Custom bike BB cable situation...

[lay]

Hi,

I've a custom bike, its got an BB shell with guides as part of the shape..

BUT in crappy weather the crud can get amongst the cable/s underneath the BB shell and the cables can starts to shift bad...is their any way to alleviate this permanently prior to getting a grinder and putting a plastic guide on ?

I just spray the undersneath of it with lube - GT85 etc...

 

[youngoldbloke]

Not sure what you have exactly, but even with plastic guides I pack the channels with grease. Surprisingly effective at keeping the crud away from the cables.

 

[ianrauk]

Yup, a dab of grease on the cables would protect them far better the spray lubricant.

 

[lay]

I'll try that, thanks

 

[young Ed]

yep grease or just a bit of Vaseline
Cheers Ed

 

[Somewhere]

Not sure I'd try grease there as it would just wash off or attract even more dirt. In 20 years of cycling I've never done that! Have you considered running the cables straight through..?

 

[youngoldbloke]

Not sure I'd try grease there as it would just wash off or attract even more dirt. In 20 years of cycling I've never done that! Have you considered running the cables straight through..?

Works for me!

 

[02GF74]

hmmm, I am surprised you have a problem - the area of cable that rubs against the BB guide is pretty small. mountain bikes see a lot of mud in that area and this the first time I have come across a shifting problem that is attributed to this.

before blaimng the BB cable guide., other things to check and clean/lube are the cable, mechs and shifters. It could also be a sign of the spring in the mech becoming weak - which mech is it and how much use?

you can buy sealed cable - this has a liner in whcih the inner wire runs.

 

[lay]

Straight thru' ????

Yeh I understand having a good lubed cable prior to putting it into the outer etc..

But imo steel against steel just dont do it for me, i wish when i'd got the bike built i'd have specced a BB shell so i cold run a plastic guide like on mass-manu'd bikes etc...

The mech is a Tiagra or a 105 i think..

This weather can really 'crud the sections' of the cable were it meets the outside..

- Thanks for the help on this BTW

 

[Globalti]

If you rear derailleur is sticky it's more likely to be the short section of outer cable running around there, than under the BB. As 02 writes above, mountain bikes have bare cable running in plastic guides under the BB and it seems to work fine. Greasing the guides just attracts dirt and builds up a grungy mess.

Change the cable outer at the RD, you'll be amazed at the improvement in performance.

 

[lay]

I'm on an 853/Columbus custom road bike not an MTB.

Its just a case of keeping the area under the BB clean but if you're reading this; think long and hard about about a cast BB in this style as this can present itself when the weather get irritating.

Yes, I will be sorting the cable. As they can affect shifting massively soo! cable can gunk up easily, especially during bad weather, road salt/dirt etc...

 

[raleighnut]

Vaseline (or any petroleum jelly) is far better as most types of grease use soap in their formulation

 

[lay]

Vaseline (or any petroleum jelly) is far better as most types of grease use soap in their formulation

Thats very interesting to know - will be acquiring some

 

[raleighnut]

Its also just the stuff for avoiding the old seat post stuck in frame scenario just be prepared for the inevitable sarky comment from "mates" who espy the jar on your w/shop shelf