shift cable housing question

Jeff Baron said:

local bike shops sell Shimano sis shift cable housing at $4.5/foot and generic shift cable housing
at $1.5/foot. much appreciate advice on whether one would notice the difference in shifting
between Shimano and generic.

With shift cables attached to the handlebar and closely spaced gears, length change of conventional
control cable housing has caused problems for MTB's where large changes in shift-cable bend-radius
occurs. I doubt that there is an advantage for road bicycles. Since it contains less steel (but is
stiffer) it might be lighter.

Don't overlook the following:

draco.acs.uci.edu8f.2.htmlOpen ↗

Jobst Brandt [email hidden] Palo Alto CA

"jeff baron" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

local bike shops sell shimano sis shift cable housing at $4.5/foot and generic shift cable housing
at $1.5/foot. much appreciate advice on whether one would notice the difference in shifting
between shimano and generic.

We use various house brands from our distributors, mostly made by CC Cable, in both 5mm and 4mm
formats. No quality issues at all. Avoid plastic ferrules, though. Get the right size in metal.

--
Andrew Muzi yellowjersey.orgyellowjersey.orgOpen ↗ Open every day since 1 April 1971

Quoted message said:

Jeff Baron said:

local bike shops sell Shimano sis shift cable housing at $4.5/foot and generic shift cable
housing at $1.5/foot. much appreciate advice on whether one would notice the difference in
shifting between Shimano and generic.

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

Quoted message said:

With shift cables attached to the handlebar and closely spaced gears, length change of
conventional control cable housing has caused problems for MTB's where large changes in
shift-cable bend-radius occurs. I doubt that there is an advantage for road bicycles. Since it
contains less steel (but is stiffer) it might be lighter.

Don't overlook the following:

draco.acs.uci.edu8f.2.htmlOpen ↗

Jobst, I did not understand that at all. "contains less steel"?? Which one? Shimano gear casing or
CC gear casing?

I use both Shimano gear casing and CC Cable gear casing ( and Campagnolo gear casing too!) I use a
lot of it in all three brands.

I don't believe there is any more or less steel in any brand of gear casing currently produced.

As a matter of fact, I bet you could not tell a length of Shimano gear casing from a length of CC
Cable brand gear casing once you cut out the section with the name hot-stamped in. (Campagnolo is
very slightly thinner OD).

I just cut open a piece of each brand and the strands are the same size (.5mm) and the strand count
(19) is identical.

--
Andrew Muzi yellowjersey.orgyellowjersey.orgOpen ↗ Open every day since 1 April 1971

Andrew Muzi said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

local bike shops sell Shimano sis shift cable housing at $4.5/foot and generic shift cable
housing at $1.5/foot. much appreciate advice on whether one would notice the difference in
shifting between Shimano and generic.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

With shift cables attached to the handlebar and closely spaced gears, length change of
conventional control cable housing has caused problems for MTB's where large changes in
shift-cable bend-radius occurs. I doubt that there is an advantage for road bicycles. Since it
contains less steel (but is stiffer) it might be lighter.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Don't overlook the following:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

draco.acs.uci.edu8f.2.htmlOpen ↗

Quoted message said:

Jobst, I did not understand that at all. "contains less steel"?? Which one? Shimano gear casing or
CC gear casing?

The FAQ item explains that the SIS shift cable housing has low helix stainless wires instead of
being a steel coil, conventional in Bowden control cables. The SIS cable housing is mainly plastic
with longitudinal wires with a helix similar to that of the cable. Cables must be wound in a helix
or the outside strands would fail under load because they take a longer path. The helix makes all
strands pass through inside and outside of bends, maintaining constant length and stress. The SIS
housing does the same.

Quoted message said:

I use both Shimano gear casing and CC Cable gear casing ( and Campagnolo gear casing too!) I use a
lot of it in all three brands.

Quoted message said:

I don't believe there is any more or less steel in any brand of gear casing currently produced.

If you review the FAQ item, I think it will clarify the issue.

Quoted message said:

As a matter of fact, I bet you could not tell a length of Shimano gear casing from a length of CC
Cable brand gear casing once you cut out the section with the name hot-stamped in. (Campagnolo is
very slightly thinner OD).

I don't know what a CC cable is.

Quoted message said:

I just cut open a piece of each brand and the strands are the same size (.5mm) and the strand
count (19) is identical.

Well! A brake cable housing has only one strand that is wound circularly about a mandrel. It is
solid steel, the better ones are made of rectangular (trapezoidal when straight) wire.

