Broken cable

youcancallmeal

I was on the way into work this morning and while changing the rear gears something snapped and then none of the gear changes were responding. The cable seems to have snapped Anyway I'm fairly handy with the bike maintenance/repairs but I've never fixed a problem like this before. Is it just a matter of getting some cable from a bike shop and then replace the broken one. I work near cyclelogical and cycleways in Dublin city center, would they have the necessary cables or do they have to be specific cables for your gear shifter? My shifter is exactly like this one except mine is black.

topper75

Yes just buy a spare cable in any bike shop.

Fitting it is straight forward usually with some basic tools. But the fine-tuning afterwards may take some time (as it is trial and error trying to get it to work properly when you shift and you have to keep adjusting the length/tension to get the right balance).

There are no special cables as such - brake and gear cables are the same. They may ask you in the shop what bike you have etc.

Paulyh

you should be able to pick some gear cable cheap (i'd go to cycleways). its handy enough to replace the cable yourself, but you will need to retune the gears which is annoying, probably best for a bike shop to do that if you have never done it before. failing that, there are some good 'how to do's' on youtube if you going to tackle it yourself.


edit: beaten to it!!

topper75

Paulyh had the important point though that it is indeed 'annoying'.;)

Paulyh

topper75 wrote: »

brake and gear cables are the same.

dont gear cables have a smaller 'bead' thing at the end???

lescol

Brake and gear cables are different, gear cables are narrower and also use a different housing. It's easy enough to replace a cable but I'd be looking at why it snapped in the first place and where it snapped. You may need to change inner and outer cables. Shimano gear cable:- http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=27230 outer:- http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=1595 If you're unsure then LBS, or judging on recommendations on here call Mr Skeffington who will sort you out at home:- http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055611674

youcancallmeal

Thanks for all the advice guys. The gear shifters had been getting a bit stiff over the last couple of weeks. I havent had a chance to look at it in detail so not sure where the break is at the moment. I would say the cause is most likely just wear and tear because its probably been around 2 years since I've had that cable replaced and I do quite a lot of cycling.

bcmf

change the housing AND the cable.

cdaly_

lescol wrote: »

Brake and gear cables are different

Also brake cables come with two different ends. MTB / Hybrid brake levers use a barrel end:


While road (drops) levers use an in-line nipple end:


Some replacement cables come with both.