TARMAC cables

Is.brad

I have a 2015 TARMAC ELITE with 11 speed Shimano 105 with 5K miles in last year & this season.

The rear derailer cable has broke 3 times inside the shift handle where it does a 90 degree turn.

Is this normal ? My LBS says it is, all other cables are fine.

It breaks in the same spot everytime, shouldn't there be a little pulley in the handle ?

Also my LBS wants to replace ALL cables & housings for $230 bucks.

Shouldn't cables & housings last more than 2 seasons ?

Thanks.

sungod

probably a sharp edge that is damaging the cable, maybe the routing can be improved (some shifters have a choice of path for the cable) or use a file to round off the edge

you can get replacement cables/outers and a pair of cutters for far less, sounds like it's time to learn how to do the job yourself

wishitwasallflat

Is.brad wrote:

I have a 2015 TARMAC ELITE with 11 speed Shimano 105 with 5K miles in last year & this season.

The rear derailer cable has broke 3 times inside the shift handle where it does a 90 degree turn.

Is this normal ? My LBS says it is, all other cables are fine.

It breaks in the same spot everytime, shouldn't there be a little pulley in the handle ?

Also my LBS wants to replace ALL cables & housings for $230 bucks.

Shouldn't cables & housings last more than 2 seasons ?

Thanks.

As said but good quality cutters (like park tools one) and learn to do it yourself. Re cabling is a thing that needs done fairly infrequently but well worth the investment in decent cutters and mastering the task.

PS I've never had a cable fray in a sti but I run SRAM AFAIK this can be an issue with some shim but even then this sounds way to often to be normal. How old are the shifters sounds like it would be worth contacting the place you bought them or even shimano directly if they won't engage with this issue.

Is.brad

Bike is a 2015, i have internal cable routing.

Not exactly wanting to start experimentation.

No other cables have given me problems.

Devastazione2

My 2015 Tarmac broke for the first time in that point few months ago,it seems quite a common issue with Shimano hoods and Tarmac frame,after a while the cable snaps. You really need to get down to business and sort the thing for yourself,it seems internal cables routing is something most mechanics want to avoid or at least they'll have your bike waiting forever. Open up the hoods and use some good grease where the cable turns,it will make a huge difference.
230£.....some people should just go out of business. Learn how to DIY, it's a 15 minutes deal rear derailleur tuning included once you get accustomed.

Is.brad

$200 is for all cables, all housings & new bar tape & labor.

I have a buddy at another shop thats going to do it cheaper.

DIY cables isn't going to help on a 70 mile ride which is when twice that cable has broke.

It streches first then starts losing ability to shift gears.

Made is back on 2 gears.

Its a great bike but eats cables.

IMO Shimano should put some sort of pulley in the 90 degree pivot point.

My buddy is going to check for burrs & grease the cables.

11 speed cassette gets shifted about 600 times a week.

chatlow

I've just bought the 10 speed 4700 series Tiagra shifters (which use a very similar if not identical system to the 5800 105) for my Spec Tarmac. One thing I would say is to make sure both gear cables are fully inserted on both levers. When I first slotted mine in and then guided it through where the grey plastic cover is, I noticed that the cable didn't slot all the way in, it just rested on the edge but still seemed solid. If I left it like this, then it would create more of an angle when using and turning, and could have caused the same issue you've had.

The cable needs to be gripped and pulled through the lever until it's firmly in place.

sungod

Is.brad wrote:

$200 is for all cables, all housings & new bar tape & labor.

I have a buddy at another shop thats going to do it cheaper.

DIY cables isn't going to help on a 70 mile ride which is when twice that cable has broke.

It streches first then starts losing ability to shift gears.

Made is back on 2 gears.

Its a great bike but eats cables.

IMO Shimano should put some sort of pulley in the 90 degree pivot point.

My buddy is going to check for burrs & grease the cables.

11 speed cassette gets shifted about 600 times a week.

it needs fixing, no excuse for cables to be damaged like that - the 'stretching' you describe is most likely due to the first strands of cable being cut, this dramatically increases drag and from then the clock is ticking on when it breaks

$200 is still a ripoff - half that would still be steep

diy is the only way to know it's done right

if the cable is failing at a bend external to the shifter, you might do better fitting nokon with powercordz/liner (do not use the nokon liner), this copes much better with tight bends - it will cost more up front and is fiddlier to fit, but the nokon beads will long outlast the bike, new liner every year or so is cheap, powercordz change every 2-3 years

can you post a photo showing cable path? like...



...i know this is front, but they're mirror image, this shows powercordz cables going into the helical nokon sleeves that run the first part before switching to the beads

Is.brad

My cables go thru the 5800 105 handle without a casing.

sungod

if they're running out of the shifter body bare then that's not good

if there's no room for outer due to design, you should at least be able to run some ptfe tubing over the cable there, it'll wear through eventually, but combined with removing sharp edges it should help things last longer between services