Which lube do you use for Lubricating shift cables

[Drcoffee]

Is there a special oil to use, or just generic silicon, wd40, or something else?

 

[flashback]

I generally use what I have handy if it's oil. WD 40 is not a lube so you don't want it.

 

[Drcoffee]

Im just concerned that a generic lube might cause the cable sleeve to swell and really make it fail fast

 

[flashback]

I just lube the brass slides. The cable itself is pre-lubed I believe.

 

[saaristo]

I used motor oil. I removed the cables from remote, slided a 2ft rubber hose over the brass fitting and wrapped it around the cable tightly with zip ties. Then filled the hose with oil and attached compressor with zip ties on the other. Air pressure pushed the oil through cables. Like new...or better.

 

[dingbat]

Interesting… didn’t know lubing cables was a thing. I just assumed all control cables were sealed for life.

 

[flashback]

I used motor oil. I removed the cables from remote, slided a 2ft rubber hose over the brass fitting and wrapped it around the cable tightly with zip ties. Then filled the hose with oil and attached compressor with zip ties on the other. Air pressure pushed the oil through cables. Like new...or better.

I have done something similar on motorcycle cables but the last lower cable I put on was Teflon coated and the sheath as well.

 

[Bondo]

Interesting… didn’t know lubing cables was a thing. I just assumed all control cables were sealed for life.

Ayuh,..... Ditto,..... I lube the linkages, not the cables,.....

 

[Drcoffee]

Motor oil?

 

[Scott Danforth]

Problem with shift cables is the sheath wears from the cable moving.

Cables only last about 15-20 years