Motion Pro got me down

[musiclucho]

Hi guys,

I come to the forum only ocasionally but this time with some advice of my experience with Motion Pro Lube and Motion pro Cable luber.

When I started riding my bike last December, noticed the clutch cable was hard to pull. I lived with that for a time and after some months decided it was time to lube it. There was no apparent signs of rust and the cable was not pinched and although it was the original (the bike is a 2003), I did not feel the need to replace it. So, after looking for some info in the internet, I decided to buy Motion Pro Lube and the Lubing tool. In the videos, it seemed like a piece of cake so why not?

First impression it was that the tool was easy to use so I did not need to take the cable off of the bike. WRONG! The fluid did not want to come inside and there was a huge mess all over the bars and tank. OK, I took the tank off and so the cable off of the bike. Try to lube it with the cable straight but same results. Nothing came inside. The cable itself was locked inside the cable housing. I tried every single trick I saw on youtube and finally put some liquid inside by making a funnel and leaving gravity to work for one day. Then back to the bike and exercise the lever thousands of times. It gave me the impression that was getting softer so I was happy with that.

Rode it for a week or so, and noticed that I was no longer able to rev the bike because the clutch would slipped. I was able to go no high than 3000 revs but because I had to work every day, I rode the bike 2 weeks like that. I was first afraid that the clutch discs needed to be replaced but the trutch was that the cable was not returning all the way. If before was locked, now it was freezed. It seemed that the motion pro just made a messy plug inside it.

Finally, decided to get a new cable. In 10 mins the problem was solved!!!

Moral of this fable? I will never try to unlock an old cable again. I spent over 25 dollars on the motion pro lube and the stupid tool (and useless) and got the cable for about 15, new.

I have the old cable so I will maybe try some experiements with it...maybe kerosene or gasoline will unclog the mess inside. Any ideas? Just to see what would have work....but just for fun!

Saludos!

 

[thedub]

Lubrication is preventative maintenance, not a repair. Once the condition of a cable gets so bad that the lever is hard to pull, no amount of lube is going to save it. It might improve it temporarily, but as you have already discovered, it's time for a new cable. Live and learn, now you know not to waste the time and just replace the part.

Which style cable luber did you get? I agree that this tool isn't so great: https://www.motionpro.com/product/08-0182 It eventually gets lube into the cable, but it also gets lube every where else and makes a huge mess.

They have a new version with a totally different design, https://www.motionpro.com/product/08-0609 maybe that works better, I haven't tried it yet.

 

[bpw]

Modern cables don't need lube since they are teflon lined. The lining was probably worn through and nothing will fix that. Trying to lube it probably just created a gooey mess in there.

By modern I mean basically anything made in the last 30 years, even OEM replacement cables for my 1965 BMW say not to lubricate.

 

[ST Guy]

It's also entirely possible that one or more of the cable strands broke and were hanging up on the inside. No lube will fix that.

 

[musiclucho]

Which style cable luber did you get? I agree that this tool isn't so great: https://www.motionpro.com/product/08-0182 It eventually gets lube into the cable, but it also gets lube every where else and makes a huge mess.

I've got this one and I am really dissapointed with that. A funnel with a plastic bag work the same or even better than that 9 dollar "tool".

The truth is that I looked information on stuck cables (not just lubing)...mostly Youtube, to be honest and some of them coming from apparently good advisers like MC Garage or Delboy's Garage. It is also hard to know how is the condition of the cable inside, when it does not show bent signs or deterioration. But anyways...better new than spending more money on trying to fix it.

 

[johnkol]

I've got this one and I am really dissapointed with that.

It depends on the cable. I have used that same tool for more than 20 years on multiple bikes and it has always worked great. However, all these bikes were either dirt or dual sport. When I recently tried to lube the clutch cable on my CBR, no lubricant could go through; maybe construction of road bike cables is too tight for lubricant to penetrate?

 

[Busy Little Shop]

Modern cables don't need lube since they are teflon lined. The lining was probably worn through and nothing will fix that. Trying to lube it probably just created a gooey mess in there.

By modern I mean basically anything made in the last 30 years, even OEM replacement cables for my 1965 BMW say not to lubricate.

I agree... modern Teflon lined cables don't require lube... like Ben said the grease
will mix with dirt and create grit that will saw through the Teflon quicker than if
it were dry... to gain back the smooth operation plan on new cables...

 

[kxmike]

It depends on the cable. I have used that same tool for more than 20 years on multiple bikes and it has always worked great. However, all these bikes were either dirt or dual sport. When I recently tried to lube the clutch cable on my CBR, no lubricant could go through; maybe construction of road bike cables is too tight for lubricant to penetrate?

I've used the same tool for about 20 yrs too and I love it. Haven't had problems using it on street bikes either.

 

[ontherearwheel]

According to motion pro site, the only cables they sell pre lubed are speedo and tach cables. Their clutch and throttle cables need to be lubed.

And it does make a difference even on new cables. I replaced two clutch cables from them dry. The pull from both felt the same, smooth but kinda stiff.

Lubed them both........made a big difference in pull.....still smooth, but not near as stiff feeling.

FWIW...........

 

[Tri750]

I haven't used my cable lube tool for years. An old guy got me using Bike Aid by Dri Slide.
It's graphite in an evaporating carrier. You shake it up, put the applicator needle between the inner cable and the shiny ferrule and squeeze the bottle for about a 10-15 count. The liquid runs down the cable and the carrier evaporates.
The mix is so thin, you can watch it wick down the cable.
It's about 20.00 for a 4oz bottle but unless you lose the bottle or run it over, it will last for years and years.
After lubing, grease the pivot barrel and reinstall the cable end.

 

[ST Guy]

I have that same Motion Pro tool and it's worked just fine every time I used it.

As for PTFE lined cable housings, they generally work great but I've always seen an improvement in reduced friction and longer life if I lube them. The best lube will have some moly in it.

 

[brichter]

Lubrication is preventative maintenance, not a repair. Once the condition of a cable gets so bad that the lever is hard to pull, no amount of lube is going to save it. It might improve it temporarily, but as you have already discovered, it's time for a new cable. Live and learn, now you know not to waste the time and just replace the part.

:thumbup

Changing the oil after the rod bearing starts knocking usually doesn't work, either. :teeth