Click on image for the lowdown. 
====
| | | Forums66 Topics128,088 Posts1,056,113 Members48,434 | | Most Online14,466
Apr 26th, 2026 | | AD Chevy Trucks  Over 6,000 pictures Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips. Check them out!
Lots of work on Brad's part ... pure enjoyment (and references) for you!
| | THANKS!
For helping keep this great
old truck web site
on the Internet for over 30 years! and not clogged down
with Ads!  Again, thanks!
| | | | Joined: Jun 2006 Posts: 693 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jun 2006 Posts: 693 | Any recommendations on the best lubricant to improve a hard-to-pull/sticky choke cable? its the spiral wire wound type. I have Fluid Film, PB Blaster, lithium grease, WD-40, light machine oil, motor oil, grease, bicycle chain lube, powdered graphite., etc., all available like most garages. Looking for something that smooths out the operation but is less likely to attract crud. thanks | | | | | Joined: Sep 2012 Posts: 222 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Sep 2012 Posts: 222 | I had a similar problem and finally found some silicone spray that did the trick. Dave V | | | | | Joined: Sep 2017 Posts: 135 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Sep 2017 Posts: 135 | I think most everyone uses something different, I personally like garage door lubricant. (Lithium) | | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 | I stay away from silicone compounds/treatments/mixtures around my trucks/garages.
It is hard to keep them from contaminating/ruining future paint jobs. | | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,795 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,795 | KROIL has a spray lube that contains graphite. ("Penephite") It will penetrate the spiral wound sheath around the cable and creep into areas other lubes won't. www.kanolabs.comJerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln
Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt!
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway
Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2006 Posts: 693 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jun 2006 Posts: 693 | | | | | | Joined: Apr 2008 Posts: 899 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Apr 2008 Posts: 899 | I recently purchased some small diameter clear vinyl tubing and encased the throttle and choke cables with it. Did take some massaging to get it on but I think it will help prevent having to clean and relubricate them over and over.
Ed
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2016 Posts: 1,989 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Feb 2016 Posts: 1,989 | If the inner wire is rusty you can take it out and use sandpaper to help smooth it out, run the wire lengthwise through the paper and clean it well, then lube the wire before you push it back through the housing.
1957 Chevrolet 5700 LCF 283 SM420 2 speed rear, 1955 IH 300U T/A, 1978 Corvette 350 auto, 1978 Yamaha DT175, 1999 Harley Davidson Softail Fat Boy
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2006 Posts: 693 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jun 2006 Posts: 693 | i will check for rust on the inner wire, thanks | | | | | Joined: Jun 2011 Posts: 5,096 Crusing in the Passing Lane | | Crusing in the Passing Lane Joined: Jun 2011 Posts: 5,096 | Plastic tube keeps the water out that rusts the innards and wire.
Ed
'37 GMC T-18 w/ DD 4-53T, RTO-610, 6231 aux., '95 GMC running gear, full disc brakes, power steering, 22.5 wheels and tires.
'47 GMC 1 ton w/ 302, NP-540, 4wd, full width Blazer front axle.
'54 GMC 630 w/ 503 gasser, 5 speed, ex fire truck, shortened WB 4', install 8' bed.
'55 GMC 370 w/270, 420 4 speed, grain, dump bed truck from ND. Works OK.
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2001 Posts: 1,517 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Nov 2001 Posts: 1,517 | | | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 | Gibbs Oil is a good choice - no silicone. "Gibbs will replace all the other lubricant, penetrant and degreaser products you use, including white lithium grease, silicone, teflon, contact cleaner, carburetor cleaner and belt dressing … as well as any vinyl, leather and wood treatment products … and that saves you a whole lot of money!" "Since 1969, when Paul Gibbs (a Harley-Davidson mechanic with a background in chemistry) invented Gibbs Brand, no one has ever expressed dissatisfaction and no one has ever returned a single can." http://www.getgibbs.com/ | | | | | Joined: Jun 2006 Posts: 693 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jun 2006 Posts: 693 | OP here. to close out this thread, i did get some Penephite and used that. I removed the cable from its sheath to clean it up, then sprayed the Penephite in the hollow end (both sides). I did observe the Penephite creep its way to the outside of the spiral. After reassembly, it worked smooth as silk, | | | | | Joined: Jan 2000 Posts: 734 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2000 Posts: 734 | Motorcycle cable lube, because that's what I have on hand. Works well.
Matthew 6:33 1952 Chevy 1/2-ton 3100 Late '55 235/SM420/torque tube 3.55 Dalton Highway survivor (using original 216) www.truckwithaheart.com | | |
|
|
