Which Front Derailleur Gear Cable?

_Matt_

Hi all,

I'm keen to do most bike maintenance myself but having tightened the front derailleur gear cable about 3 months ago and ripping off the cable cap the cable is now frayed and looks like it needs to be changed. However, I'm completely confused as to what it is I need.

This looks like a decent option: Transfil Gear Cable Inner for my 2008 equivalent of the Focus Mares Expert.

Can anyone confirm if I'm in the right ball park or have any alternative recommendations? I'm guessing that I just need some cable ties to go with the cable and I'm set? Or have I missed out something rather important?

I've searched on Google and am not much wiser for it.

Thanks for any help.

Matt

amaferanga

Just get any gear cable and make sure you put a cable end cap on it. What are the cable ties for?

_Matt_

Oops - I meant cable cap, not cable tie.

Thanks for the reply

alfablue

I don't think you need cable ties. The cable should be fine, but, most importantly you need proper bike cable cutters or you will mangle the end when you cut it and it will fray again in no time. Regular wire cutters just won't do. these are fairly cheap, whilst these are top quality.

Cable ends can be bought from eBay for £3ish for 50 (like these). Worth buying a lot at once rather than 2 at a time from the LBS, will last you years.

_Matt_

alfablue wrote:

I don't think you need cable ties. The cable should be fine, but, most importantly you need proper bike cable cutters or you will mangle the end when you cut it and it will fray again in no time

The Lifeline cutters have got fair reviews on Wiggle so I might go with those for now and get the caps from Ebay. Thanks

Sicknote

I have just replaced some of my cables and used my work side cutters and got a clean cut with no fraying or you can try these or they do some for a few £ more but if they are no good, Screwfix have very good returns.

_Matt_

_Matt_ wrote:

alfablue wrote:

I don't think you need cable ties. The cable should be fine, but, most importantly you need proper bike cable cutters or you will mangle the end when you cut it and it will fray again in no time

The Lifeline cutters have got fair reviews on Wiggle so I might go with those for now and get the caps from Ebay. Thanks

Bah, I crumbled. I went for the Park Tools. £27.99 on JE James so was quite pleased.

Thanks for all the advice

amaferanga

I've never had a problem using a decent set of wire cutters so have never felt the need to pay inflated prices for anything bike-specific. I've got better things to spend £27.99 on....

Sicknote

amaferanga wrote:

I've never had a problem using a decent set of wire cutters so have never felt the need to pay inflated prices for anything bike-specific. I've got better things to spend £27.99 on....

Just found some wire cutters for £5 from Screwfix

_Matt_

amaferanga wrote:

I've never had a problem using a decent set of wire cutters so have never felt the need to pay inflated prices for anything bike-specific. I've got better things to spend £27.99 on....

What cable cutters do you use, amaferanga?

amaferanga

Just some no-name generic ones, like you can buy in B and Q for a few quid

ride_whenever

any decent shears will work well.

so you don't buy anything bike-specific... i find that hard to believe

STEFANOS4784

A pair of old pliers and a good bang with the hamer worked for me.......

top_bhoy

...and my teeth leave perfect cut ends for me!!!

alfablue

STEFANOS4784 wrote:

A pair of old pliers and a good bang with the hamer worked for me.......

Yes, I have done this in the past, eventually you mess up a cable and it starts to unravel, and pretty soon its another £2 for a cable. In the end a decent cutter makes sense, though they may not need to cost so much.

Chunkers1980

Crappy 35p (bargain from Sainsburys) pliers with a hammer hit work for me too. What does one of the posters mean when they say the cable frays in the end? You cut once to length, whack a cap on and you're done, simple. Once cut why would you ever change the length. Think about that, when you change the back cable, cut it down and use it for the front, change often, slick rear gears as the front has more spring tension and is less prone to crud knocking it out of alignment than the back...

alfablue

Chunkers1980 wrote:

Crappy 35p (bargain from Sainsburys) pliers with a hammer hit work for me too. What does one of the posters mean when they say the cable frays in the end? You cut once to length, whack a cap on and you're done, simple. Once cut why would you ever change the length. Think about that, when you change the back cable, cut it down and use it for the front, change often, slick rear gears as the front has more spring tension and is less prone to crud knocking it out of alignment than the back...

I think you may mean me (frays comment). Yes, you cut the cable once - in doing this if the cut is poor it is likely to get the end to start unwinding. Yes, you put an end cap straight on, and all seems well. Often it is, sometimes the end cap comes off and the cable unravels further. I have been cycling and sorting bikes for many years, and for years I was too tight to get a decent cutter, it cost me more in the long run. But heh, by all means save money - you're right, I'm just a fool with my money, obviously

On the change the rear over to the front idea - I like it! On the other hand, I tend to go for fully sealed cables now, so they last for years without much attention.

Nuggs

_Matt_ wrote:

_Matt_ wrote:

alfablue wrote:

I don't think you need cable ties. The cable should be fine, but, most importantly you need proper bike cable cutters or you will mangle the end when you cut it and it will fray again in no time

The Lifeline cutters have got fair reviews on Wiggle so I might go with those for now and get the caps from Ebay. Thanks

Bah, I crumbled. I went for the Park Tools. £27.99 on JE James so was quite pleased.

Thanks for all the advice

The Park cutters are awesome - you will never need to buy another set (unless you work in a shop and cut millions of cables a day).

I don't care what anyone else says - decent tools are well worth the money (they make you feel good too).

Nuggs

_Matt_ wrote:

_Matt_ wrote:

alfablue wrote:

I don't think you need cable ties. The cable should be fine, but, most importantly you need proper bike cable cutters or you will mangle the end when you cut it and it will fray again in no time

The Lifeline cutters have got fair reviews on Wiggle so I might go with those for now and get the caps from Ebay. Thanks

Bah, I crumbled. I went for the Park Tools. £27.99 on JE James so was quite pleased.

Thanks for all the advice

The Park cutters are awesome - you will never need to buy another set (unless you work in a shop and cut millions of cables a day).

I don't care what anyone else says - decent tools are well worth the money (they make you feel good too).