Should I lube cables?
03-22-16 | 02:34 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 4,073
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From: San Diego, California
Bikes: Velo Orange Piolet
Should I lube cables?
I've heard lubing some cables is not recommended, that they have a teflon (or something) coating/liner and the dirt attraction of lube is a net negative. But I wonder if that's the case for my cables, which are the stock cables. They're Jagwire cables but probably a lower grade (not the Pro line).
Lube cables or no?
Lube cables or no?
03-22-16 | 02:45 PM
#2
Sunshine
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 18,752
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From: Des Moines, IA
Bikes: '18 class built steel roadbike, '19 Fairlight Secan, '88 Schwinn Premis , Black Mountain Cycles Monstercross V4, '89 Novara Trionfo
I use Jagwire Lex shift housing. It has some sort of slick liner. At less than $1/foot, I cant imagine its the best they make. I havent ever lubed it.
For brake housing, I use generic Sunlite housing with a liner. Havent lubed that either.
Cables are simple stainless cables. Not the slick type.
Shifting is always quick and accurate. Braking is easy.
I have seen older unlined housing get the lube treatment before, but I havent ever seen the need for lined housing...at least what I have.
For brake housing, I use generic Sunlite housing with a liner. Havent lubed that either.
Cables are simple stainless cables. Not the slick type.
Shifting is always quick and accurate. Braking is easy.
I have seen older unlined housing get the lube treatment before, but I havent ever seen the need for lined housing...at least what I have.
03-22-16 | 03:13 PM
#3
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Joined: Feb 2014
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From: Pasadena, CA
Bikes: Schwinn Varsity
I lube.
Some cable housings come with a heavy shot of grease inside. I clean that out, and put some BreakFree CLP on the cable.
It's really a light lube and safe for plastics.
Some cable housings come with a heavy shot of grease inside. I clean that out, and put some BreakFree CLP on the cable.
It's really a light lube and safe for plastics.
03-22-16 | 05:25 PM
#7
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From: Pittsburgh, PA
Bikes: '96 Litespeed Catalyst, '05 Litespeed Firenze, '06 Litespeed Tuscany, '20 Surly Midnight Special, All are 3x10. It is hilly around here!
03-23-16 | 11:25 AM
#10
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From: New Hampshire
Bikes: Niner RLT 9 RDO, Niner RLT9 Alloy
Finish Line makes Extreme Fluoro grease which is repackaged DuPont Krytox, in a needle syringe applicator which fits nicely in the end of cable housing. This is basically pure PTFE dry grease so shouldn't attract dirt.
I only rarely use it for lubing cables, however Krytox is about the best stuff you can get for lubing o-rings and threads in some applications such as bike lights and handheld flashlights, so I keep a syringe around. It's the only way I've found to get it in small quantities.
I only rarely use it for lubing cables, however Krytox is about the best stuff you can get for lubing o-rings and threads in some applications such as bike lights and handheld flashlights, so I keep a syringe around. It's the only way I've found to get it in small quantities.
03-23-16 | 12:00 PM
#11
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Joined: Aug 2014
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From: Columbia, SC
Bikes: 2014 Cannondale Synapse Carbon 4 Rival; 2014 Cannondale Trail 7 29; 1972 Schwinn Suburban, 1996 Proflex 756, 1987(?) Peugeot, Dahon Speed P8; 1979 Raleigh Competition GS; 1995 Stumpjumper M2 FS, 1978 Raleigh Sports, Schwinn Prologue
I lube. I dip the cable into a tub of Slick Honey and go with it from there.
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