Snapped gear cable... again!

davenice

I've got 105 5600 shifters on a Specialized I bought in September 2010. In September 2011 (probably about 700 miles in) the rear gear cable snapped. I was a bit surprised but just replaced it (and greased the bit within the shifter liberally).

I noticed a couple of weeks back that I was struggling to get the indexing right and having to fiddle around with the barrel adjuster on the downtube constantly. I checked it out this evening and it's badly frayed - again! Probably about another 500ish miles since the last change.

The fray looks to me like something in the shifter is rubbing it fairly consistently - it's a fairly clean cut.


I guess I could just change the cable every few months, but I find it a bit annoying really - it seems like a fairly common problem with 105 shifters - anyone think it's worth following up with Shimano?

I do often shift through the cassette fairly quickly by sweeping the brake lever, for instance when I'm stopping at traffic lights or changing to the big cog. But doesn't everyone...?!

Thanks in advance,

Dave

desweller

That's a pain in the arris, isn't it.

What cables are you using?

mattcroad

I get the same, in the same place on my Tiagra's, maybe it's a Shimano thing. I now change mine every 3000 miles, and can usually see early signs of damage at that point. It's best to replace before fraying as if they break off they are a real f***er to get out (tweezers and a zenlike state can be required). I also pay the extra and don't use Clarks cables anymore.

cycleclinic

I'm sticking to campoag levers I think.

davenice

I'm not certain what the original cable was, but I replaced both the inner and the outer with shimano ones (the outer cables weren't cut very well from the factory so I wondered if that had contributed).

This time I've only changed the inner and I've gone with clarks cheapie ones from Halfords on the basis that I'll just do it every few months.

Did you find non-clarks ones made any difference, Matt? I was lucky to catch this one before it broke completely (difficulty getting the indexing right seems to be the first sign on mine bike). The first time it broke 15 miles in to my first 60 mile sportive (bailed out in the end mainly because of torrential rain!). There was something quite fun about just having the chainrings to choose from, but I think on balance I like having all of my gears :-)

Thanks for the sympathy - it's a bit gutting that Matt's Tiagras hit 3000 miles and mine seem to be struggling to get 600 but at least it's a sign not to bother springing for ultegra because they won't be any better ;-)

Dave

mattcroad

The original (unknown), and a Clarks broken halfway through like yours at about 3000 miles. Replaced with Shimano cables since then and every 3000 miles I do a swap on the rear cable and can see "wear marks" on the cable but no snapped / frayed wires anymore.

My commute is through London so a lot of up & down through the gears on my 17 mile round trip.

Monty Dog

This is a common problem with the older style of STi levers - I suspect it's due to a burr / poor finishing on the nipple housing. You need to inspect the lever regularly to check that the cable isn't fraying.

prawny

Used to get it all the time on my tiagra shifters. Are yours 5600 105 or 5700? I can't reallt be arsed to faff with the hidden cables but maybe it's worth checking.

GiantMike

Same shifters, same problem. I check mine every 500 miles or so.

ugo.santalucia

Get yourself some Campagnolo and a shiftmate for peace of mind. Lever-wise they're miles ahead

davenice

Interesting - didn't know shiftmate existed. I think I'll stick with the current shifters for now, even if I replace the cable every couple of months for £2/pop.

Shiftmate might be a really nice way to transition to campag, though. I'm not mad keen on changing down using the brake lever - sometimes I do brake accidentally.

buckles

Sorry to bump this thread but I have the same problem and it's driving me f**ing mad. By the looks of it all I can do is upgrade me shifters

davenice

My front shifter failed completely in August - just under the 24 month warranty period Shimano provide!

I took it to a shop who sorted out a warranty replacement. When I queried it, 5700 was the same price as 5600 so they upgraded it.

And even better, they just replaced both shifters, so I managed to ditch my cable-eating rear shifter at the same time!

I know it's not much help for you, though :-/ How often is yours eating cables?

desweller

Get a drill of the right size and gently poke it through the cable hole to clean up any burrs. If you're not accustomed to doing this sort of thing then maybe discretion is the better part of valour etc. etc.!

The only other thing I can think of is to daub some grease on the cable over the last 2 inches or so to help it slide around whatever it's fretting against.