Cable for Shimano Positron 11

woody33

Hi, the rear gearshift cable on my older "Gents 10-speed racer" has snapped, it's a Shimano Positron 11 with a solid cable thats thinner than the newer multi-strand cables that seem to all that I can find. I need to use the old outer cable for the end attachments, and a new twisted inner will not fit through all the way. Any suggestions? (Finances are an issue...)

Holyboy

Oh your in trouble there,your rear mech has no spring in it,the idea of the solid cable was that it both pushed and pulled the mech into position instead of just pulling and then relying on spring tension to pull it back down!you could try searching for new old stock on the interweb you may get lucky,there is a great schwinn store on ebay that has loads of odd stuff like that. Other wise it will be new rear mech,cable and maybe shifter!unless some one on here has some other genius solution.

coastwatch

I've never heard of this system before, but if it's just single core / solid wire you're looking for you could try piano wire or fishing wire (from a fishing tackle shop). Bring the original with you to compare diameters.

woody33

Thanks for the quick reply, there is a spring in the rear mech, I think because it's a Positron 11 and not the earlier versions. I hope that improves the outlook.

woody33

Fishing wire, now there's a thought! Some internet sources call it "piano wire" too, I'll see can I chase both of those up.

Holyboy

As a former angeler and having worked in a tackle shop for many a year I dont know of any wire that would be suitable except Alasticum but I havent seen it in many a year!you would still have to fashion a barrell of some sort for the end though.are you sure the mech has a spring in it?it might have a tension spring but ive never come across one with a return spring before!but I stand to be corrected.


http://retrobicyclesupply.com/shimano-positron-cable-with-housing.html