Ccccables frozen

"J. Chisholm" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I'm more of a 'Utility' that 'Recreational' cyclists, but that does mean
I'up at crack of dawn (or before) and cycle in all weathers some 10+ miles
each day.

This morning my 7 speed Nexus hub was reluctant to go into lower gears
once I'd been in a high one.
This ain't the first time I've so suffered on very cold mornings, but it
is first time this year.

I think it is due to fricton in the cable run, due to buildup of grot and
moisture.
What lubricant, if any, do others use in such cables?
Should I be finding the time to replace such cables each Autumn?

Cables should get replaced when they need replacing. I don't generally
lubricate cables heavily, but I also run full length outers and tend not to
ride when it's absolutely perishing. I'd use something like 5w30 motor oil
or 3 in 1 as it'll stay thin at low temperatures.

Doki said:

Cables should get replaced when they need replacing. I don't generally
lubricate cables heavily, but I also run full length outers and tend not
to ride when it's absolutely perishing. I'd use something like 5w30
motor oil or 3 in 1 as it'll stay thin at low temperatures.

Note that many cables these days are pre-lubricated with special stuff,
and may not take kindly to having ordinary oil dripped in there with it.
Try it and see, obviously, you have nothing to lose if it was already
stuffed, but it may be time for a new one.

-dan

In message <[email hidden]>, [email hidden]
writes

Quoted message said:

Doki said:

Cables should get replaced when they need replacing. I don't
generally lubricate cables heavily, but I also run full length outers
and tend not to ride when it's absolutely perishing. I'd use
something like 5w30 motor oil or 3 in 1 as it'll stay thin at low
temperatures.

Note that many cables these days are pre-lubricated with special stuff,
and may not take kindly to having ordinary oil dripped in there with
it. Try it and see, obviously, you have nothing to lose if it was
already stuffed, but it may be time for a new one.

I use the "dry" teflon lubricant. Its very thin and mobile and works its
way down if you carefully dribble it in from the top. Its useful on long
Brompton cables.

--
bob

J. Chisholm said:

Should I be finding the time to replace such cables each Autumn?

I replaced my front brake cable (inner and outer) last night, after it
froze for the third time this winter. The difference it made to the
feel and responsiveness of the brake and to my stopping power was
incredible (helped, no doubt, by the new front brake that I installed at
the weekend).

The old cable was sopping wet when I pulled it out. I can only think
that the water got in during the Exmouth Exodus in June and hasn't been
able to get out again.

I know you were asking about gear cables, but cables is cables. If
you're suffering at all with cable sticking, and especially cable
freezing, I don't think you'll regret spending a few quid and half an
hour replacing both the inner and the outer (not much point just
replacing the inner, if the outer is full of [censored]).

YMMV, but doing it every Autumn might be overkill. Although this was
the 4th time I've changed the inner cable on this bike, the outer had
been on there since I bought the bike 7 years ago. It's been fine until
the last few months.

--
Danny Colyer <http://www.redpedals.co.uk>
Reply address is valid, but that on my website is checked more often
"The plural of anecdote is not data" - Frank Kotsonis

J. Chisholm said:

(I gather neither Napolean nor [censored] got to Moscow because their
machinery/guns wouldn't work in the cold)

I thought it was buttons in Napolean's case. The tin buttons on their
uniforms turned to weak, powdery grey tin due to the cold hence they
were all running around starkers (and once you do that, other bits
quickly stop working thanks to the cold).

Some, or all, of the above may of course be nonsense/urban legend or
other such havers.

Graeme

Graeme Dods said:

J. Chisholm said:

(I gather neither Napolean nor [censored] got to Moscow because their
machinery/guns wouldn't work in the cold)

I thought it was buttons in Napolean's case. The tin buttons on their
uniforms turned to weak, powdery grey tin due to the cold hence they
were all running around starkers (and once you do that, other bits
quickly stop working thanks to the cold).

So the parts of the usual rape and pilage would be difficult (;-)?

Jim Chisholm

Graeme Dods said:

J. Chisholm said:

(I gather neither Napolean nor [censored] got to Moscow because their
machinery/guns wouldn't work in the cold)

I thought it was buttons in Napolean's case. The tin buttons on their
uniforms turned to weak, powdery grey tin due to the cold hence they
were all running around starkers (and once you do that, other bits
quickly stop working thanks to the cold).

Some, or all, of the above may of course be nonsense/urban legend or
other such havers.

Graeme

Well apart from anything else Napoleon (and most of his army) did get
to Moscow. It was the getting back again that proved problematic...

Napoleon's guns would have worked in the cold, not having the same
problems of fuel turning to jelly that the german army did.

Dave

Dave