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Throttle cable snapped

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Old May 30, 2012 | 06:01 PM
  #11  
jreichart's Avatar
jreichart
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From: Heber Springs, AR
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WD40 should not be used to lube anything as it is not a lubricant! It's a water displacing penetrant. WD stands for water displacement, and it's not intended to ever be used for long term lubrication of anything.

Get a good dry film cable lube. I use Dri Slide Bike Aid available at most dealers. It comes with a very thin 4" long stainless steel flexible needle point that is specifically designed to lube cables. I had 46k on my throttle cables when I replaced them with the internal setup, and they looked as new as the day they were installed.

And what the hell is a "suicide throttle"? Never heard the term used before.
 
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Old May 30, 2012 | 06:17 PM
  #12  
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oct1949
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Originally Posted by Alain
Can wd40 be used to lube the cables?

YES,,,, BUT I would never use it....

Its not a lube,, its for Water Displacement.....GET it (WD).... Read up on it,,, The final product was produced after 40 test...

THUS.-----WD - 40....


Dont cheap out, instead buy some Cable lube MADE to lube CABLES...




.
 

Last edited by oct1949; May 30, 2012 at 06:19 PM.
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Old May 30, 2012 | 06:27 PM
  #13  
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poppavein
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Originally Posted by Alain
Can wd40 be used to lube the cables?
I've used it lots of times. It doesn't last as long as the thicker oils but the throttle is easier to turn.

I've had too many problems with the gadgets that you connect to the end (they always leak and make a mess), so I just sprayed WD40 like the guy does in the video. And you don't have to remove the cables from the housing.

But I also got a big *** veterinary syringe and filled it with engine oil. That's what I usually use on my cables now.

Another thing that works it to cut the corner off of a baggie, attach the baggie to the cable with rubber bands to seal the open corner, fill the baggie with oil and let gravity do the work overnight. I'll do that with my clutch cable, but my throttle cables don't like to be removed on my Road King so I don't do them that way.
 
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Old May 30, 2012 | 09:47 PM
  #14  
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Farang
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From: Krabi, Thailand
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My throttle cable snapped as well. Previous owner used WD40 to lube it and it dried out, frayed and broke.

Can't get parts easily here where I live so I swapped out the idle cable for the throttle cable which is only a 15 minute job. Lubed the cable with a silicon lube and good to go.

It's no problem to run without the idle cable as long as you have the awareness to hit the kill switch if by some misfortune the second cable snaps and leaves the throttle open.

Will make a new cable by keeping the old sheathing, shortening the wire from a cager cable then attaching the retaining nipple at the end of it.

The only authorised stealer in this country wanted 4 weeks and $300 USD equivalent just for a lousy cable.
 
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Old May 30, 2012 | 10:01 PM
  #15  
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Alain
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From: north jersey
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Got it. I'll stay from the wd40. I'll hit the dealership tomorrow and get some cable lube and lube them while I have the bike torn apart.

Thanks fellers.
 

Last edited by Alain; May 30, 2012 at 10:05 PM.
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Old Jun 4, 2012 | 08:31 AM
  #16  
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FXBadass
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From: EastCan
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Originally Posted by jreichart
And what the hell is a "suicide throttle"? Never heard the term used before.
I've never heard of it before until I was riding behind my wife, and she was holding the throttle open with a zip tie that I attached to the carb. Try taking off with that setup with apes! I've never taken off from a stop without my right arm on the bars. The throttle is right hard to ease when pulling out, and away from you. It is a real treat in traffic!
 
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