Lubeing Cables

mf-racing

Hi guys,

After doing the Pennine X challenge at the weekend, in very very boggy, wet, and muddy conditions my 08 Fuel EX rear shifting has got to pot. The bike was absolutely covered in peaty, boggy mud and now I’ve washed it all it just cant seem to get the indexing right.

The indexing has always been perfect on the bike (as I’m always adjusting it to keep it spot on) but now I just cant get it to work. For example it will go up the block fine, but not down or the other way round, and sometimes it wont go in to the smallest cog and I adjust so it does and then wont go up anymore! So I’m thinking sticking cables are the problem (I’m running 08 XT Shadow, XT Shifters, XTR Cassette)

What’s the best way of clearing and lubeing the gear cables?

Shall I just get some XTR ones and be done with it? (I may have XTR on it now, how do I know?).

Also, are them sealed cables any good?

Cheers
Matt

mr mangos

To clear and lube remove the inner cable and wipe it down clean with some gt85 or similar. Some people use a lube but gt85 always did for me. For the outers, squirt water through them, then gt85.

Full outers are brilliant. I fitted Flying Snakes nearly a year ago and after riding through rain, silt, snow, mud, and clay my indexing is as sweet as the day I set it.

Check your rear mech isn't dirty or damaged though.

stumpyjon

Best way to clean them is to pull the cables out and run some lube through the outers (which is what I did recently on my front mech which helped) but to be honest it'll be just as quick to replace the cables. Personally not convinced about high spec sealed cables, got a flying snakes set on my rear mech on the stumpy and am having similar problems to yourself.

Just ordered some new shifters and gear outer (by the metre) from CRC. Think I'll just replace the outer and cables every 6 months in future.

dav1

i wipe mine with WD40 or bike spray when cleaning the bike and my cables seem to stay sweet all year round.