Exocet 2 shift cables rusting under BB

ashnorman
ashnorman Posts: 21
edited October 9 in Workshop

My Plant X Exocet 2 has a small (removable) plastic cap that covers the shifter cable routing directly beneath the bottom bracket. The small enclosed area seems to be collecting water and dirt and (I

presume) it cant dry out effectively. The shift cables have become very rusty (only in this specific area) and one of them has recently snapped (at that point), it was only 6 months old. The other is also suffering from a lot of rust.

Is there anything I can do to prevent this from happening again?

I have replaced the snapped cable with a Dura Ace polymer coated cable in the hope it will be more durable. But I'd ideally like to prevent the water and dirt ingress in the first place. I suspect it may just be that I need to regularly take the cap off to clean that area and let it dry out.

Tried adding a photo but keep getting "validation failed" error.

Ideas welcome, thanks.

Comments

  • Munsford0
    Munsford0 Posts: 678

    If rusting to the point of breaking within 6 months I suspect they were basic mild steel cables.

    Switch to stainless cables and bung a load of (preferably marine) grease in there? And get used to replacing them periodically. Don't think DA cables will be any more durable in that situation; the polymer coating is designed to work inside the cable outer, not in the outside world full of salty slurry and grit

  • trevor.hall12
    trevor.hall12 Posts: 478

    You can normally put a bit of slick liner in that area if it fits ,thats what i always do if it allows .Not an uncommon thing

  • super_davo
    super_davo Posts: 1,213

    Also worth noting that design isn't unique to Planet X, I have a few bikes like that. I would be very surprised if the plastic cover was watertight, normally water will drain out slowly and if left somewhere warm and dry the rest will evaporate.

    However you can get issues depending on how you store the bike. On a TT bike, chances are you will ride it and chuck it in the boot of your car lying flat for the drive home, possibly till next morning if doing evening TTs. That means any water that has collected won't drain out and can rust the cables and / or bottom brackets.

    Being aware is half the battle, and you can minimise the impact by stuff like taking it out of your car and standing upright ASAP and keeping it somewhere warm and dry after a wet ride rather than in a cold shed or garage. If that isn't enough then there are mechanical things like stainless steel cables; marine grease; drilling a drainage hole in the plastic cover; or to go completely nuclear bore out the stops and use full length outers. Most of that list would be overkill for a TT bike predominantly used in warmer months though!

Categories