Recommend gear cable

[black'n'yellow]

Of course I could save troubling you nice cyclechatters with questions they could answer in their good time (sometimes I answer other folks' questions) if black n yellow could just PM me his phone number - I could then just call him 24/7 with the "final word" on any cycling topic and the rest of us could just go pedal.

that's not gonna happen - I wouldn't want you bothering me with a daft question at some ungodly hour.

Grease and oil on a cable is superflous, incidentally. But it doesn't matter what I think - I'll pop back in a few more pages time, when you've found that out for yourself..

 

[Globalti]

The most overlooked part of the gear cable system is the short length, which curves round to the rear derailleur. This wears fast and gets clogged up with dirt and rust so is worth replacing every 6 months, you'll be amazed at the improvement. It's worth investing in a Park Tools cable cutter (expensive but the best) and buying a length of cable outer. When I'm being really fussy about it I remove the outers or slide the outers back and clean up the inner with wire wool then polish with some metal polish and lube very lightly with Finish Line. I replace the outer at the rear curve and any other sections, which look ropey. Every couple of years I replace the whole lot from end to end. I'm less fussy about brake cables, just check and inspect and replace if frayed or ropey.

 

[Cubist]

Grease and oil on a cable is superflous, incidentally.

Go on then, enlighten us, why is grease (or oil) superfluous?


Assuming it's not too much trouble to answer?

 

[black'n'yellow]

Go on then, enlighten us, why is grease (or oil) superfluous?


Assuming it's not too much trouble to answer?

honestly, it's no bother at all. It's not necessary to lubricate a steel cable running through a nylon sleeve - especially one that moves such a small amount. All you really need to do is keep it clean. However, if lubing it floats your boat, then lube it - but like I say, the lube is superflous...

 

[Moodyman]

honestly, it's no bother at all. It's not necessary to lubricate a steel cable running through a nylon sleeve - especially one that moves such a small amount. All you really need to do is keep it clean. However, if lubing it floats your boat, then lube it - but like I say, the lube is superflous.

We all have different experiences, but in mine, I drop light oil into the outer every few months to keep it smooth. The difference between a dry and lubed cable is noticeable. It also helps avoid salt induced rust and corrosion in winter.

 

[Cubist]

So there's no benefit to using a lithium grease to prevent a steel cable from corroding? I had always assumed that as the cables I fit don't have sealed outers, and I use the bikes in all weathers and all conditions, plus using water to clean them, that lithium grease would prevent surface corrosion (or at least delay it) on the steel inner cable, which in turn would rapidly wear out the polythene sleeving in the outer cable, leading to the sort of wear and graunch described by Globalti, especially at curved sections of outer.

Had you perhaps not taken into account the fact that the OP described an all-round utility bike, rather than one ridden only on dry days?

 

[black'n'yellow]

So there's no benefit to using a lithium grease to prevent a steel cable from corroding?

not if you buy Shimano - they're stainless.. I'm sure lots of others are too...

Had you perhaps not taken into account the fact that the OP described an all-round utility bike, rather than one ridden only on dry days?

shouldn't really matter. My road bike, cross bike, winter bike and MTB all get the same treatment (or should that be lack of treatment?). So long as the inner and outer are in good nick, then keeping it clean is all that is really needed, IME. Won't do any harm to lube it, but that's not the same as 'needing' to lube it.

I'm just trying to save you some time - that's all...

 

[Cubist]

there's bugger-all difference between any of the available cable inners and outers in my experience - just buy the ones which your LBS has in stock. They will probably have Shimano - most shops do - so buy those....

But you said there was no difference in the cables available. You said the LBS would probably stock Shimano, but implied they were no better than others. Now you're telling us that Shimano are better cos they don't need greasing. So which is it?

 

[Cubist]

The inner cables I linked to on eBay were galvanised by the way.

 

[black'n'yellow]

But you said there was no difference in the cables available. You said the LBS would probably stock Shimano, but implied they were no better than others. Now you're telling us that Shimano are better cos they don't need greasing. So which is it?

No difference in performance. I don't believe we had got as far as discussing lubricating the inners at that point.

The inner cables I linked to on eBay were galvanised by the way.

Galvanising is just a surface treatment to prevent rust.

 

[MacB]

The most overlooked part of the gear cable system is the short length, which curves round to the rear derailleur. This wears fast and gets clogged up with dirt and rust so is worth replacing every 6 months, you'll be amazed at the improvement.

Wise words, I replace these on the bikes 2-3 times as often as the rest of the outer, it makes a tremendous difference.