after a great ride, i washed down 400ex. when i went to put it away, i started it and the cable stuck with the clutch in. it came out of it after working it back and forth. the bike is a 2000 and it might be the original cable [ cable is not frayed ]. should i replace it or is there a lube that will work? thanks for your imput.
clutch cable sticking
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if you can take it off..put it in a vise..if you don't have one..get a buddy to help hold the cable...while you spray some wd-40 on it..while working it back an forth..always works for me ( most of the time anyway )..if it's not in to bad of shape anyway..other than that..buy a new cable.
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I am an antique and I ride antiques.I have fat cats and odysseys that have cables that are either not available or too expensive.this trick has worked on cables that looked like an archeological find.I save all my old brake fluid in a 2 1/2 gal. bucket.Take your cable off and submerge it in the brake fluid.The longer the better!A few days will work though.Take the cable out and gently work it as much as it will let you.BE PATIENT!I work it by hand first and then when it feels like its working and still stiff,I put a cordless drill on it.BE GENTILE!I have taken totally seized cables and made them work like new again.This method also works great on chains and locked up motors.When done,hang it up to drain.The final step is to put marvel mystery oil or a suitable machine oil in it.Wd 40 will work but,it isn't meant as a long term lube.You will see all the rust come out into the bucket of fluid and if left in long enough ,it will remove every trace of rust.It's some caustic stuff.******* tech!!!!!:icon_gd:
i took off the cable, couldn't move it without putting it into a vice. so i found a couple of new brake fluid bottles an poured into a bucket and letting it soak! thank you guys for your imput. i am now doing tasks that i wouldn't normally do because of lack of know how. this forum is the best!! thanks.
so far i have had the cable soaking in fresh dot 3 brake fluid for a full day. pulled it out of the fluid and couldn't move it with plyers. i'm in the middle of having a shop bench made,so i do not have a vice yet. before i disconnected the cable it was going through the motion but i noticed it did need to be worked on. i flexed the cable around hoping to free up things,and put it back into the bucket to soak for another 24 hours. today i picked up some marvel lubercating oil, as recomended by dodgehrdon. should i go to a friends after tomorrow and use a vice or will it work it's way out in time with the soak? the "be patient" part is the hardest for me. thanks again.
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I would guess that the outer sheath of the cable would be made from a chemical resistant material, so it will hold up to oils, grease, etc. Just a guess, though.
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28 Posts
It isn't harmful to any thing but some paints.atv's don't have any plastic that is susseptible to damage from brake fluid.Your quad has brake fluid in it and is made to handle it.I've used this technic for years.Look at my photo's and you will see why.The clutch cable for a honda fat cat isn't available and the after market companies don't make parts for limited run 2 yr only bikes.
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