Replacing gear cable and adjustment

[ambuletz]

Righty oh, for months now I've been riding around on my road bike on the smallest rear cog and largest one on the front front as my cable snapped right where it enters the gear selector on the handlebars. My bike doesnt like me shifting the front gears from the large cog to the middle one as it just comes off. I'm getting fed up of it so I want to get it sorted. Do i attempt it myself or get someone to do it?

Getting someone else to do it means halfords, £18 for 'gear service' (and replacement cables) or £6 for an adjustment. I know someone will say go to a good indie but there isn't really one around greater east london.

Doing it myself? A cable costs £1-2 from wilko, probably up to £5 at halfords. The video below makes replacing it seem easy enough, so perhaps maybe give it a go? I don't think its necessary to replace the outer cables though. as for gear adjustment, the last time i did that I damaged something on my last bike so that'll definately be something i'll have to pay for.

How to change gear cables.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7ea5tpiM7I

So go with peace of mind and get halfords to do it? or is it a piece of piss to fix and should I give it a go?

[dogbucket]

The bit at 3m38s is the key to getting enough tension in the cable so that it works, and then using the barrel adjusters to fine tune.

You have nothing to lose so have a go.

[bigdom]

As above, just give it a go, it's pretty easy really, gears, cables and adjusting are a lot easier than you first think. GCN videos are normally a very handy source.

[ambuletz]

Although with my shifter I have no idea how I would go about putting the cable in as I am one of those that (i think) don't need to remove any bar tape.

[smifffymoto]

Pull back the rubber from the shifter to reveal its workings.

[frisbee]

Use the small lever on the brake calliper to allow you to move the lever more, stick the outer in the hole on the inside of the lever and insert the inner from the outside.

You can look at the other lever to see where things go.

Route it through to the back, click the lever to make sure its in the highest gear, screw the barrel adjuster most of the way in, the chain should be on the smallest cog, pull on the cable just enough to take out the slack and clampit.

Then its just a case of working up and down through the gears tweaking the barrel adjuster until it changes smoothly into every gear going up and down.

If the outer is worn it may not be possible to get it perfect. You may need to adjust the limit screws as well.

[ambuletz]

I've been abit cheeky and decided to pull forward some of the excess cable from the back and I'm now at this situation. I just don't know how i'll get the cable to wrap around inside the brake lever where it's meant to be.



Worryingly this screw/thread is bent slightly on the end.

[ambuletz]

update, i've figured how to do it and I even found the end piece that snapped off. I suppose now I just need to buy some end caps and get it crimped on. My main worry now is that screw that's a little bent,

Edited by ambuletz on Sunday 23 April 11:22

[ambuletz]

Right, I'm confident enough that I know how to do it so after looking at it all I've decided to just take it all off and wait till I get a new cable. My only real concern is that barrell adjustor and whether I should buy another or not. It is possible for me to screw it back in though.

[Magic919]

I'd be replacing that whilst doing the work.

[ambuletz]

Yup that's what I'm going to so. Decided to order the barrel adjustor part and it'll arrive wednesday. I have a new inner cable now. Once that comes I'll fix it and pay to get the gears adjusted. Last time I tried doing that myself I ended up snapping the rear derailuer swing arm on my old carrera kraken so I don't want to take any chances! cheers for the help.