Oil or grease old school brake cables
04-02-12, 04:32 AM
#1
Kid A
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Alexandria, VA
Posts: 1,778
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 5 Times
in
5 Posts
Oil or grease old school brake cables
Hi, I have some housing I'd like to use (brake) that is the old, unlined stuff. I know that oil or grease must be used on it, but what is the best way to do this and should I use grease or oil? So I insert the inner wire, then pull it partially back out and pour oil in?
I have a tub of auto wheel bearing grease, but I'm thinking that may be too heavy (it's like the park grease). I also have a thing of chainsaw bar oil, and probably some 5W-30.
Thanks!
I have a tub of auto wheel bearing grease, but I'm thinking that may be too heavy (it's like the park grease). I also have a thing of chainsaw bar oil, and probably some 5W-30.
Thanks!
04-02-12, 04:41 AM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Lakeland, Fl
Posts: 281
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Boeshield, triflow, something that leaves a residual lubricant after the carrier fluid evaporates. Dri-slide was an excellent cable lubricant but I haven't seen it around in a long time.
Grease is too heavy. Oil will seek the low spot and also attract dirt.
Grease is too heavy. Oil will seek the low spot and also attract dirt.
04-02-12, 07:08 AM
#4
Dough Mestique
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 355
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I greased my brake and shifter cables for a decade until someone told me grease slowed down my shifting. I switched to oil for five years. No difference except my cables rusted in the rain. So now I am back to grease for the past ten years, and as it did before, it works fine.
Get a blob of grease on your fingertip and run it down the length of the cable, then install the cables.
BL
Get a blob of grease on your fingertip and run it down the length of the cable, then install the cables.
BL
04-02-12, 07:10 AM
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 33,656
Bikes: '96 Litespeed Catalyst, '05 Litespeed Firenze, '06 Litespeed Tuscany, '20 Surly Midnight Special, All are 3x10. It is hilly around here!
Mentioned: 39 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2026 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1,096 Times
in
742 Posts
04-02-12, 07:27 AM
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: SoCal
Posts: 371
Bikes: 1983 Trek 620, 2010 Roubaix
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
https://www.lubritek.com/bike-aid_lube
Available on Amazon and elsewhere.
-Tom in SoCal
04-02-12, 07:49 AM
#7
Old fart
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Appleton WI
Posts: 24,786
Bikes: Several, mostly not name brands.
Mentioned: 153 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3588 Post(s)
Liked 3,400 Times
in
1,934 Posts
If you're installing new cables, just grease the cable before sliding it into the housing. If you need to lubricate cables in situ use a cable lubricator:
Slip it over the cable and snug it down over the housing, attach a spray can of your preferred lube and fire away.
Slip it over the cable and snug it down over the housing, attach a spray can of your preferred lube and fire away.
04-02-12, 08:33 AM
#8
Super Moderator
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Ffld Cnty Connecticut
Posts: 21,843
Bikes: Old Steelies I made, Old Cannondales
Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1173 Post(s)
Liked 927 Times
in
612 Posts
Grease always seemed to work well for me. Smear a little down the length of the cable before inserting.
__________________
Bikes: Old steel race bikes, old Cannondale race bikes, less old Cannondale race bike, crappy old mtn bike.
FYI: https://www.bikeforums.net/forum-sugg...ad-please.html
Bikes: Old steel race bikes, old Cannondale race bikes, less old Cannondale race bike, crappy old mtn bike.
FYI: https://www.bikeforums.net/forum-sugg...ad-please.html
04-02-12, 08:43 AM
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: New Rochelle, NY
Posts: 38,716
Bikes: too many bikes from 1967 10s (5x2)Frejus to a Sumitomo Ti/Chorus aluminum 10s (10x2), plus one non-susp mtn bike I use as my commuter
Mentioned: 140 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5787 Post(s)
Liked 2,580 Times
in
1,430 Posts
Grease is probably the best choice for unlined housing. Smear it down the wire then thread into the housing.
You can also use a very heavy oil. If your bottle has the right nozzle, put it to the end of the empty housing and squeeze in what feels like a decent amount, then threading the wire from the same end will push it in and spread it.
Older unlined housing is usually used with older brakes and non-indexed derailleurs. These had stronger springs than modern light action stuff so cable friction is correspondingly higher, and light lubes won't cut it.
You can also use a very heavy oil. If your bottle has the right nozzle, put it to the end of the empty housing and squeeze in what feels like a decent amount, then threading the wire from the same end will push it in and spread it.
Older unlined housing is usually used with older brakes and non-indexed derailleurs. These had stronger springs than modern light action stuff so cable friction is correspondingly higher, and light lubes won't cut it.
__________________
FB
Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
FB
Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
04-02-12, 08:53 AM
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Munising, Michigan, USA
Posts: 4,131
Bikes: Priority 600, Priority Continuum, Devinci Dexter
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 685 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 55 Times
in
37 Posts
I am not the expert Frank is, but I will note here that Shimano had pre-greased the cables that shipped with my bar-end shifters. Presumably then, Shimano favors grease.
04-02-12, 05:18 PM
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 33,656
Bikes: '96 Litespeed Catalyst, '05 Litespeed Firenze, '06 Litespeed Tuscany, '20 Surly Midnight Special, All are 3x10. It is hilly around here!
Mentioned: 39 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2026 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1,096 Times
in
742 Posts
Campy does too and pre-greases the shift cable housing that comes with Ergo brifters. However, both use a light relatively low viscosity grease.
04-02-12, 06:40 PM
#12
Saving gas on my commute
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Oklahoma City
Posts: 511
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
I am also of the "grease the cable" camp. I find that smearing a very small amount down the cable works well enough for me.
This also works for the accelerator cable on an old VW Beetle. I've learned the hard way that it's not fun to have your Bug's accelerator cable freeze up.
This also works for the accelerator cable on an old VW Beetle. I've learned the hard way that it's not fun to have your Bug's accelerator cable freeze up.
