Lubricating cables.

[Laysula]

My morse control cables and the engine stop cable are a little bit stiff. What do I lubricate them with? Is 3 in1 oil ok?

 

[Tranona]

Morse controls do not need lubrication. Stop cables are normal simple Bowden types which do benefit from 3 in 1 oiling.

 

[rotrax]

What Tranona says is correct. The Morse cables have a nylon inner which gives a low friction surface for the inner to slide on. Conventional Bowden is multi strand but some stop cables are stiff piano wire type.
Check the sliding surfaces at the button end of the stop cable. First Mate complained that the stop cable on the previous boat was stiff. A couple of drops of 3 in 1 on the larger diameter part that pulled out fixed that.

Sometimes the nylon inner sheath of Morse cable swells. The ingress of rain or seawater causes this as the material is hygroscopic. This "grabs" the inner and causes stiffness, as can tight routing.

Perhaps disconecting both ends of each Morse cable and pulling by hand may give a clue-only one may be stiff'

Good luck.

 

[fisherman]

Sometimes the nylon inner sheath of Morse cable swells. The ingress of rain or seawater causes this as the material is hygroscopic. This "grabs" the inner and causes stiffness, as can tight routing.



Good luck.

This came up a while back and a cable supplier and fitter said turns should be 9in radius. I have to change cables often when they fracture due to stiffness, and the swelling nylon issue seems likely. I often wonder if a greasing fitting could be made. I've tried everything, including clamping a tube on the end and pouring diesel down it, but no effect.

 

[davidpbo]

When I posted recently about trailer brake cables it was mentioned that oil could react with some cable linings.

Original Posting

 

[lw395]

I think most Morse/Teleflex cables are nylon lined.
3 in 1 is not good with nylon, particularly if it's tight already.
Silicone would be better.

 

[sarabande]

Rather than pouring oil in at the top end, and relying on gravity overcoming the fluid resistance would it be better to arrange to suck oil/silicone up from the lower end with a suction cleaner taped to the disconnected top end ?

 

[Skylark]

Hi Steve,

I recall that the morse on Nick's boat failed after about 10 years (of no lubrication, of course). With that I mind I spent a cathartic few hours during the summer liberally greasing the outer cables of mine. Greasing the engine and gearbox ends is part of my routine winter service.

Motorcycle cables are oiled as part of a service routine and, iirc, a Scotts Oiler does the job a treat. It's a bit like a bike pump and pushes oil between inner and outer.

If you were still a North Wales sailor I'd happily lend you mine but since the pair of you have gone soft and migrated to the south coast................

Cheers,

 

[Humblebee]

Long time since I rode a motorbike but there were devices that used a bicycle pump to force oil down the inside of a cable. I googled "motorcycle cable oiler" and came up with quite a few, some of which might meet your needs.

 

[Tranona]

Stop cable stiffness is often corrosion on the solid end in the cockpit. So pulling it out, cleaning it and oiling usually works to free it up.

 

[macd]

Motorcycle cables are oiled as part of a service routine and, iirc, a Scotts Oiler does the job a treat. It's a bit like a bike pump and pushes oil between inner and outer.

Maybe back in the day, but now they're nylon or teflon lined. Lubrication is not recommended, although if you must use a very light oil such as WD40.

Whatever you're thinking of it's not a Scottoiler, which is a fixed lubrication system -- for final drive chains. There are little clamp-on gizmos for persuading oil into motorcycle Bowden cables, but see above.

 

[fisherman]

Since my cables which have their ends behind the wheelhouse lining and in the engine room have survived for twenty years, while those with ends outside need changing every two or three at most we can take it that wet is the problem. I suppose keeping the outside end sheath greased might keep the wet out.

 

[davidpbo]

I replaced the Bowden cables on my trailer with ones with stainless steel cable inners, although the outers were still the same construction. Don't know whether morse cables are already SS inners, I think the ones to the engine I fitted this year may be. Might that help if they are?

 

[No Regrets]

I lubricated one of my Volvo cables whilst waiting for a replacement arrive for the other one which broke. I used Bluetac to make a funnel and just let it soak down.

The difference was, and still is (2 yrs later) amazing, with the old lubricated cable being at least if not better than the new one!

Well worth a punt!

 

[Skylark]

Whatever you're thinking of it's not a Scottoiler, which is a fixed lubrication system -- for final drive chains. There are little clamp-on gizmos for persuading oil into motorcycle Bowden cables...........

Ah yes, you're quite right, not a Scottoiler. I was referring to a "Remoh 4-star hydraulic action cable oiler". Supplied by Motor Cycle Accessories of Aston, Birmingham. Not used it for a while so had to search for it.

Steve, the OP, is reporting that the Morse control has stiffened. Surely putting oil into the cable and grease around the control lever mechanism can do no harm and more than likely will improve matters.

 

[Tranona]

Steve, the OP, is reporting that the Morse control has stiffened. Surely putting oil into the cable and grease around the control lever mechanism can do no harm and more than likely will improve matters.

It is more likely to be the mechanism than the cable that needs cleaning and greasing.