Will a cable end solve this problem?

jojoma said:

I've been having some trouble getting this shift cable taut, and I have frayed the end. Will a cable end take care of this? I also read that nail polish works. 🙄

First you'll need a new cable.

jojoma said:

I've been having some trouble getting this shift cable taut, and I have frayed the end. Will a cable end take care of this? I also read that nail polish works. 🙄

Yes, a properly installed cable end will help.
Super Glue on a cleaned cable end will assist in keeping the strands together, but often there is enough contamination inside where the strands contact each other to keep the glue from sticking.
I have used solder on cables I want to pull out and restring. You need to get the strands very clean and heat the cable enough to make the solder flow. I don't do it very often, but I warn you not to do it "in-place" as the heat would likely melt the inside coating of the shift housing.

daveornee said:

Yes, a properly installed cable end will help.
Super Glue on a cleaned cable end will assist in keeping the strands together, but often there is enough contamination inside where the strands contact each other to keep the glue from sticking.
I have used solder on cables I want to pull out and restring. You need to get the strands very clean and heat the cable enough to make the solder flow. I don't do it very often, but I warn you not to do it "in-place" as the heat would likely melt the inside coating of the shift housing.

If you are going to solder, I would suggest (a) using flux which will help the solder stick to the strands (after it is cleaned that is) and (b) hold the metal part of the cable near the sheath with pliers to serve as a heat sink.

TheDarkLord said:

If you are going to solder, I would suggest (a) using flux which will help the solder stick to the strands (after it is cleaned that is) and (b) hold the metal part of the cable near the sheath with pliers to serve as a heat sink.

+1. I have always used solder and flux is a necessity. I have always soldered my cables out of the casing so that I don't damage the internal lining. If you don't want to re-run your cables, you do need to use a heat sink such as a pair of pliers

I definitely think you could simply carefully twist the cable back into a single strand and clamp it in the derailleur as a short term solution. It will hold by itself after you clamp it. The rest is just for looks. Crimping on a cable end sounds a lot simpler than solder, but a new cable from a shop would be less than getting a roll of solder and some flux if you don't already have them.

Most solder reels have the kind of solder that has flux in it, so you won't need to get that separately.

But soldering that cable will look fairly crude. Just support the LBS and buy a new cable inner. If PBK can sell you two for less than three bucks than you should be able to get one for $5 or so at the shop. And ask for a couple of crimp-on ends at the same time so it doesn't happen again.

jojoma said:

I've been having some trouble getting this shift cable taut, and I have frayed the end. Will a cable end take care of this? I also read that nail polish works. 🙄

Your \derailleur is mounted upside down, that's your problem!!! :eek:

Peter@vecchios said:

Your \derailleur is mounted upside down, that's your problem!!! :eek:

Oh, c'mon Peter, the pic is clearly upside down to show the cable. :p

TheDarkLord said:

Oh, c'mon Peter, the pic is clearly upside down to show the cable. :p

sigh, ya think??

Let's not let a sense of humor get in the way of bike 'stuff'.

Peter@vecchios said:

sigh, ya think??

Let's not let a sense of humor get in the way of bike 'stuff'.

Sigh, you should read the emoticons. 😉

jojoma said:

I've been having some trouble getting this shift cable taut, and I have frayed the end. Will a cable end take care of this? I also read that nail polish works. 🙄

Errr... the shift cable aint taught cause it ain't clamped down. :p

I'm frayed ya can't taught a old cable new tricks! I'm off to ride now:p! Weatherman: "rain", yeah, right😄!