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Lubricating Clutch Cable

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Old Jun 4, 2011 | 06:14 PM
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Default Lubricating Clutch Cable

I have an '04 Lowrider and the manual says to Lube the Clutch and Brake levers but no information on how to lube the clutch cable (they do explain how to adjust it). There is info on lubing the throttle cable though, although they are entirely different animals. I can't imagine that the clutch cable requires no maintenance.
 
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Old Jun 4, 2011 | 06:20 PM
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I put 10 drops of cABLE LUBE between the cable and the outer sheath every 5000 miles. It's pleasantly "goopy" in there now at 90,000 miles!
 
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Old Jun 4, 2011 | 06:46 PM
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I adjust the clutch cable till there is enough slack in it to get the cable end free of the lever. Then i dribble some oil down the cable, let it sit a few minutesthen put it all back together.
 
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Old Jun 4, 2011 | 07:55 PM
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Dri slide cable lube, do what seniorsuperglideE8 said, one bottle will last you a life time.
 
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Old Jun 4, 2011 | 08:08 PM
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Do yourself a favor and replace the clutch cable.
A new model cable with a teflon liner makes a big difference. I also changed over to the easy pull kit that came 2006 and later bikes.
Make sure your bike was taken in for the recall for the faulty throttle cables, the cable can saw through the gas tank. I think you can put your VIN into the Harley website somewhere to verify this.

"HD recal 0122-2004 Dyna Models Throttle Cable

For 2004 Dyna FXDL/I, FXDWG/I, FXD/I, FXDX/I, AND FXDP models built from June 11, 2003 through Feb 2, 2004.

The affected motorcycles have a condition that may allow the throttle cables to contact the tunnel portion of the fuel tank. In this condition the cables could eventually wear through the tank, causing a fuel tank leak, theegy presenting the risk of a fire and possible injury or death to the rider."
 
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Old Jun 4, 2011 | 08:17 PM
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http://www.lpslabs.com/product_pg/lu...ChainMate.html This is what I use. you just spray some down into the end of the cable sheath.
 
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Old Jun 5, 2011 | 09:21 AM
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Originally Posted by OldMike
Do yourself a favor and replace the clutch cable.
A new model cable with a teflon liner makes a big difference. I also changed over to the easy pull kit that came 2006 and later bikes.
Make sure your bike was taken in for the recall for the faulty throttle cables, the cable can saw through the gas tank. I think you can put your VIN into the Harley website somewhere to verify this.

"HD recal 0122-2004 Dyna Models Throttle Cable

For 2004 Dyna FXDL/I, FXDWG/I, FXD/I, FXDX/I, AND FXDP models built from June 11, 2003 through Feb 2, 2004.

The affected motorcycles have a condition that may allow the throttle cables to contact the tunnel portion of the fuel tank. In this condition the cables could eventually wear through the tank, causing a fuel tank leak, theegy presenting the risk of a fire and possible injury or death to the rider."
Thanks for the heads-up on the recall. I never received a recall notice and my bike (built in 9/03) should have been on the list. Anyway I will get ahold of the dealer very soon.
 
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Old Jun 5, 2011 | 12:12 PM
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If you go with the Teflon coated cables you don't need to use any lube.
 
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Old Jun 5, 2011 | 01:46 PM
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Originally Posted by danzio
I have an '04 Lowrider and the manual says to Lube the Clutch and Brake levers but no information on how to lube the clutch cable (they do explain how to adjust it). There is info on lubing the throttle cable though, although they are entirely different animals. I can't imagine that the clutch cable requires no maintenance.
Here's some info from an older thread, originally Posted by Keener and Dawg....

Originally Posted by Keener
Or any cable for that matter. I recently did this process, but have no pics. Sorry...

Start by removing the clip on the bottom side of clutch lever pivot pin. Then remove pin.
Slide lever out of bracket, and take lever off of cable.
Now get a baggie and a smaller rubber band and lube of your choice. I used motor oil I had in the garage (don't ask what kind, or if you can change to synthetic please). OK, make a small hole in the corner of the baggie, then slide the baggie over the cable. Now, wrap the rubber band around the baggie and cable where they meet. You should have a tight seal around the baggie and cable, with the cable sticking out of the bottom of the baggie just a bit. Add a glurp of oil into the baggie, and prop up the cable with a towel so it doesn't fall off your handle bars. Go inside. After an hour or so the oil will trickle down the cable and lube it like butter. You will find a bit of residual leakage on your clutch cable at the adjuster nut when you are done. Wipe it off, reinstall clutch lever, and you are done. 10 minutes, cheap parts, and does the job.

Hopefully you can make sense of my overview-


Originally Posted by dawg
To put it in pictorial perspective.....
 
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Old Jun 5, 2011 | 01:59 PM
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When I rode dirt bikes, I had a tool that I used to squirt oil into the cables, I'm sure they still make one, it looked like a syringe with a grommet on it.
 
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