Jobst Brandt [email hidden] Palo Alto CA

A reader asked:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> local bike shops sell Shimano sis shift cable housing at $4.5/foot and generic shift cable
> housing at $1.5/foot. much appreciate advice on whether one would notice the difference in
> shifting between Shimano and generic.

And Jobst responded:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

With shift cables attached to the handlebar and closely spaced gears, length change of
conventional control cable housing has caused problems for MTB's where large changes in
shift-cable bend-radius occurs. I doubt that there is an advantage for road bicycles. Since it
contains less steel (but is stiffer) it might be lighter.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Don't overlook the following:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

draco.acs.uci.edu8f.2.htmlOpen ↗

I ([email hidden]) penned:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Jobst, I did not understand that at all. "contains less steel"?? Which one? Shimano gear casing
or CC gear casing?

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

Quoted message said:

The FAQ item explains that the SIS shift cable housing has low helix stainless wires instead of
being a steel coil, conventional in Bowden control cables. The SIS cable housing is mainly plastic
with longitudinal wires with a helix similar to that of the cable. Cables must be wound in a helix
or the outside strands would fail under load because they take a longer path. The helix makes all
strands pass through inside and outside of bends, maintaining constant length and stress. The SIS
housing does the same.

(am)> > I use both Shimano gear casing and CC Cable gear casing ( and Campagnolo

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

gear casing too!) I use a lot of it in all three brands.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I don't believe there is any more or less steel in any brand of gear

casing

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

currently produced.

(jb)> If you review the FAQ item, I think it will clarify the issue.

(am)> > As a matter of fact, I bet you could not tell a length of Shimano

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

gear casing from a length of CC Cable brand gear casing once you cut out the section with the
name hot-stamped in. (Campagnolo is very slightly thinner OD).

(jb)> I don't know what a CC cable is.

(am)> > I just cut open a piece of each brand and the strands are the same size

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

(.5mm) and the strand count (19) is identical.

(jb)> Well! A brake cable housing has only one strand that is wound

Quoted message said:

circularly about a mandrel. It is solid steel, the better ones are made of rectangular
(trapezoidal when straight) wire.

Ahhh, We have spoken past each other. I was replying to the question about Shimano vs. "generic"
gear casing. You were talking about the difference between gear casing and brake casing, an
important thing but tangetial here.

--
Andrew Muzi yellowjersey.orgyellowjersey.orgOpen ↗ Open every day since 1 April 1971

jeff baron <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

local bike shops sell shimano sis shift cable housing at $4.5/foot and generic shift cable housing
at $1.5/foot. much appreciate advice on whether one would notice the difference in shifting
between shimano and generic. thanks, jeff baron

$4.5/foot is too much from any MFG. Try Ashman's. I had really good prices from them on original
Shimano SIS, brake and inner stainless cables. They are black (housing with silver lettering) if you
don't mind.

"A Muzi" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"jeff baron" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

local bike shops sell shimano sis shift cable housing at $4.5/foot

and

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

generic shift cable housing at $1.5/foot. much appreciate advice on whether one would notice the
difference in shifting between shimano

and

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

generic.

We use various house brands from our distributors, mostly made by CC

Cable,

Quoted message said:

in both 5mm and 4mm formats. No quality issues at all. Avoid plastic ferrules, though. Get the
right size in metal.

Andrew: why avoid plastic ferrules. Isn't that the pre-packaged standard for Campagnolo? --
Jay Beattie.

In article said:

"A Muzi" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"jeff baron" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

local bike shops sell shimano sis shift cable housing at $4.5/foot

and

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

generic shift cable housing at $1.5/foot. much appreciate advice on whether one would notice
the difference in shifting between shimano

and

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

generic.

We use various house brands from our distributors, mostly made by CC

Cable,

Quoted message said:

in both 5mm and 4mm formats. No quality issues at all. Avoid plastic ferrules, though. Get the
right size in metal.

Andrew: why avoid plastic ferrules. Isn't that the pre-packaged standard for Campagnolo? --
Jay Beattie.

I don't know Andy's reason but my reason is that the longitudinal steel strands in the housing can
push through the plastic cap. That almost never happens with steel end-caps; you do see it from time
to time with the plastic ones.

--Paul

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

"jeff baron" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

local bike shops sell shimano sis shift cable housing at $4.5/foot

and

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

generic shift cable housing at $1.5/foot. much appreciate advice on whether one would notice
the difference in shifting between shimano

and

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

generic.

Quoted message said:

"A Muzi" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

We use various house brands from our distributors, mostly made by CC

Cable,

Quoted message said:

in both 5mm and 4mm formats. No quality issues at all. Avoid plastic ferrules, though. Get the
right size in metal.

