The BSA A7-A10 Forum

Technical (Descriptive Topic Titles - Stay on Topic) => Frame => Topic started by: Greybeard on 17.07. 2019 11:20

Title: Got a cable oiler?
Post by: Greybeard on 17.07. 2019 11:20
I would like recommendations for a cable oiler, please.
Title: Re: Got a cable oiler?
Post by: bikerbob on 17.07. 2019 11:43
The one I use is made by Doherty and have no complaints if you type this number into ebay 113019282211 you will see it listed or just put cable oiler into motorcycle parts on ebay and you will get a selection of different types.
Title: Re: Got a cable oiler?
Post by: Greybeard on 17.07. 2019 11:52
The one I use is made by Doherty and have no complaints if you type this number into ebay 113019282211 you will see it listed or just put cable oiler into motorcycle parts on ebay and you will get a selection of different types.
Thanks, Bob. There seem to be two types; that design and a small block thing with a rubber sleeve inside that clamps sideways to the cable.

I found a video of this tool, that impressed me: https://youtu.be/XbD6wnx3Jc4
Title: Re: Got a cable oiler?
Post by: RogerSB on 17.07. 2019 14:33
Hi GB, I've got one of the universal clamp types. It works ok. (Edit: cost me £6.20 inc postage). Cable ferrule clamped in big end, wire out the small end, tighten firmly to clamp up tight and using the plastic tube from an aerosol can squirt oil into the hole. I use a 3 in 1 aerosol. The idea is that oil can't go anywhere but inside the outer cable (the other hole is to allow air out) but if you squirt too much oil too fast it comes out of that hole also. It doesn't take much to start coming out the bottom of the cable, so  *smile*.

I looked into buying one of those blue 'Motion Pro' oilers, as it looks to be a good tool, but when I was looking it was only available to buy from the USA and then the  postage makes it very, very expensive.
Title: Re: Got a cable oiler?
Post by: Greybeard on 17.07. 2019 18:36
I looked into buying one of those blue 'Motion Pro' oilers, as it looks to be a good tool, but when I was looking it was only available to buy from the USA and then the  postage makes it very, very expensive.
£24 including postage. I've ordered one.
Title: Re: Got a cable oiler?
Post by: coater87 on 18.07. 2019 00:09
 No matter which tool you use for it, its a messy deal.

 I cut a rubber glove finger into a tube and and "bread bag" tie it around the cable. Oil in the finger tube works well, but also messy.

 Lee

Title: Re: Got a cable oiler?
Post by: Greybeard on 18.07. 2019 09:14
No matter which tool you use for it, its a messy deal.
In the video for the 'Motion Pro' oiler it looks very clean.
Title: Re: Got a cable oiler?
Post by: Swarfcut on 18.07. 2019 09:23
Lee...Try sealing the glove finger to the cable with that wad  of chewing gum before you bin it. A dirty habit,  but quite effective. More gross is to  completely form a funnel with chewing gum........or something similar like Blu Tac.  The nozzle from a Silicone Mastic tube, sealed on temporary also makes a good funnel.

 Swarfy.
Title: Re: Got a cable oiler?
Post by: JulianS on 18.07. 2019 09:28
I use a clamp on type with WD40 as the lubricant, it lubricates and also washes out the old lubricant and any accumiulated dust and grit.
Title: Re: Got a cable oiler?
Post by: Greybeard on 18.07. 2019 09:40
I use a clamp on type with WD40 as the lubricant, it lubricates and also washes out the old lubricant and any accumiulated dust and grit.
I thought WD40 is not a good lubricant. What about using aerosol chain lube?
Title: Re: Got a cable oiler?
Post by: Swarfcut on 18.07. 2019 09:49
WD works well with old cables which still retain some dried grease within the outer sheath. Any lubricant is better than none and you can bet the majority of cables were fitted straight from the box dry or with little more than a squirt of oil at each end. Some claimed to have wondrous internal innovations, such as Nylon Lined or MAKOL Lubricated.....whatever that was!

Swarfy.
Title: Re: Got a cable oiler?
Post by: duTch on 18.07. 2019 10:07

 In the '80's I bought one of those things that sounds like Rogers, but never had much luck with it, so much like coater, I make a funnel from a clear plastic and squirt cable oiler into it and let it sit until it comes out the bottom....(potentially) much less messy and cheaper
Title: Re: Got a cable oiler?
Post by: JulianS on 18.07. 2019 10:14
Says it lubricates and cleans on the can.

