Best way to "unstick" choke / choke cable?

[chandlerbingfl]

I've had some issues w/ my GZ getting hard to start. I think I have it pinned down to needing a battery but the major concern I have now is the Choke. The lever will not move at all, will not even budge. I removed the choke mechanism from the carb and everything looks ok but the plunger will not move as the cable is frozen / stuck.... I think the cable is frozen somewhere down the line due to lack of use. I've owned the bike since 2010 when I bought it slightly used w/ ~1200 miles on the odometer and rarely if ever use the choke.

Since it looks like the cable itself is "sealed" any way to lubricate it somehow? Is the cable hard to replace?

Thanks in advance!
Chandler

[blaine]

You can try to get some penetrating oil down the cable to free it up.But when it is seized that badly,I would just replace it.Cheap,and not hard to replace.
:cool:

[Meme]

I agree that a new cable is probably your best bet.

I had a frozen cable on an old Honda that I freed up with penetrating oil. It took about an hour of my time to free up and then about 4 hours of my time 2 weeks later when it broke on me. :retard:

[5th_bike]

FWIW the cable is not 'sealed' - you can unscrew the metal thing at the handlebar that the cable comes out, screw in the cable tensioner and then you can drip oil into the cable.

[Water Warrior 2]

In the past I have had very good results using automatic transmission fluid instead of oil. It seems to penetrate very well and lubricate enough to do the job.

[chandlerbingfl]

Thanks for all the input... I did drop some oil into the cable at the end that screws into the side of the carb and it does move a bit more... so I'm going to give it another day or so. If that doesn't resolve it I'll just grab another cable.

Thanks!!
Chandler

[Water Warrior 2]

Originally Posted by chandlerbingfl

Thanks for all the input... I did drop some oil into the cable at the end that screws into the side of the carb and it does move a bit more... so I'm going to give it another day or so. If that doesn't resolve it I'll just grab another cable.

Thanks!!
Chandler

You should also try to introduce some oil at the upper end where the lever is on the left grip. It will eventually flow down and lube the entire cable.