Lubricating carburetor linkage and slides

Patton wrote:

bluej58 wrote: ... lithium under the grip....

Shouldn't need any grease on the handlebar under the throttle sleeve.
A clean dry fit should allow ample clearance and free rotation.

The grease is used inside the throttle housing where the cable ends and ferrules are located.

Good Fortune!

Actually, some grease under the grip sleeve where the it rotates on the handlebars is recommended in the Kawasaki Service Manual.

Thanks, Ed!

The FSM for '77~'79 KZ1000 also shows greasing between the throttle sleeve and handlebar.

The FSM for '73Z1~'76 KZ900 doesn't mention grease in the area when reassembling the housing after replacing throttle cables, or anywhere else as far as I can tell. And the lube page shows grease on the ferrules area, and not on the handlebar.




Am uncertain about the prescribed need for grease on large Kaw fours' handlebars after 1976, or other KZ models, which seems would create some minimal drag between the parts as compared to a grease free fitment with sufficient clearance.

My preference, where feasible, would be less yuk and no drag. But where fitment might be tight enough to require grease, so be it.

The throttle sleeves on my Z1 and KZ900 are installed clean and dry, and operate smoothly, effortlessly, and friction-free, without grease. There's ample clearance between throttle sleeve and handlebar, and never any issue with the carb springs easily returning the throttle grip to closed position.

Just guessing, but maybe the grease is to help avoid rust build-up in the area.
Or perhaps related to whether composition of the throttle sleeve is metal or non-metallic (some kind of plastic).

Good Fortune!