Question about replacing a gear cable

[nuttzo32]

I have a new road bike i purchased in november this year and i need to replace one of the gear cables as it has frayed on the end due to a lost end thingy, do i really need to bother with getting new cable housing for it or will a new cable alone suffice? Someting like this for $4.35 http://www.cellbikes.com.au/Gear-Cable-Inner-Wire-Universal

I assume i am also gonna need to purchase a cable cutter will probably get the pedros one.

[bigfriendlyvegan]

You just need a new cable. Yes, you need to cut it with some good cutters. I would also suggest putting a cable end crimpy thing on the end as well to stop it fraying.

[nuttzo32]

Wow that was quick, wouldn't the end thingy come with the new cable?

[Boognoss]

Wow that was quick, wouldn't the end thingy come with the new cable?

Not necessarily. I've bought retail pack Shimano cables which come with an end but some other brands I've bought haven't.


Cheers, Simon

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[clackers]

If it's only the end, clear of any mechanicals, wouldn't you just cut the frayed length off and crimp it?

[nuttzo32]

If it's only the end, clear of any mechanicals, wouldn't you just cut the frayed length off and crimp it?

It has started to fray past the front derailer so it's probably easier just to replace the cable.

[Ozkaban]

Cable is easy enough to replace. I bought a "Pro" brand (I think it's a shimano brand?) cable cutter and it does the job a lot better than normal wire cutters. It was pretty cheap too.

Search ebay for those cable end caps - I found packs of 10 in anodised colours for a few dollars each.

[Big_Red]

Any LBS has those crimp caps (they are metal) for no more than 20 cents. They buy them in tubs of 500+ and it costs the LBS < 2 cents per if they have a workshop that does any servicing at all. You crush them on to the end of the cable with a set of pliers. If you are going to get yourself a pair of cable cutters, do yourself a favour and get a good pair, as the cheap stuff is a waste of time that will blunt after only a couple of cuts. Remember, you use these things on brake cables (which are slightly thicker) too. Good cable cutters can be had from $30 - $50.

[m@]

Definitely don't bother with the housing, unless you want to upgrade to a better system or fully enclosed cable for weatherproofing... Sidecutters are fine for cables IME but if you buy decent cable cutters you'll be able to use them for outers later on (and they will give a cleaner cut with less flattening of the inner.

I always glue the cut end of the cable with epoxy whether or not I'm using end caps. This means you can remove and reinstall without the cable fraying.

[dale79]

dont buy cable cutters from a bike shop.. go to bunnings and get the exact same things for $7...

[Boognoss]

dont buy cable cutters from a bike shop.. go to bunnings and get the exact same things for $7...

+1. That's exactly, what I did too



Cheers,
Simon

Sent from my iThingo using Tapatalk

[il padrone]

But if you're expecting to get encircling cutters from Bunnings, beware how you use them:

Cutting capacity - Copper 9.27mm dia - Aluminium 11.68mm dia
Do NOT cut steel or ACSR

Mostly $7 will get you side-cutting pliers, not so effective for a clean cable-end.

[Nobody]

I cut my inner and outer gear and brake cables with an angle grinder. Clean cut, no crushing forces.

[Mulger bill]

I cut my inner and outer gear and brake cables with an angle grinder. Clean cut, no crushing forces.

Would've thought this would melt the sheath and liner, how's it go for you?

[Nobody]

If you do it slowly and/or intermittently, excessive heat isn't a problem.

[RonK]

Cables are regular maintenance items, so a cable cutter of reasonable quality is a worthwhile investment for the home bike mechanic.

You might get away with cutting inners with el cheapo tools or angle grinders, but these will likely make a horrible mess of cutting housing.

[RonK]

Jeez...I'll turn on tv.

[sloth]

I have a good quality pair shimano cutters but I find the dremel does a better job on outers. Each to their own though

[bychosis]

Been using side cutting action of pliers for quite some time. It's not as neat as proper cutters, but it'll do, sometimes you need to twist the strand back together a bit. Works ok for outers if you un-squish them, but a hacksaw works better for them.

[Nobody]

I've used a fine hacksaw (32 tooth per inch) with success. For me the angle grinder gives a flatter cut than a hacksaw as with the hacksaw the cable tends to bend more when supported in the vice.

[nuttzo32]

Just bought a pair of park tool cutters for $28.75, they should do the job nicely.

[Mulger bill]

Just bought a pair of park tool cutters for $28.75, they should do the job nicely.

They will

Those dollars for a Park cutter sounds like score of the week to me...

[nuttzo32]

Just bought a pair of park tool cutters for $28.75, they should do the job nicely.

They will

Those dollars for a Park cutter sounds like score of the week to me...

Yeah they are from ribble, you spend more than $53 australian and you can get some great deals, i am going to order over $250 australian from there when i have the money and get a ton of stuff.

[Mulger bill]

I am going to order over $250 australian from there when i have the money and get a ton of stuff.

Yep, that's another one hooked

Two good search engines for best pricing on bits are Frugal Rouleur and Byke.

[eeksll]

tip i read on the interwebs, cut outers with a inner inside, prevents crushing.