Internal cable-Help!!!

markos1963

I have now gone past the crying softly stage and I'm rapidly heading towards the sharp object towards naked wrist scenario.

My Orbea Ora TT bike has an internal rear brake cable running along the top tube. I have been trying to fit a new cable through it to no avail. First way was to pass up an old cable, tape new cable to it and pass back down( this was successful last year when I done it. I couldn't get it to work this time, it kept catching. I have tried the cotton thread and vacuum cleaner method as well with no success. I thought I would try an unbent coat hanger hoping a bit of rigidity would help me locate the opposite hole but all I get is the wire going past the hole in one direction and in the other it seems to hit so sort of blockage. What has happened and what can I do? Have I disloged some sort of guide?

Please help, the hacksaw is sitting there calling to me louder and louder!

baznav73

Not usually any guides to dislodge, just a case of walk away and try again later, had the same problem on a bike once messed with it for about an hour before throwing everything around the workshop, came back later and it went through first time.
The only thing i can think of that could be blocking it is if it's a carbon frame you sometimes get the reminents of the inflatable tubes they put inside the frame which hasn't come out.

nweststeyn

Sounds like you've tried the usual suspect techniques. They should work, so I'm afraid your friend will have to be patience. Don't cut your frame please. It's all going to be okay. There there. Breathe deep.

Gary D

You've got me worried now :shock: :shock:

I have just stripped my Bianchi 928 down to a bare frame and am planning on replacing all the cables - some of which are internal!
I think the point raised by Baznav could be relevant regarding the inflatable tubes or bladders. When I looked inside my carbon bars through the cable holes, it looked like there were remants of a plastic carrier bag in there!! You may have dislodged a piece of it with the stiff wire of the coat hanger? Perhaps a bit more poking around with the coat hanger will move it again?

On my frame, there are 2 pieces of internal cabling that run through the down tube. I was contemplating whether to replace them or not - as they appear to be very solid at the moment. I await the outcome of this thread before I make my decision on that

Keep us posted please and good luck
Gary.

beetle1

Hi there I have done this with both my Pinarello and Orbea TT frame just last night. sometimes the frame has a plastic sleeve which joins from one routing hole to the other where as others you just have to thread. Is it possible to have the frame in a vertical position to enable you to view when the cable is getting towards the the next hole. I would agree with others that patience is paramount when doing this, I was at it for ages last night but in the end it came through, good luck, it will be fine.

markos1963

Still trying :evil:

bobgfish

Can I suggest a magnet? May be enough to drag the cable down the frame and out?

pilot_pete

Coat hanger to remove any debris that has been dislodged into the cable path, then try a piece of copper wire; a strand from a stripped down length of earth cable (heavy gauge).

This is what I used after all other methods had failed. The beauty of the copper wire is that you can bend it easily to get just the right angle for it to appear at the exit hole....

PP

StorckSpeed

Pilot Pete wrote:

Coat hanger to remove any debris that has been dislodged into the cable path, then try a piece of copper wire; a strand from a stripped down length of earth cable (heavy gauge).

This is what I used after all other methods had failed. The beauty of the copper wire is that you can bend it easily to get just the right angle for it to appear at the exit hole....

PP

As above - my TT bike has internal cabling and when I first fitted all the components to it, it was a doddle cause there was a thin tube running from the 2 cable entries. Next time I tried it I had problems (the tube was rattling around inside the frame) and used a copper wire bent in the shape of a small hook, (not too thick - about 1mm). Also use a head torch, you should see the wire as it comes closer to the cable exit then manipulate the bent copper wire to hook it and get it near the exit then the cable will just push through.
You can also use gravity to assist which may mean turn the frame upside down so that the cable is going to drop towards the cable exit hole making it easier to see and hook.

Good luck and be patient - it's probably not going to happen on your first attempt

CiB

I had a similar hassle and resolved it by hanging the frame on the workstand so that the cable had a vertical drop into the out-hole, then just kept trying. It took me most of the Bolton v Everton commentary on Radio 5 to do it mind.

markos1963

Fixed!
In the end it turned out that the internal guide had come adrift at one end. There was nothing for it but to push the other end into the frame to allow a route through. A full length of outer was then passed through which will allow easy and quick changes of inners in the future. Thankfully the old guide is sort of jammed in the top tube and doesn't rattle, it could have been fished out through the seat post hole but a bung was in the way so it was deemed not worth it.
Many thanks to all and a special thanks to Specialised Cycles in Connaught Road, Norwich for sorting it out and charging only 30mins labour for it.

wishitwasallflat

Nice one congratulations!