CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Questions/Support/Help

Recabling Gears

(11 posts)
  • Started 12 years ago by Uberuce
  • Latest reply from Uberuce
  • This topic is resolved

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  1. Uberuce
    Member

    The derailleur cables on the new MTB tractor were made entirely of rust and snapped during its maiden voyage. Well, not maiden voyage since I limped it across town with a front brake that I couldn't adjust properly on the hoof due to lack of teeny Allan. Maiden voyage once a decade or so of stairwell dust was removed and the brakes tuned up, anyway.

    I've YouTubed the recabling procedure and it seems pretty idiotproof, but I am not a pretty idiot, thus I will hold off doing it until asking here: are there any newbie mistakes likely to nobble me?

    Posted 12 years ago #

  2. Claggy Cog
    Member

    What sort of shifters do you have. Some gripshift ones are rather confusing and access to put a new cable in may seem a little, shall we say, difficult to work out, entailing the removal of the thing off the handlebars. I would give yourself a couple of hours, if not longer, for a first go. Also once the cable is fitted it is then working out the indexing etc on the derailleur itself. Also front or back derailleur. If one cable is in that sort of state and you have two then I would recommend doing both!!

    Posted 12 years ago #

  3. crowriver
    Member

    You may need new cable outers too, indeed probably recommended if the cables were in a bad state.

    I had a gear cable snap on my hybrid last weekend: it was 'fun' hauling No.1 son on the tagalong with only the highest gear in operation...

    EZfire shifters a bit easier to recable than twist shifters. I found that the rear indexing 'just works' as long as the cable tension is good.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  4. Uberuce
    Member

    It was a respectable device, back in ~2002; Deore XT thumb shifters and V-brakes, Hope hubs, Mavic rims and a Cannondale frame that's pretty light.

    The outers are indeed completely horsed, so I got the Shimano MTB brake cabling set, which has all of it. Given the state of the gear cables, I gave the brake cabling a look, but it seems okay. They're still fit to toss me over the handlebars, anyway.

    I don't have a pair of dedicated cable cutters, but my pliers did a neat enough job on the non-rusty bits of the old ones when I was testing them for that purpose. Had to crush down on the plier handles like a captain, but that's my idea of fun anyway, so woohoo.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  5. kaputnik
    Moderator

    Buy a Jagwire MTB cabling kit in colour of choice. Other providers are available, but I've only ever been well impressed with quality, price and ease of installing the Jagwires. I think Anth agreed after his last experience with them.

    Borrow cable/housing cutters/crimpers and install
    Alternatively take to bike station and borrow said tools.

    I've only ever usually ruined new cables pushing them through old outers...
    I've only ever ruined new outers pushing old cables through them...

    Regular pliers work, but far more prone to mashing the outers and fraying the cables. I'm sure you can manage with fingers and teeth though Bruce ;)

    Posted 12 years ago #

  6. Uberuce
    Member

    Anyway got a spare pair I can borrow tonight? Better safe than sorry, eee tee see.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  7. Claggy Cog
    Member

    Sorry no I don't. Agree though that you really do need proper cable cutters, particularly for the outers. Good luck. It is very satisfying once done though, all your own work. Here is an opportunity to get totally colour co-ordinated too!!

    Posted 12 years ago #

  8. Roibeard
    Member

    I've got a pair, but they're in the Inch at the moment, so if you need them tonight, that may involve a little logistics...

    Robert

    Posted 12 years ago #

  9. cb
    Member

    I've used a hacksaw before with fairly good results, but I think a decent cable cutter would be much better.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  10. Uberuce
    Member

    Cheers, Roibeard!

    I'd like to have the tractor roadworthy before the bogie arrives, but I believe that's still a few days hence, so the wiggle room tomorrow's school day off gives me ample time to drop in for the borrowing, assuming it's not a Uni worky holiday too.

    If it is, I am planning a bike excursion that passes close by the Inch tomorrow anyway.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  11. Uberuce
    Member

    I used mindless crushing over smarts, which worked out rather well, fingers crossed.

    Posted 12 years ago #

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