I use WD40 regularly on my home made cables and have done for a long time, Nice smooth cable as well.

Try it and see what you think.

It will do no harm and if you dont like it you can go back to oil or grease.
Title: Re: Got a cable oiler?
Post by: RogerSB on 18.07. 2019 10:30
What about using aerosol chain lube?

I would think it's too sticky for a cable. I use aerosol chain lub for my rear chain and although it's very thin when you spray it on the chain it seems to get thicker and stickier, after all it's designed not be thrown off the chain easily. For cables you want something thin and slippery.
Title: Re: Got a cable oiler?
Post by: Greybeard on 18.07. 2019 11:20
What about using aerosol chain lube?

I would think it's too sticky for a cable. I use aerosol chain lub for my rear chain and although it's very thin when you spray it on the chain it seems to get thicker and stickier, after all it's designed not be thrown off the chain easily. For cables you want something thin and slippery.
Yes, I know it becomes like grease, but spraying through the cable while it's thin seems possible. No?
Title: Re: Got a cable oiler?
Post by: Rex on 18.07. 2019 11:34
Got one of those hydraulic ones where both ends of the cylinder unscrew. I don't find it messy in the least, and it takes literally 5 minutes to assemble it around the cable, pump the oil through and disassemble.
Can't fault it.
Title: Re: Got a cable oiler?
Post by: RogerSB on 18.07. 2019 11:54
In the '80's I bought one of those things that sounds like Rogers, but never had much luck with it.

Hi Dutch, When I first used mine I had oil pouring out of the bottom of the clamp and none down inside the cable.  I gave up and made a cone with some card wrapped with tape followed by blu-tack. It worked to a certain extent but I remember it being a terrible sticky mess to take off afterwards.

The next time I wanted to oil my cables I looked at the (as I thought was another useless gadget) and then I noticed that the rubber piece inside the metal clamp was actually graduated for 3 different size cables. After fitting my cable in the part that fitted snugly I tightened the clamp and gave it another try . . . and then it worked perfectly.

So the first time I used it,  with no instructions and in my ignorance, I tightened it with the cable in too large a cut out, so it wasn't clamping the cable tightly and the oil ran out the bottom.
Title: Re: Got a cable oiler?
Post by: bsa-bill on 18.07. 2019 12:07
Quote
I tightened it with the cable in too large a cut out

AHA - I have one of these dating back to the sixties, found it in a box year (or two) ago, I tried it and wondered if the rubber bung bit had got hard as it leaked more oil than went into the cable, reading duTch s post I think it maybe came with two different sized rubber bungs, I only have one
Title: Re: Got a cable oiler?
Post by: RogerSB on 18.07. 2019 12:22
Yes, I know it becomes like grease, but spraying through the cable while it's thin seems possible. No?

I'm sure you could easily spray it down inside a cable GB, but I would question if grease is the best thing to lubricate it with? I'm not too sure of that.  I've always thought a light oil like 3 in 1 is the best thing to use for clutch, brakes and throttle.

When I had a motor boat I wanted to fix a throttle lever in the cabin next to the wheel (instead of having to run back and forth to the throttle lever on the engine) and one of my pals, who was a mechanic and worked on buses, got me a cable where the inner cable was enclosed in a circle of stainless wires, and that was inside a normal outer. If I remember correctly it didn't need lubricating but I do remember it was super-smooth in operation. I've no idea what it was called.
Title: Re: Got a cable oiler?
Post by: Gerry on 22.07. 2019 08:21
Hi Guys, I use WD40 until it comes out the end and then use a light oil straight after as the WD40 helps the lighter oil to travel through much faster than if the cable were dry. Works for me. Cheers. Gerry
Title: Re: Got a cable oiler?
Post by: Greybeard on 24.07. 2019 10:52
My Motion Pro Cable Luber arrived this morning from Amazon.com. Total cost was £24.17, which includes Import fee and postage. I saw a YouTube video about this device. I was unable to find one in the UK so looked at Amazon.Com, (USA).

The gizmo appears to be very well made and strong. If the YouTube videos are to be believed it is a cleaner alternative to old-style oilers.

https://youtu.be/XbD6wnx3Jc4?t=481

https://youtu.be/eYgyyjiip6w?t=132

https://youtu.be/CnlGl09dlKo

https://youtu.be/Pvg7uUw15zI?t=19

The last image shows the clever rubber seal that has a spiral gap, allowing the thing to close the seal when assembled.