Bicycle Mechanics - Graphite as a cable lube

I am wondering if anyone has tried using graphite powder in their cable housing as a lube? My bike was ghost shifting so I went through and did some trouble shooting. I checked the deraileur hanger and it was in perfect alignment. So I checked out the cable housing for any ends that could be causing friction and found a couple that needed attention and so I went through each cable stop and touched up each one.The housings are clean because they are brand new so Im reasonably sure they are clean inside. I replaced the cables and put some graphite powder down the cable housing and I am getting some of the smoothest shifting ever! BUT....I wonder if there will be any complications down the road because I used graphite powder. Anyone have any experience with this kind of deal? I did a search on the forums and didnt find any posts about graphite powder in cable housing.

Interesting...

I never thought of that. Might be something to try!

Ya I know what you mean. I was wandering around Home Depot and saw it and thought...hmmmmmm

I use teflon coated cables in teflon lined housing. I really don't worry about trying to find the best way to stuff my housings with powder

I use to use something in the 80's called dryslide. It was a liquid that would evaporate and leave a graphite coating on the cable. I also used it on my motorcycle. Seemed to work ok but I can't find it any more. The LBS use to carry it.

lock-ease is the same thing as bikeslide/bikeaid , only in aerosol vs drip form. However, any LBS who orders from QBP (ie almost anyone) can get bikeaid.

I think the graphite powder should work fine. It lasts forever in a lock or a squeaky hinge. That is a good idea. Let us know if you have any bad results.

I use to use something in the 80's called dryslide. It was a liquid that would evaporate and leave a graphite coating on the cable. I also used it on my motorcycle. Seemed to work ok but I can't find it any more. The LBS use to carry it.


I know that graphite in a liquid gunks up locks. I've experienced the problem and our local locksmith says the only thing to use on locks is dry graphite.

I've gone to bare SS cables (no teflon coating) with uncoated/no-teflon/no-sleeve housings with no lube. Based on experience of some racers in my area, the teflon shreds which adds friction and anything other than bare cables just clogs with dirt faster. Bare cables are a lot cheaper, so they can be replaced far more often if necessary.

For my ATB, I put new cables/housings on roughly every year. That's about 800 to 900 miles in the dirt and sand. We have sand covering our hardpack. I ride in N. Florida, the Southeast mountains (5 to 6 weeks a yr) and Utah once in a while.

Al

Another factor to consider with graphite is messiness. Rubbing against the inner cable where it enters/exits the housing might produce unsightly grey reminders....

Molybdenum disulfide is also a dry lube. It and graphite are water soluable they will wash out of your cable eventually.

I expect that it will eventually come out over time however as the cable moves through the housing it builds up a very small static charge and the graphite attracts and clings pretty well to the cable. I expect to be changing out the cables long before the graphite is gone. As for the messiness, yes def some really messy stuff, it gets all over everything and after I was done running the cables and getting them all set, it took some clean up to get it all.