Replacing cables

Twostage
Twostage Posts: 987
edited April 2011 in Workshop
I'm going to replace the gear and brake cables on my road bike as the outers are old and cracking. Are the cable outer end caps re-usable (can I just pull them off and push them onto the new outers) or do I need new ones ?

Comments

  • Yossie
    Yossie Posts: 2,600
    Cable outers are re-usable if in good condition, but for the sake of fiver or so you may as well put new ones on (they come in long strips, so take off old cables, hold alongside new long cable, snip to length, clean up snipped areas with small file, put ferrules on, grease ferrules wheer they go into the bracket lug things on teh bike, re-fit to bike).

    If you want to re-use the old cable outers, hang them up, spray a load of lube down them, leave it to run through overnight, re-fit. This will lube them and clean any gank out of there.

    The ends you need new ones - they crimp on. They are about 6 pence each but if
    you ask nicely your LBS will give you some for nothing when you buy the new cables.

    Get a spare couple as its likely that when you start to do this you'll snip through them by mistake when crimping them into place.
  • Twostage
    Twostage Posts: 987
    I'm planning on replacing just about everything but its the ferrules I'm asking about (wasn't sure of the correct name). The existing ones are a mixture of silver and black and wasn't sure if they are re-usable. If they just push on (rather than being crimped on) then I should be able to just transfer them.
  • Twostage
    Twostage Posts: 987
    I'm planning on replacing just about everything but its the ferrules I'm asking about (wasn't sure of the correct name). The existing ones are a mixture of silver and black and wasn't sure if they are re-usable. If they just push on (rather than being crimped on) then I should be able to just transfer them.
  • Simon Notley
    Simon Notley Posts: 1,263
    The metal caps on the outers just push on. I'd keep the old ones if I were you, not all makes are the right shape to neatly fit all frames. If you buy a cable set, it may well come with new ones anyway, so you can experiment.

    Make sure you've got a supply of the end-caps that go over the inners. They're easy to lose/break etc. and the cable will fray without them.
  • Yossie
    Yossie Posts: 2,600
    They do just push on so you swap over but the cable set will come with some, otherwise LBS for a matter of pennies.

    Black ones are lighter and add a minimum of 2 mph top end as well - scientifically proven.
  • sungod
    sungod Posts: 17,414
    certainly re-use the ferrules if they are in good condition

    if you've not done it before, make sure you use the correct type of outer for each cable - brake outer is different from gear outer
    my bike - faster than god's and twice as shiny
  • Yossie
    Yossie Posts: 2,600
    As are the cables - brake is thicker than gear, don't get it wrong.

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