Need a gear cable

[Chris71]

Broke a gear cable for the first time in my life last week (and ended up doing the next six miles in the granny ring, which was character building). So now I need to ask a bit of a numpty question: How do I know what specification of gear cable I want?

The bike is a Kona Dew Deluxe hybrid running a Shimano system (Deore if I remember correctly). The break is right at the top end by the barrel adjuster, so there may even be enough length remaining to re-attach it. Have to confess I've never needed to fit one before so don't even know how they attach.

[anonymous-user]

Chris71 said:

Broke a gear cable for the first time in my life last week (and ended up doing the next six miles in the granny ring, which was character building). So now I need to ask a bit of a numpty question: How do I know what specification of gear cable I want?

The bike is a Kona Dew Deluxe hybrid running a Shimano system (Deore if I remember correctly). The break is right at the top end by the barrel adjuster, so there may even be enough length remaining to re-attach it. Have to confess I've never needed to fit one before so don't even know how they attach.

they may be enough length but without the nipple at the end you wont have anyhting to prevent it slipping through the shifter. your local shop will have them for £1 or so. thread it through the outer so the nipple stops it going all the way

http://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-help/shift-lev...

this is a good book to learn the basics or your repair bill at your local shop will be sky high... and if anything breaks miles from home....

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bike-Repair-Manual-Chris-S...

[robpearson]

Buy some gore ride on cables- massively overpriced, but you'll never have to worry about them again.

[Jimbo.]

Gear cables are gear cables: little in the way of variation save for different brands and, like anything in the cycling world, marketing. FWIW, installation and maintenance > any claims re. low friction, better shifting etc, etc.

Something like this:
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?Mod...
...will be 'reet. Although you'll feel much, MUCH better for buying from your local bike shop

You can get away with changing just the inner cable, although if it's old, then it'd be prudent to fit new outer too.

[Chris71]

Thanks, so just get a generic inner cable, thread it through and snip off the excess length at the derallieur end?

The bike is only a couple of years old and it tends to be used in dry conditions, so I reckon the existing outer is probably okay.

[Paul Drawmer]

It may be worth you looking at the outer as well. A well sorted cable run should last for years.

Check to make sure there are no sudden changes in direction - sometimes an outer that is too long will give the inner a sharp reverse bend at the point where the outer stops in a fitting.

[Jimbo.]

Chris71 said:

Thanks, so just get a generic inner cable, thread it through and snip off the excess length at the derallieur end?

The bike is only a couple of years old and it tends to be used in dry conditions, so I reckon the existing outer is probably okay.

Largely, yes. Although if it's a couple of years old, it'd be wise to replace the outer, too, as old lubricant/water/gunk builds up in them and results in poor shifting. An easy, alarmingly satisfying (well to me, any way!) job

[will_]

If it's broken near the nipple, be prepared for a @rse of a job getting the broken bit out of the shifter...

[Chris71]

will_ said:

If it's broken near the nipple, be prepared for a @rse of a job getting the broken bit out of the shifter...

I fear so. It's just as the cable leaves the shifter I think. Haven't inspected the bike since I got back that evening, but it's on my to-do list for the evening.

If I replace the outer do I need end pieces or anything for it? I presume you just chop it to length with cable cutters?

[will_]

Chris71 said:

will_ said:

If it's broken near the nipple, be prepared for a @rse of a job getting the broken bit out of the shifter...

I fear so. It's just as the cable leaves the shifter I think. Haven't inspected the bike since I got back that evening, but it's on my to-do list for the evening.

If I replace the outer do I need end pieces or anything for it? I presume you just chop it to length with cable cutters?

Correct, it's pretty simple. I got some from wiggle for a few quid.

[zebedee]

bet it is a Tiagra rear shifter...

[zebedee]

Chris71 said:

I fear so. It's just as the cable leaves the shifter I think. Haven't inspected the bike since I got back that evening, but it's on my to-do list for the evening.

If I replace the outer do I need end pieces or anything for it? I presume you just chop it to length with cable cutters?

if you can get some pliers onto the frayed end, pull whilst clicking the shifters so it is pulling more cable out the end (not pulling it into the shifter, so as if you were changing down to smaller cogs on the cassette (assuming it is your rear one). once done, the nipple should then be inline with the aperture and you should be able to poke it out. Weirdly, if you can't access it, I find that pumping the brakes whilst doing the clicking has the same effect, not sure why, but not complaining! Am very used to it because Tiagra rear shifter eats a cable in the same place every six months or so. Hopeless.

[will_]

zebedee said:

Chris71 said:

I fear so. It's just as the cable leaves the shifter I think. Haven't inspected the bike since I got back that evening, but it's on my to-do list for the evening.

If I replace the outer do I need end pieces or anything for it? I presume you just chop it to length with cable cutters?

if you can get some pliers onto the frayed end, pull whilst clicking the shifters so it is pulling more cable out the end (not pulling it into the shifter, so as if you were changing down to smaller cogs on the cassette (assuming it is your rear one). once done, the nipple should then be inline with the aperture and you should be able to poke it out. Weirdly, if you can't access it, I find that pumping the brakes whilst doing the clicking has the same effect, not sure why, but not complaining! Am very used to it because Tiagra rear shifter eats a cable in the same place every six months or so. Hopeless.

I spent two hours poking around in the sodding shifter trying to get the "nipple" to come out last time this happened. Eventually resorted to taking the shifter apart, and then swearing at it whilse prodding it with an old spoke.

[zebedee]

will_ said:

I spent two hours poking around in the sodding shifter trying to get the "nipple" to come out last time this happened. Eventually resorted to taking the shifter apart, and then swearing at it whilse prodding it with an old spoke.

seriously, if you can get pliers onto the frayed bit, you are home and dry, if not, try pumping the brake as you shift the right way and it seems to tension the spring somehow. Wouldn't want to take a shifter apart, there must be loads of springs and plates that would never go back in the right order!

[Rocksteadyeddie]

Chris71 said:

I fear so. It's just as the cable leaves the shifter I think. Haven't inspected the bike since I got back that evening, but it's on my to-do list for the evening.

If I replace the outer do I need end pieces or anything for it? I presume you just chop it to length with cable cutters?

Just be careful that you get a nice neat finish. A small file can be useful to get rid of any burrs. The other common mistake is making the look of cable near the rear derailleur too short so there is too much of a bend which massively increases friction. Those who use Gore Ride On cables swear by them. I've never been able to bring myself to pay the price!