Throttle Cable Lube

[Scotty370]

This should be easy for this 'brain-trust' . On my JD 318 the throttle cable gives me grief. Granted, it sits outside w/blower at the ready, but I can't find any lube that sucessfully keeps out moisture, from freezing it up! The way it's designed : At the control end, you pull the handle Up for fast, Down for slow. What happens is if I leave the handle Down on shutdown, and it freezes, I sometimes can't get it raised for starting. If I leave it Up, it may flood! Thought was, to try to find a happy medium so that I can get it running, and let the Engine heat thaw things out! If the throttles (parked) up, and I push it down (when froze) it bends the core wire! It doesn't take to straighting kindly, and weakens til failure. Seems like they tried to take strides to prevent moisture infiltration. The cable sleeve is shrink wrapped, and they've put little rubber 'boots' on each end. The core wire cannot be fully removed from the jacket, as it has "Z" bends on each end. I've got it inside, thaw it out and run WD-40 down the whole thing, and reboot the ends. Short of a fail-safe lube, is there a source for 'core-wire' that I could replace, and make the z-bends? The cable ( AM100130) is $27-, and this is becoming an annual event! TIA ~Scotty

 

[638]

Go to your local motorcycle shop and buy a control cable lubricator. Use it to pump light oil through the cable. I have seen them at Harbor Freight.

 

[KennyV]

Scotty...
you can buy Spring Steel Music Wire, usually sold in 10 packs, for around $5...
Check your core wire size... Cheep to replace. If you lube with a synthetic chain lube it tends to stay in the cable and even with a little ice will slide well.
If you have kinks or rough spots just replace the center spring steel wire, about 50 cents... While you have the core wire out spray the chain lube into it. KennyV

 

[Scotty370]

KennyV- Where would I get that? And how do I get the "Z" bend in each end? I'm guessing: Heat to red, the end, form one end "Z", slide blank end in casing, heat and bend remaining "Z". Right? I've always had trouble bending this stuff! Brittle, etc. I'm thinking the heat would allow me to bend it.

 

[KennyV]

SmallParts.com: The Hardware Store for Researchers and Developers
Then search for music wire.
You could also use stainless steel wire, from a hardware supplier like McMaster-Carr, it will not rust and that is usually what causes control cables problems.
Heat to bend just like you said and it will work great. KennyV.

 

[irvingj]

Scotty- we use music wire all the time in model airplanes... see your hobby shop if the piece doesn't need to be more than 3' long. Most shops will carry a wide selection of diameters. There are even special "z-bend" pliers available -again, at hobby shops.

Another possibility: when I regularly used my walk-behind blower I had the same problem- no matter what I did, water would get inside the cable(s) and freeze; I had to set the throttle to a start position before shutting it down, so it could at least start the next time (still do that, just in case).

What I did to solve the problem was fashion a cover for the engine and controls area out of 1" styrofoam board- it drops over the handles & controls, and extends all the way up to just behind the exit chute. When that cover is put on right after the unit's shut down, the residual heat from the engine melted all the water & snow, not just on the controls & cables, but all over. Then it just dripped off. Also kept snow off the whole thing between use. Never had a problem after that.

I covered it with iron-on plastic model airplane covering to make it waterproof and slick. Any way you could do the same for the troublesome area?

 

[irvingj]

Another thing, Scotty- when we make z-bends in the wire for airplanes, it's generally not necessary to heat it first, just bend it. (But don't expect to be able to try twice; a second attempt and it will snap off.) Also, hobby shops sell the wire in single pieces. Seems it's about 50 cents for a 3' piece of 1/16".

 

[charlz]

Go to your local motorcycle shop and buy a control cable lubricator. Use it to pump light oil through the cable. I have seen them at Harbor Freight.

Here is the kit (hopefully the link works):

Tusk Cable Lube Kit | Rocky Mountain ATV/MC

Works pretty well, it clamps/seals onto one end of the cable so everything you spray in there goes down through the cable.

I have also seen the clamp part at my local HF.

 

[Scotty370]

Thanks Guys! I picked up the 1/16" Music wire at the hobby shop today for a whopping 79 cents!! I need it 30" long. It's 36" now, so I can do some bending practice! Charlz, I'll try to track down that Lube kit locally and avoid some shipping.............Thanks again! ~Scotty

 

[Danno1]

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I use motorcycle chain lube in a sparay can for control cables, automotive door locks/hinges, linkages, hood/trunk latches and releases, etc.


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