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Frozen throttle cable
Posted: Sun Jan 09, 2022 8:30 pm
by Jancoe
What does everyone use when they need to lube a throttle cable? Mine had water in it. Probably an ounce or two worth. Enough to make big problem at 10f trying to snow blow. Tore it out, dried it and lubed it with Gibbs penetrating oil. I used motor oil before on one and that worked good. The cable is missing the rubber grommet on the end at the lever to stop the water so I added some heat shrink tubing to help seal it off. May need to replace the cable. Will see how it works out.

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Re: Frozen throttle cable
Posted: Sun Jan 09, 2022 8:54 pm
by Spike188
Jancoe, the heat shrink addition sound like a great idea. Another is to slice a piece of inner tube or rubber and slide it over the control handle before remounting. That should stop moister from running off the dash and getting to the cable. That will help keep the moister off of the control and cable end. My first 646 had a lot of issues with snow melt during the winter. It would even get water in the engine via the air cleaner cover bolt. Then water find its way into the cylinder and freeze. A small cookie sheet inverted over the air cleaner corrected that problem.
It is hard to see but the early 646 tractors have a wire mesh opening across the top of the hood.
Spike
Re: Frozen throttle cable
Posted: Sun Jan 09, 2022 8:58 pm
by Spike188
Here is a better picture of the 646 with mesh opening in the hood.
They were not built for outdoor storage.
Spike
Re: Frozen throttle cable
Posted: Mon Jan 10, 2022 1:15 am
by Gordy
There almost always seems to be a dip or low spot in the cables. With those plastic covered cables, the best thing that works for me is to remove a inch or so x 1/8" of the plastic from the bottom of the cable in the lowest spot, this lets the water drain out.
Gordy
Re: Frozen throttle cable
Posted: Mon Jan 10, 2022 5:34 am
by propane1
I have heard to put engine anti freeze on them. And better yet, a bit of work, is to take them off the tractor and soak them in the anti freeze. Really to bad that this stuff couldn’t be run by rods, like a Farmall tractor. On my LGT 100 Ford aka, Grunt, it’s throttle is all moved by rods.
Noel
Re: Frozen throttle cable
Posted: Mon Jan 10, 2022 7:15 am
by Harry
In the past I have taken the cable out of the sheath and cleaned it good. The lubed it with transmission fluid, and put it back in. Then put a rubber hose over it. Just my two cents to a solution to a problem!
Keep the Peace
Harry
Re: Frozen throttle cable
Posted: Mon Jan 10, 2022 7:51 am
by DavidBarkey
@Jancoe This one is a sure cure . Now it involves removing the cable assembly. Slip a 1/4" clear hose over (food grade available at hardware stores ect. , don't use fuel grade the alh. in it will eat the fuel hose) . Leave long at carb end for now . Using a small squirt bottle like additive come in force concentrate antifreeze in the open end . When it start leaking out the lever end clamp off with zip tie . Finish topping off and zip tie around cable back far enough that can be reinstalled and now remove the excess from carb end . Some excess will leak out so put a rag under the carb end over night .
Hope this helps guys
Dave
Re: Frozen throttle cable
Posted: Tue Jan 11, 2022 11:23 am
by ssmewing
They make cable lube that has a special gizmo to get the cable filled with lube. You have to buy with the gizmo the first time. It clamps onto either end and the can of spray lube forces the lube all the way through the cable. Usually, you only have to do that once during the life of the cable. Unless the cable has a lot of rust in it. Then it has to be replaced. You cannot just lube rust and water and expect that to work.
Re: Frozen throttle cable
Posted: Tue Jan 11, 2022 11:34 am
by Eugen
Good topic, as the choke cable on my 644 always gets frozen. I never took the time to look for a fix. Good suggestions here guys, much appreciated!

Re: Frozen throttle cable
Posted: Tue Jan 11, 2022 12:47 pm
by DavidBarkey
ssmewing wrote: ↑Tue Jan 11, 2022 11:23 am
They make cable lube that has a special gizmo to get the cable filled with lube. You have to buy with the gizmo the first time. It clamps onto either end and the can of spray lube forces the lube all the way through the cable. Usually, you only have to do that once during the life of the cable. Unless the cable has a lot of rust in it. Then it has to be replaced. You cannot just lube rust and water and expect that to work.
Steve , Can you upload link to said gizmo?
Thanks
Dave
Re: Frozen throttle cable
Posted: Tue Jan 11, 2022 1:06 pm
by Eugen
For what it's worth this product is very popular with folks that are into adventure motorcycling like going through mud, water, forest, desert. I have used it on my bike chain.
https://www.lowes.ca/product/lubricant ... ver-332363
I gotta find mine and try it on the choke cable that always seems to freeze.
