teflon-lined cables?

[Mikep328]

Are there teflon-lined cables - clutch/throttle - available for the 400F?  I've done some searching and can't find anything.  I'm looking for cables with less internal resistance than the pattern cables DSS sells.  I installed a set of them two years ago and after the past winter lay up (4 months) the throttle cables were so stiff that the very strong stock Honda return spring couldn't pull the throttle back to idle!  Clutch cable also seems much stiffer than it used to be.

I've been riding it and the throttle cables have relaxed their grip a bit but still noticeably stiff.

[taysidedragon]

I bought Slinkyglide cables from Wemoto, 7 years use and they're still perfect.

[Mikep328]

I checked the webmoto and slinky glide websites but they don't list any cables for the 400F.  They must have discontinued them.. 

[K2-K6]

As interim contingency, lubricate the existing with silicone oil.

You can disconnect the carb end, open the twistgrip enclosure, then use the housing as funnel to pool the oil around the cable entrance. Then pul~push the cables in/out to take the oil down into cable outer, eventually it seeps out the carb end.

I do this even on "lined" cable housing as well, makes considerable difference to how smooth and free they run and return for any I've used this on.

Note, remove twist grip and avoid getting silicone oil around where tge twist rubber ends, you'll not want ingress at that juncture to have any chance of freeing the two one from t'other.

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

Is it definetly the cables themselves Mike and not the throttle twist grip tube binding?

[Mikep328]

I can't say with certainty - I loosened the adjustment screws at the grip and the grip moved easily within the limitation of that travel.  But I didn't disconnect the cables.  Now that the weather has been a bit warmer, the stiffness is reduced where the spring will now return the throttle but it's still pretty stiff.

Obviously, I need to disconnect the cables to be sure BUT I've also noticed the clutch seems much stiffer than it was last season.  I ASSUME it's the cables in both cases so I was looking for some teflon lined versions.  It appears the only way to get that for the 400F is to purchase the "raw" cable and make them up using the fittings on the existing cables.  I'd rather not do that but the only other "remedy" that might help is lubricating them as has been suggested.  I used to do that regularly back in the "old days" (when I used to clean the chain in petrol then put it in a pan of grease melted on the kitchen stove!!) but I haven't needed to lubricate a cable in quite a while!  Even the cables on my '73 Norton Commando are teflon-lined!

I can't recall how often I needed to lube the cables back then.  I replaced all the cables on the 400 - throttle, clutch, speedo, tach - about two years ago...

[Bryanj]

Original Honda cables are lined with rubber on the inner cable and nylon inside the outer cable which is why the must NOT be lubed but there are two problems with genuine cables
1 Finding them

2 Paying for them!!

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

I can't say with certainty - I loosened the adjustment screws at the grip and the grip moved easily within the limitation of that travel.  But I didn't disconnect the cables.  Now that the weather has been a bit warmer, the stiffness is reduced where the spring will now return the throttle but it's still pretty stiff.

Obviously, I need to disconnect the cables to be sure BUT I've also noticed the clutch seems much stiffer than it was last season.  I ASSUME it's the cables in both cases so I was looking for some teflon lined versions.  It appears the only way to get that for the 400F is to purchase the "raw" cable and make them up using the fittings on the existing cables.  I'd rather not do that but the only other "remedy" that might help is lubricating them as has been suggested.  I used to do that regularly back in the "old days" (when I used to clean the chain in petrol then put it in a pan of grease melted on the kitchen stove!!) but I haven't needed to lubricate a cable in quite a while!  Even the cables on my '73 Norton Commando are teflon-lined!

I can't recall how often I needed to lube the cables back then.  I replaced all the cables on the 400 - throttle, clutch, speedo, tach - about two years ago...

On my 400 the tube was split, gripping the throttle made it clamp on the bars, I ended up fitting a new tube IIRC using Silicone a lubricant to keep out water.

As you suspect probably the cables, the clutch cable is often reported here as having a short life due to the engine heat & load etc

[Mikep328]

I checked back on my parts orders and see that I ordered pattern parts for all the cables.  I bought the pattern clutch cable from DSS though I see they also list a "Honda" clutch cable which, I assume, is identical to the original.  I bought the throttle cables from a different company, one of which didn't fit!  The DSS throttle cables are listed as being from the same manufacturer and "identical" to the originals.  Unfortunately DSS only has one of the two throttle cables in stock at present and the Honda clutch cable is a "special order."

[TrickyMicky]

Just a random thought, but, are you sure that the cables are correctly routed? If you search this forum you will find  "Ash's Dropbox" which contains a very good diagram of cable routing from the dealers' set - up manual.  As has been said already, I replace my clutch cable approx. every two years, and to make sure the routing stays the same I cable tie the new cable to the old one at the engine end and pull it through from the handlebars.

[Mikep328]

Thanks Tricky,  Yeah, I did the routing in accordance with the diagram you mentioned when I installed the cable(s) two years ago.  Since they were fine initially and just turned "bad" over the past winter layup, I figure it must be the cables themselves.

[K2-K6]

There's usually good detail published in the manual as to setting twistgrip "slack" too, if not fully observed the two cables will conflict with each other in free length, that too cause abrasion within the sleeve and raise possibility of corrosion etc.

It looks like to much free play to logical thinking, but importantly it needs that to prevent the conflict mentioned above and especially toward the extreme of steering lock rotation.

Silicone oil doesn't ordinarily react with plastic/teflon/rubber component used inside cables. It does largely prevent corrosion effects though by eliminating water collection, from whatever condition its used and stored in.

[exvalvesetdabbler]

Are there teflon-lined cables - clutch/throttle - available for the 400F?  I've done some searching and can't find anything.  I'm looking for cables with less internal resistance than the pattern cables DSS sells.  I installed a set of them two years ago and after the past winter lay up (4 months) the throttle cables were so stiff that the very strong stock Honda return spring couldn't pull the throttle back to idle!  Clutch cable also seems much stiffer than it used to be.

I've been riding it and the throttle cables have relaxed their grip a bit but still noticeably stiff.

How free is the link rod on the carbs, I have found in the past,  on unrestored carbs,  it can get a bit tight if the bike has been parked for a while making the throttle a bit stiff. You can easily check that by unhooking the spring and see how it feels.

One of my throttle cables is the original or at least been on there since 1980, the other one , 1 only changed it in 1987 because the chrome disappeared and had gone crusty on the right angled metal tube at the top.

As with all these cables routed over a hot engine the original lube in the cable can go hard.  just attach a tube to one end and pour some solvent down while working the inner, blow it out on an air line and then work some light oil down the cable. Should be good as new so long as it hasn't frayed.

Regards
Dave