Pro tip- lube the cable!

The Evil Twin

Well-known member

Equipment
L2501, LA526,
Jul 19, 2022
2,865
2,913
113
Virginia
Well, at 83 hours, the infamous tach cable broke on my 2501. At $31 and 15 minutes to repair, it was not worth loading it up and leaving it at the dealer for a week. Probably a good thing, too. I noticed the old cable was pretty dry. Rusty as well. So I checked the new one. Also pretty dry.
20230829_181526.jpg


20230829_182157.jpg
The old one broke at the tightest bend about 3" from the fuel pump.
It appears to be simple silicone grease they used judging from the tiny blob on the tip. So, I gave it a good slathering and shoved the cable back in the sheath. Will it make a difference? We shall see at 168 hours. Lol.
20230829_183246.jpg

Oh, and don't worry. I used Japanese grease. Yamaha cable lube. 🤣
 
  • Like
  • Haha
Reactions: 6 users

lynnmor

Well-known member

Equipment
B2601-1
May 3, 2021
1,452
1,172
113
Red Lion
In the good old days you could go to any auto parts store and buy speedometer cable lube, now they give you a blank stare. Do you have a photo or part number of the Yamaha lube?
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user

The Evil Twin

Well-known member

Equipment
L2501, LA526,
Jul 19, 2022
2,865
2,913
113
Virginia
In the good old days you could go to any auto parts store and buy speedometer cable lube, now they give you a blank stare. Do you have a photo or part number of the Yamaha lube?
You can go to any Yamaha dealer- motorsport or marine and get it. Also online. There are other versions. Motion Pro, Cable Master, etc. that are essentially the same thing.

If it were a graphite type lube to begin with, then I would have used Dri Slide. That's what I use for the throttle cables.
 

skeets

Well-known member

Equipment
BX 2360 /B2601
Oct 2, 2009
14,617
3,449
113
SW Pa
Sounds like a Harley clutch cable ,,lol
 
  • Like
  • Haha
Reactions: 1 users

skeets

Well-known member

Equipment
BX 2360 /B2601
Oct 2, 2009
14,617
3,449
113
SW Pa
I keep telling Harleys dont leak oil,,, they mark their territories ;)
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 users

Jasonized

Active member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
L3902, LA526, box scraper, grapple, pallet forks, tree ripper, lane shark 3
May 16, 2023
153
42
28
California coast
Is this something I should look at for my 3902?
 

cthomas

Well-known member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
LX2610 HSDC
Jan 1, 2017
865
580
93
La Farge Wi
And I was disappointed with the Mule 2510 that is a 2002 with 2156 miles on it when the speedometer cable failed. And yes I used pro-motion cable lube about once a decade before it failed.
 

The Evil Twin

Well-known member

Equipment
L2501, LA526,
Jul 19, 2022
2,865
2,913
113
Virginia
And I was disappointed with the Mule 2510 that is a 2002 with 2156 miles on it when the speedometer cable failed. And yes I used pro-motion cable lube about once a decade before it failed.
Shoot, my 1981 BMW has 64000 miles and the original cable.
 

The Evil Twin

Well-known member

Equipment
L2501, LA526,
Jul 19, 2022
2,865
2,913
113
Virginia
If it does take a dump soon, I may just pit a hour meter on it and call it good. Maybe go crazy and hook up a tach to the #1 injector of its electronically fired.
 

Runs With Scissors

Well-known member

Equipment
L2501 TLB , Grappel, Brush Hog, Box Blade, Ballast box, Forks, Tiller, PH digger
Jan 25, 2023
2,510
2,912
113
Michigan
Well, at 83 hours, the infamous tach cable broke on my 2501. At $31 and 15 minutes to repair, it was not worth loading it up and leaving it at the dealer for a week. Probably a good thing, too. I noticed the old cable was pretty dry. Rusty as well. So I checked the new one. Also pretty dry.
View attachment 110330

View attachment 110329 The old one broke at the tightest bend about 3" from the fuel pump.
It appears to be simple silicone grease they used judging from the tiny blob on the tip. So, I gave it a good slathering and shoved the cable back in the sheath. Will it make a difference? We shall see at 168 hours. Lol.
View attachment 110331
Oh, and don't worry. I used Japanese grease. Yamaha cable lube. 🤣
Mine lasted ~120 hours before it 'gave up the ghost'.

I believe the the way they route it makes a difference.

When they replaced mine, I made sure to "cut" the zip tie so that it made a "larger sweeping" bend vs. the sharp bend from the factory.

I also have some Yamalube laying around for my lovely Yami's

IMG-20210605-WA0003.jpeg



IMG-20210605-WA0004.jpeg
 
  • Wow
  • Haha
Reactions: 1 users

The Evil Twin

Well-known member

Equipment
L2501, LA526,
Jul 19, 2022
2,865
2,913
113
Virginia
Honda Moly Paste is my go-to for these type applications. It's messy but works great.
I actually have that and use it frequently on the Yami *gasp!* I can't even order that stuff online without getting it all over me. 🤣
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user

The Evil Twin

Well-known member

Equipment
L2501, LA526,
Jul 19, 2022
2,865
2,913
113
Virginia
Mine lasted ~120 hours before it 'gave up the ghost'.

I believe the the way they route it makes a difference.

When they replaced mine, I made sure to "cut" the zip tie so that it made a "larger sweeping" bend vs. the sharp bend from the factory.

I also have some Yamalube laying around for my lovely Yami's

View attachment 110370


View attachment 110371
It's a poor design, but they were trying to meet a price point I suppose. I did try to increase the radius of that initial bend some. I wish they would have just put a hall effect sensor there and ran wires.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user