Have read most of the throttle body cleaning and cable adjustment threads, and although many have mentioned lubricating the cables I don't think any specified how or with what.

Does anyone have a recommended lubricant for the throttle cables and best way to get the lubrication through their length?


I've seen many cables on motorcycles gummed up by well meaning owners using the wrong lubricants.

.

 

Resurrecting an older thread; brought this question to mind when I was dealing with my throttle issues.

So, is lubrication of the throttle cables a maintenance item, or is it not recommended?

.

 

Hilarious, in one respect, related to bikes, as I own 5 and have ridden all from motocross to street bikes.

This probably comes across old school, but I would recommend how we do it motorcycle-wise - though it only applies to bikes with cable systems

http://www.motionpro.com/motorcycle/articles/view/340/cable_maintenance_101/

 

Don't know why it wasn't clickable.

so here:

Motion Pro

 

Thanks, yeah I think I still have some of that stuff around


Just wanted to make sure the Jaguar cables even should be lubricated, so that some sort of lubrication wouldn't deteriorate the lining (if they are lined), etc.

.

 

The Motion Pro stuff is highly rated - I can't imagine Jag uses any special interior lining in the cable (but don't hold me to it).

I have motorcycle (mostly dirt bike) friends who inject dry lube into cables as an alternative to the dedicated cable stuff.
Fortunately, all my bikes (well, sans one bike) use DOT4 hydraulics for clutch and brake operation vs cables

 

Al,

I share your reticence because I think I recall reading somewhere (maybe in Jaguar service documentation) that cables should not be lubricated with an oil or liquid lubricant of any kind because the lube will tend to attract dirt and grit and eventually foul the cable. I assume dry graphite might be acceptable, but getting it distributed inside your cable might take some creativity.

I'm intrigued by the link caldercay shared - very interesting!

Cheers,

Don

 

Distribute via "compressed air", either by can or compressor: inject the graphite into cable, then use the compressed air to push it through - that's how my dirty biker friends do it at the track (or home).

One thing to consider, though - graphite, when wet, will also "gum up".

If a cable is suspect, why not just replace it? Sourcing an original Jag cable might be difficult to find (or cost prohibitive?), you could have one made up. Case in point - a power-steering hose on my Jag developed a leak. I had one custom made at a hydraulic hose shop (in Katy, TX). It cost me the same as a genuine Jag hose, I had it within an hour, and it will last much longer than my Jag or me.

 

That's an excellent suggestion. The racing suppliers like Summit and Pegasus carry kits for making up your own throttle and kickdown cables.

 

A lot of cables have a teflon lining inside the sheath, so don't need lubricating.

 

I think that the motorcycle side does not consider fouling
from accumulated dirt because it is meant to be performed
regularly. The dirt flushes out with the old lubricant.

 

throttle cables are serviceable and clean via
1. cleaning first the ingress and egress of the cable ends using WD40 and the likes
2. use Wurth contact cleaner SL and spray on the expose stranded cable simultaneously pushing and pulling the metal spiral cable to allow the contact cleaner (or any other acetone or alcohol base cleaner) reach into the first few inches part of the cable insulator, simultaneously wiping off any dirt that shows up on the expose cable. normally dirt do not travel/get into the middle section of the cable.

Throttle Cables were never meant to be lubricated, to avoid sticking, gumming and solidifying of dirt within the in and out of the cable insulator.

If operation is no longer smooth, replace cable.