Shimano Gear Cables - Crappy Batch or Just censored ?

Papa Smurf

Always used the same Shimano XT gear cable set from ChainReaction and not had a problem before... Untill recently.
My front mech cable tore itself apart everytime i turned the handlebars untill eventually it was only a few threads. It seems strange that I virtually managed to snap it by steering of all things.
Now my rear mech cable has gone to sh!t, 1 of the threads has snapped and got sucked up into the sleeving at the front, making gear changes abit of a censored to say the least..

These cables are no more than 3 months old, brought brand new and all that.

I don't know whether to accept it or give Shimano what for!

What do you think? Any Advice?

supersonic

Are the outers the right length?

Have to ensure that the cable clamp gets all of the cable fully, and always use a cable end.

I find the best approach is to buy a couple of meters of outer form the LBS, and seperate inners - and cut them to the perfect length.

Papa Smurf

Yeah the outers are the right length and all that, they're all done up with end clamps, not quite silly enough not to use them!

The cable runs under my frame but as it is the outer of the 2 I have put a sleeve over it for protection, it's between this sleeve and the stem of my frame that the cable has frayed, in a place even I couldn't smash it into anything!

Just abit p!ssed they've lasted so little time!

supersonic

Ah I see, you got a pic?

Papa Smurf

Not as of yet, waiting for my new PC to arrive and then I'll get one up. Just wanted to know if anyone else had similar problems or what not...

supersonic

My Zaskar has a plastic cable guide under the BB, but the front mech cable still touches the frame - I use a protector just there.

Papa Smurf

Yeah I know what you mean, mine are guided on little plastic things which seem to work fine, the actual snap it far away from that, right up near the stem/handlebars

supersonic

I just wonder if longer outers would stop it touch the stem?

Papa Smurf

The current outer comes most of the way up the cable, leaves about 9 inches exposed right at the top.
I've got the mount for the cable just down from the top of my frame, it's about 3 inches below where the outer stops (the outer from the shifter) and however far up from my extra sleeving (which goes from the cable down to my BB)

After 3 months, no crashes and certainly no impact on that area specifically... Why on earth has it snapped!?!??!

stubs

Wonder if a stone flying up from your front wheel could nick a cable seems a bit of a longshot but I have never had problms with xt cables