speedometer cable

[bigyagi]

so, im putting a new speedo cable on tomorrow. the previous one only lasted 2 years?
any advice as to whether i should put some light oil down the cable or something ??
or is it just install/ forget ?

[gtgt__bangbang]

Its a stranded steel cable spinning in a wound-steel jacket.
Such would always benefit from lube.

Are you sure the new one isnt already lubed ? seems like it should be.

I dont think oil, particularly light oil, is ideal, it will drain off in short order.
Save the oil for bicycle brakes and salads.

I used a good wipe of grease on spinning cables buts its necessary to extract the cable from the jacket to do it right,
butter it up on the way back in. There actually exist 'cable lubes' but you probably don't need to go that far.
I'd be totally happy with some nice lithium based white grease. Why moly what you don't positively got to, ayeh?

If you really realy really have to use oil, you will probably want to rig up a funnel to coax in down in to the jacket, otherwise 5% inside, 95% on your lap.

You burned up a cable in two years ? Good God sir, how fast do you go ?

Are you kinking it ? and NO, that is NOT a personal question

[mytrplseven]

Over the years, the one lubricant that was recommended for this problem was graphite powder. it doesn't leak but provides an effective lube for the cable sheath. Also make sure you don't have any acute bends in the cable routing.

[gtgt__bangbang]

despite honoring your recent trolley jack triumph, I would argue against a dry lube like graphite powder. Dry lubes are used only where forced to ( heat , pressure, vacuum, chem capability, and key locks to avoid glueing in more dirt), The flakes break up under milling, its a royal mess and seems really difficult to get down in the cable.

Dry lubricant - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Synthetic or conventional, a little but well applied grease is the best bet, while oil dripped down the shaft is easier if you cant disassemble the cable and better than naught and willing to reapply , say every two years with a new cable

[bigyagi]

yeah, i thought the oil business was a little sketchy !
i actually have some graphite paste, which i would like to apply, but it appears the cable assembly wont come apart too easily.
oh well, oil bath down the tube and hope for more than 2 years !
thanks for info/reply.

[gtgt__bangbang]

Have not had a porsche speedo cable one in hand but every other cable I have come across slips apart, at worst with a retainer clip . My car top cables just slid apart. those are lower use cycle but higher torque for sure. I have some Honda (bike) grease with moly. painted them with. A little cardboard tube, no one should be without. Yamaha makes a good grease too, in a better applying capped tube

What keeps the cable inside the jacket? Something permanent ?

Even dry, I am gobsmacked at a two year life. are there marks on the old one that show damage ? Where did it break ?

[Slam]

@OP - just out of curiosity, where did you buy your last cable? I support Pelican but the last speedo cable I bought here only lasted a couple of days. Turns out it was too short. Check length.

[bigyagi]

bought the cable from ***********. not oem. i think genko or something like that $15.
also bought the aluminum sunroof hinges. dont think these will ever break now !
the last cable was oem. it opened up exposing the inner cable right at the access hole which leads to the front wheel. it was all rusted out ??? no major angled bends, i had a nice curve on the cable with no interference.