Ferrules

[danphoto]

As in go over the end of your cable outers.

Is there supposed to be any advantage in fitting these apart from making your cable look pretty and preventing you from getting poked by the cut end of the outer if you didn't make a proper job of it?

 

[BodZorg]

Ferrules don't really serve any purpose apart from holding the splayed ends together; in fact crimping a ferrule on will splay the cable anyway. Best thing to do with a cable end it to solder it, and then if you want to pretty things up to crimp a ferrule on lightly.

 

[Davidc]

If there isn't one (not fitted or it falls off) the end of the cable unravels with lots of spikey bits.

The unravelling stops at the clamp (or always has on my cables), but the individual wires are sharp, and any further adjustment of the cable is difficult.

What BodZorg says about soldering works, but only if it's done before crimping a ferrule on. If you do it don't try to pull the cable inner out of the outer without cutting the soldered bit off though, it wrecks the lining of the outer (experience talking!).

The cable I always do well is the front mech one - a frayed cable end is bad for the ankles.

 

[Hacienda71]

It bloomin hurts when you spike yourself with a frayed end.

 

[danphoto]

Erm ... guys, I'm not on about cable end tidies and inner cables.

The question is about ferrules and cable outers. Like this

 

[Davidc]

They protect the plastic from being damaged or compressed by the metal it's in contact with. If there is damage it tends to stop the inner moving and sliding freely.

I have forgotten to fit them sometimes, and have usually ended up trimming a couple of millimeters off the sheath and fitting one later on.

I always get them included with the cable, and also recover them and keep them in a pot when cables get replaced, so a zero cost item anyway.

 

[e-rider]

some of you lot are talking about cable ends not ferrules

you need to fit ferrules, plastic ones will do but metal ones last longer

if you don't fit them the outer cable will begin to fall apart and your gear changes and braking will be rubbish