"Jay Beattie" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Andrew: why avoid plastic ferrules. Isn't that the pre-packaged standard for Campagnolo? -- Jay
Beattie.

We commonly replace splayed pastic ferrules. I suppose if they fit well they should work fine. But
when they are cocked in a slightly-large cable stop they split open. Campagnolo plastic ferrules??
I'm building with Campagnolo cable sets with all-metal ferule assortments. Sure you didn't mean
Shimano plastic ferrules?

--
Andrew Muzi yellowjersey.orgyellowjersey.orgOpen ↗ Open every day since 1 April 1971

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

"jeff baron" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
> local bike shops sell shimano sis shift cable housing at $4.5/foot

and

Quoted message said:

> generic shift cable housing at $1.5/foot. much appreciate advice on whether one would notice
> the difference in shifting between shimano

and

Quoted message said:

> generic.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

"A Muzi" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

We use various house brands from our distributors, mostly made by CC

Cable,

Quoted message said:

in both 5mm and 4mm formats. No quality issues at all. Avoid plastic ferrules, though. Get the
right size in metal.

Quoted message said:

In article said:

Andrew: why avoid plastic ferrules. Isn't that the pre-packaged standard for Campagnolo? -- Jay
Beattie.

"Paul Southworth" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I don't know Andy's reason but my reason is that the longitudinal steel strands in the housing can
push through the plastic cap. That almost never happens with steel end-caps; you do see it from
time to time with the plastic ones.

I agree. Why do the job over to replace a split or pierced plastic ferrule when you could have done
it _once_ in metal?

--
Andrew Muzi yellowjersey.orgyellowjersey.orgOpen ↗ Open every day since 1 April 1971

jeff-<< local bike shops sell shimano sis shift cable housing at $4.5/foot and generic shift cable
housing at $1.5/foot. much appreciate advice on whether one would notice the difference in shifting
between shimano and generic

If both lined, use the cheaper stuff...like chains, the least expensive compatible stuff..

The more expensive stuff will not work any better particularly if the generic stuff is 5mm rather
than the really dopey 4mm shimano stuff...

Peter Chisholm Vecchio's Bicicletteria 1833 Pearl St. Boulder, CO, 80302
(303)440-3535 vecchios.comvecchios.comOpen ↗ "Ruote convenzionali costruite eccezionalmente bene"

"Qui si parla Campagnolo" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

jay-<< Andrew: why avoid plastic ferrules. Isn't that the

pre-packaged

Quoted message said:

standard for Campagnolo? -

Campagnolo uses and supplies steel ferrules, shimano uses plastic with

their

Quoted message said:

4mm der housing-

steel es better-

No dis to Campy intended. I got some Sachs Ergo 7/8 levers for my tandem about 10 years ago. They
were bundled with Campy cables with plastic ends. I guess this is not the standard. -- Jay Beattie.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

jay-<< Andrew: why avoid plastic ferrules. Isn't that the

pre-packaged

Quoted message said:

standard for Campagnolo? -

Quoted message said:

"Qui si parla Campagnolo" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Campagnolo uses and supplies steel ferrules, shimano uses plastic with

their

Quoted message said:

4mm der housing- steel es better-

"Jay Beattie" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

No dis to Campy intended. I got some Sachs Ergo 7/8 levers for my tandem about 10 years ago. They
were bundled with Campy cables with plastic ends. I guess this is not the standard. -- Jay
Beattie.

Those casings were hot-stamped "Sachs". It was standard, _their_ standard, not Campagnolo's. SRAM
still supplies plastic ferrules on oem casings.

--
Andrew Muzi yellowjersey.orgyellowjersey.orgOpen ↗ Open every day since 1 April 1971

"A Muzi" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

jay-<< Andrew: why avoid plastic ferrules. Isn't that the

pre-packaged

Quoted message said:

standard for Campagnolo? -

Quoted message said:

"Qui si parla Campagnolo" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Campagnolo uses and supplies steel ferrules, shimano uses plastic

with

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

their

Quoted message said:

4mm der housing- steel es better-

"Jay Beattie" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

No dis to Campy intended. I got some Sachs Ergo 7/8 levers for my

tandem

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

about 10 years ago. They were bundled with Campy cables with

plastic

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

ends. I guess this is not the standard. -- Jay Beattie.

Those casings were hot-stamped "Sachs". It was standard, _their_

standard,

Quoted message said:

not Campagnolo's. SRAM still supplies plastic ferrules on oem casings.

Actually, Andrew, I recall that they had a very nice gold script "Campagnolo" on them. They were
black. I installed them on another bike, but I think they are still around. I'll take a look. --
Jay Beattie.