Cube Agree GTC SL Internal Cable Rattle

Spartan07
Spartan07 Posts: 9
edited July 2013 in Workshop
hi,
Just bought the above bike but within the first 100 yards I heard really annoying rattle. Turns out the internal cable is rattling in the top tube. Putting tension on the cable while riding stops it but i don't have a solution and Cube won't answer emails. Any help would really be appreciated.

Thanks,

Comments

  • Yan55
    Yan55 Posts: 14
    Hi there, unfortunately i don't have an answer, suffice to say that i experienced the same thing when test riding the pro version. I told the salesman about the rattle, and he shrugged his shoulders. Could it be the internal cable in the toptube, i asked? Dunno, he said. Fantastic.

    I guess it must be and i suppose a way to fix it might be to shorten the cable outer so it pulls tight through the tube and reduces movement? Let me know if you fix it as i'm thinking of getting one! I hope you're enjoying it despite this. Good luck.
  • NickintheLakes
    NickintheLakes Posts: 258
    I was about to order a Rose with internal cable routing when I came across a mention of rattles.

    Asked Rose direct and they said there maybe occasional rattles.

    No order placed - would drive me nuts!
  • rothers_bikeo
    rothers_bikeo Posts: 225
    I've got the 2011 GTC frame, no problem with internal cable rattles. This appears to be a design fault with the 2012 frame.
  • corCube
    corCube Posts: 1
    Last week dealer applied cube provided solution (a kind of soft nettube arround outer cable in the toptube) and guess what: today had a complete rattle free (Happy :D ) ride. Ask your dealer to contact Cube.
    I am now ready for the Alps later this week 8)
    Goodluck with it!
  • couldgetacarforthat
    couldgetacarforthat Posts: 3
    I have had the same rattle on the same bike. It took a few months to appear but once there proved to be more of an annoyance than anything. I checked the bike thinking it could be a loose bolt...nothing. Foolishly I ignored it.

    Several months later 'mid ride' the internal rear derailleur cable snaps.

    The cable snapped at the bottom bracket. The cable scored a groove in the crank through axle after wearing through a narrow black plastic sheath. The internal cable guide was similarly worn.

    It appears as if every gear shift has caused a minor shift / movement in the internal cable guide despite the securing bolt being in place and tight.
  • keef66
    keef66 Posts: 13,123
    The more of these stories I read, the happier I am that all my cables are on the outside where I can see / get at them.

    Beyond perhaps a slight aero benefit for pro riders, given the problems they cause, what are the alleged advantages of internal cables for ordinary mortals??
  • couldgetacarforthat
    couldgetacarforthat Posts: 3
    By means of an update - bike shop fixed problem and said it was covered under warranty and therefore free.
    I was suprised as the bike is well over 12 months old but as I am not one to look a gift horse in the mouth decided to 'do one'.
    The post from corCube above suggests a design fault that is being quietly and efficiently dealt with by Cube.
    It really is a great bike but keef66 is right. Internal routing looks ace but what a ball ache when it fails.
  • Gaviao
    Gaviao Posts: 1
    Hi Spartan07, I just bought a Cube Agree GTC Race and had the same issue. I fixed it last night, by pushing the cable into the top tube from the front. It made a definite click and no more rattle - did a 30 mile ride today in blissful silence. I think what had happened was that when the shop - Tredz - packed the bike for shipping they turned the handlebars and pulled the cable out of whatever housing sits inside the top tube. Worth giving it a go.
  • Ringo 68
    Ringo 68 Posts: 441
    Gaviao wrote:
    Hi Spartan07, I just bought a Cube Agree GTC Race and had the same issue. I fixed it last night, by pushing the cable into the top tube from the front. It made a definite click and no more rattle - did a 30 mile ride today in blissful silence. I think what had happened was that when the shop - Tredz - packed the bike for shipping they turned the handlebars and pulled the cable out of whatever housing sits inside the top tube. Worth giving it a go.

    That's exactly what i did to sort the problem out. No rattles anymore on my Agree Pro.
    Cube Agree GTC Pro
    Boardman Comp
    Carrera Subway Hybrid
  • Yan55
    Yan55 Posts: 14
    Hello All, I know this subject is ages old know but I have found a way to fix the cable rattle. Essentially my bike has a long brake cable outer running through the top tube. It is not attached in any way at the entry and exit points and is free to move in any way it wants - hence the rattle! My remedy is very simple: I put a dab of superglue in the exit port so that it held the cable firmly in place. Then, I pushed as much cable as I could in from the other end and glued this in place too. A tiny spot was literally all it took. Inside the top tube the brake cable must be concertinaed up like a wave on an oscilloscope or something. Now it is bunched up and touching the internal walls of the tube any road vibration has minimal effect on moving it and causing the annoying tap tap tap noise. I've tested it, the glue is holding fast and I'm enjoying rattle-free cycling. Success! This did my head in for quite a while so I hope this can help others that find themselves in a similar position. Safe riding!

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