I should say it's very liquid and penetrative when sprayed but then it gets like a dry wax.
Re: Frozen throttle cable
Posted: Tue Jan 11, 2022 8:11 pm
by Harry
Eugen wrote: ↑Tue Jan 11, 2022 1:06 pm
For what it's worth this product is very popular with folks that are into adventure motorcycling like going through mud, water, forest, desert. I have used it on my bike chain.
https://www.lowes.ca/product/lubricant ... ver-332363
I gotta find mine and try it on the choke cable that always seems to freeze.
I should say it's very liquid and penetrative when sprayed but then it gets like a dry wax.
A25650F2-F15A-44A0-B3AF-3269119A9C35.jpeg
700ED33A-24DD-468C-83D3-393BEC6242FA.jpeg
I have used a product for chain drive openers on garage doors. It seems to cline to the chain and not get thrown off when the chain spins.
Keep the Peace
Harry
Re: Frozen throttle cable
Posted: Tue Jan 11, 2022 11:20 pm
by Gordy
DavidBarkey wrote: ↑Tue Jan 11, 2022 12:47 pm
ssmewing wrote: ↑Tue Jan 11, 2022 11:23 am
They make cable lube that has a special gizmo to get the cable filled with lube. You have to buy with the gizmo the first time. It clamps onto either end and the can of spray lube forces the lube all the way through the cable. Usually, you only have to do that once during the life of the cable. Unless the cable has a lot of rust in it. Then it has to be replaced. You cannot just lube rust and water and expect that to work.
Steve , Can you upload link to said gizmo?
Thanks
Dave
Here are several to choose from.
https://www.google.com/search?q=cable+l ... e&ie=UTF-8
Gordy
Re: Frozen throttle cable
Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2022 10:27 am
by Eugen
I like the idea of heat shrink tube jacket for the cable spiral.
I don't know about that gizmo @Gordy , some people say it doesn't seal enough. I suppose it's more of a funnel not something that holds to pressure.
But. I'm thinking a piece of 1/4" or 1/8" fuel line over the end of the cable clamped on both sides with hose clamps and a small piercing through which you insert the thin spray nozzle. Together with the heat shrink tube the lube would travel up the cable all the way to the top. Thoughts?
I will do that and report.
Re: Frozen throttle cable
Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2022 11:07 am
by Eugen
I found another one that seems to be more like what I was thinking. This the type that Steve's probably talking about.
https://www.motionpro.com/product/08-0609
Re: Frozen throttle cable
Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2022 11:56 am
by ssmewing
Gordy wrote: ↑Tue Jan 11, 2022 11:20 pm
DavidBarkey wrote: ↑Tue Jan 11, 2022 12:47 pm
ssmewing wrote: ↑Tue Jan 11, 2022 11:23 am
They make cable lube that has a special gizmo to get the cable filled with lube. You have to buy with the gizmo the first time. It clamps onto either end and the can of spray lube forces the lube all the way through the cable. Usually, you only have to do that once during the life of the cable. Unless the cable has a lot of rust in it. Then it has to be replaced. You cannot just lube rust and water and expect that to work.
Steve , Can you upload link to said gizmo?
Thanks
Dave
Here are several to choose from.
https://www.google.com/search?q=cable+l ... e&ie=UTF-8
Gordy
Gordy has shown how easy Google is to use. The exact one that I have had for over 10 years is this one.
https://www.amazon.com/Motion-Pro-08-01 ... 0593&psc=1
Re: Frozen throttle cable
Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2022 12:01 pm
by ssmewing
Eugen wrote: ↑Wed Jan 12, 2022 11:07 am
I found another one that seems to be more like what I was thinking. This the type that Steve's probably talking about.
https://www.motionpro.com/product/08-0609
Screen Shot 2022-01-12 at 10.55.40.png
Screen Shot 2022-01-12 at 10.56.47.png
Screen Shot 2022-01-12 at 11.06.54.png
That is a very fancy one that allows you to pull the seal off the end of the cable and still force lube into the cable. On a cable that is not frozen or rusted inside, the cable lube will easily flow out of the other end of the cable. If it does not flow all the way through you may have to replace it.
Still, if you have a lot of rust in the cable it will not get fixed with lube.
Re: Frozen throttle cable
Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2022 12:47 pm
by Eugen
Yes Steve, google is easy to use but it's better to go by what recommends someone that has used a product for many years. The one you have seems to be the old version of cable luber from Motion Pro. The one I found seems to be their most current incarnation. I read a lot of reviews on amazon for the one you have and quite a few people complained about it. But if you found it good enough that is a good point of info.