21
votes
What's the strongest way to bond a cable stop to an steel frame?
Don't use cable stops. The biggest load those stops will ever see is when you grab your brakes hard for an emergency stop. So you're likely to find out that whatever you did to bond the stops to the ...
- 10.4k
17
votes
What's the strongest way to bond a cable stop to an steel frame?
Beside a professionally done welding, clamp-on cable stops should be a reasonably reliable solution.
- 14.2k
12
votes
Accepted
How useful/valuable is internal cabling?
One difference that internal cables make is if you transport your bike by car or have to haul it around by hand.
Because the cables are inside the frame, they are less likely to get pinched by the ...
- 28.9k
11
votes
Accepted
What is bad with using the wrong cable housing?
spiraled brake housing would compress when shifting which would diminish the accuracy and using lengthwise cables for brakes can't handle the stress and split wherever the tension is too great.
this ...
- 691
10
votes
Accepted
What tools do I absolutely need to replace brake cables?
Fourth hand cable stretcher - I think this is one tool I'll need to get, or something similar. I see Pedro's makes a version of it, I'm not sure if it's made as solidly or not. What should I look for ...
- 30.4k
9
votes
What tools do I absolutely need to replace brake cables?
There is nothing special about Park Tool's side cutter pliers. I would guess that they re-brand reasonable quality generic ones rather than make their own. Any decent quality, sufficiently heavy duty ...
- 75.3k
9
votes
Why does the rear brake bowden have no housing below the frame of the bike?
You do not really need the housing functionally, the bowden runs straight between two fixed points. There is nothing that could compress or deform. It just works well as is. You only could add it as a ...
- 15.3k
9
votes
Why does the rear brake bowden have no housing below the frame of the bike?
Racier bikes do it above all because it's weight that can be taken away. That may sound trifling, but you get to a light bike by marginal gains in lots of little places.
On other bikes it's about the ...
- 80k
8
votes
Accepted
What is the proper way to cut brake cable housing?
There is a proper tool that is probably the best solution. They cut so that it does not smash the ends or the metal inside of the housing. Many also have an awl in order to help reform the end if any ...
- 9,169
8
votes
Accepted
What are these cable "unions" called
Not sure if there is a tradition term for these. At the time of writing I found Some products simply called cable splitters or separators and Ritchey quick disconnectors
- 75.3k
8
votes
What do you call the plastic bit that mounts brake cable housing to dedicated frame mounting spots?
Jagwire calls these "Hose Guide for Frame Loops".
I've also found these under "Cable Guide" on Amazon.
- 347
8
votes
What is the quantifiable benefit of compressionless brake housing?
It's about distance, not force. Coil housing is not at all impaired in its ability to transmit force once any distance between its coils has been taken up (so no to your second question.) On any rim ...
- 80k
8
votes
Accepted
Question/ PSA about wavy shifter cable
Normal-ish, yes. It's normal enough that when one sees that kind of kink or distortion on a housing, it's assumable that the wires are likely to be pulling through somewhere.
Yes, reasonable and then ...
- 80k
8
votes
Accepted
Cutting brake cable housing - should initial cuts be cleaner than this?
No that's about normal. The inner liner is mushed over to one side, this always needs fixing with a pointed probe.
The outer spiral winding looks rough, but remember you're cutting some springy steel ...
- 120k
8
votes
Accepted
What is the purpose of mixing brake cable housings?
In the product linked, the short sections for near the levers aren't really classic compressible housing. Note the lack of a plastic coating in the last picture. They're more flexible for the bend in ...
- 55.8k
7
votes
Accepted
What should I do when my rear derailleur cable guide is too narrow?
You need a stepped shift ferrule. You have no reasonable options if you're using compressionless shift housing. On the left is a picture of a 5mm to 4mm one, which Jagwire is the main remaining ...
- 80k
7
votes
Accepted
Metal strand lining protruding from ends of shifter housing
It looks like you have 4mm housing put into ferrules designed for 5mm housing. The black plastic ones should be the right ones.
- 1,865
7
votes
Accepted
How to replace downtube shifters with stem shifters?
You'll need longer cables in order to bridge the distance between where your original downtube shifters were and the stem (where the new shifters will be mounted). And you'll need to install a shifter ...
7
votes
Why does my vintage Shimano rear derailleur come with brake style cable housing?
I assume that you have a friction shifter? A friction shifter is one that does not click into an indexed position. You just adjust it until the derailleur is lined up where you want it.
Assuming this ...
- 585
7
votes
Accepted
How to pick the brake cable housing size?
5mm is the standard for bike parts made since I don't even know when, 1940s-ish.
6mm was an early MTB thing and is found on some 80s brake parts and frame housing stops. Don't worry about it unless ...
- 80k
7
votes
Accepted
Housing cable keeps moving and gets tighter on the derailleur after jumping
It's happening because some area where the housing contacts a frame member or housing port is pulling on the housing when the suspension actuates, but not releasing it on the return.
There is no ...
- 80k
7
votes
How to run full length cable housing to front mech on a frame without cable stops?
It looks to me like you may be able to use a clamp-on cable stop. All you need is a round steel-alloy frame tube that is strong enough to accept a clamp. If the clamp is located close to the point ...
- 502
6
votes
What is the proper way to cut brake cable housing?
While the Park Tool is the ideal tool, it is sort of a one trick pony. Meaning using it for anything other than cable housing and inners will likely damage it. I use a Dremel (brand name for an ...
- 18.3k
6
votes
What is the proper way to cut brake cable housing?
Cable housing are supposed to be cut with a proper cable and housing cutter tool, such as the Park Tool Company CN-10.
These tools have a shearing action and curved blades that help prevent the ...
- 75.3k
6
votes
Info for replacing a shift cable housing
I would suggest replacing the inner as well as all the outers. If the inner is frayed at all, you will not be able to rethread it. The benefits of a new cable are much better shifting, to the point ...
- 47.8k
6
votes
Are cable housings different for road/MTB/urban bikes?
Short answer is no.
In terms of normal bulk housing, it used to be that 5mm shift housings were more associated with mountain/utility and 4mm were more associated with road. Now 4mm has become more ...
- 80k
6
votes
How to cut a brake/derailleur cable?
You need a cable cutter. All of the companies that make tools for bikes make them. Here are a few options:
http://www.parktool.com/product/professional-cable-and-housing-cutter-cn-10
http://pedros....
- 611
6
votes
Accepted
replacing shifter cable housing?
Its likely that your bad shifting is due to messed up cables or a misadjusted derailleur.
You can either cut the cable crimp off at the end of the cable with a pair of pliers, or pull it off with a ...
- 46k
6
votes
How to cut derailleur cable housing
I see you don't want to buy the proper tool - do consider that while some are silly expensive, there are also reasonably priced alternatives. Brands like Birzman and X-Tools are a third the cost of a ...
- 120k
6
votes
What do you call the plastic bit that mounts brake cable housing to dedicated frame mounting spots?
I just came across them at https://www.kineticbikebearings.com/kbb9038-slotted-cable-guide-pack-qty-20.html, called Slotted Cable Guides or slotted (wedge type) cable guide.
The term slotted might ...
- 12.7k
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