer]

Clear nail polish holds up pretty well.

That's exactly what I was thinking..... Thanks! 

[Westsider]

Guess Ill go lube my cables to .. Thanks.  This place is kind of habit forming.

[Ken Tarver]

Rick, on American Restorations uses the wadded up foil trick and just dips it in water and scrubs chrome items.

but i like rekit's fix too....he he

[Bugslayer]

I wish I had taken before and after pics. You wouldn't believe it was the same part. I'm a firm believer in baking soda paste and aluminum foil.