Help with brakes and shifter cables please.

[goldtop]

My brake cables are rusty and need changing, so I bought a cable/shifter inner and outer kit and some cutters. However even after watching several youtube clips on cable replacement, I can't work out how the cables insert into the shifters/brake levers. :facepalm:

I'd hate to give up and take it to my lbs as I've been a little disappointed with some of the previous work they've carried out for me. I wonder if someone could point me towards a decent clip or offer advice please.

 

[benjy]

stick them in smallest gear, undo the inners, push the inner cable in towards the shifters and i bet it pops out around the leaver hole on the shifters, make note of where it comes out of for when you put it together, if there is no gaps and it dosnt pop out, theres propbly a cover you need to unscrew, closer pics of shifter will help to spot it

 

[cherrybomb]

Re:

What shifters are they I can't tell from the photo. (But then unless they're XT I probably wouldn't recognise them anyway- so don't worry! :roll: )

Make sure the cable is released all the way by pressing the smaller shift button and pulling on the cable inner until it won't come out any further.

Extend a line from where the cable goes into the shifter through to the other side. The new cable will be fed in opposite where it exits the shifter (and goes into the outer housing).

There will be a port to feed the cable into, it may well be covered with a plastic cover, so be on the look out for a small screw holding the cover in place.

Once you've found that (If there is one), remove the cover, take hold of the inner cable and try to push it back into the shifter. It should pop out the opposite side if you've done the above properly.

Once done feed the new inner in and replace the cover if fitted.

Sounds complicated, but it isn't really. When you've don't it once it will all make sense.

 

[jimo746]

Re:

Shift into the smallest cog/chainring.
Do as mentioned above and cut the inner cable leaving a good length of it still hanging out of the shifter.
Push the inner cable in towards the shifter and you should see the end with the nipple on come out of the shifter, this is where you need to feed the new cable into.
Pull out the old cable, insert the new cable. It can be fiddly (like threading a needle), you may need to press on the shifter lever slightly to get a straight run through the shifter mechanism.

Here's a PIC of my LX shifter (yours look newer), you can see the barrel adjuster where the outer cable fits into on the right, and left of that is the hole to feed the new cable into, yours may have a little screw covering the hole though....

 

[jimo746]

Re:

For the brakes, again cut the inner cable.
Pull the lever to the bars (tape it to them if it makes it easier).
You'll see the nipple on the end of the cable located in the lever.
Line up the slots on the barrel adjuster & locknut, pull the cable through the lever body. My lever has a slot along the front of it and it comes out easily.
You should now be able to twist/remove the nipple end of the cable from the lever, fitting the new cable is the same in reverse.

PIC of my LX brake lever....

 

[goldtop]

Thanks for the advice....I didn't see that hole. I'll take a closer look over the weekend and give it a go. Was just about to ask about the brake cables but you beat me to it

 

[benjy]

Its all simple you will do it. The hardest part is setting everything up after

 

[chrisv40]

Re:

The hole the gear cable goes into isnt visible on those shifters, if you have a close look from underneath iirc you will see a little flap thats pops open with your fingernail. Behind this flap is a metal holder that the nipple on the inner cable seats into.
Hope this makes some sense.

 

[tony gti-r]

Re: Re:

The hole the gear cable goes into isnt visible on those shifters, if you have a close look from underneath iirc you will see a little flap thats pops open with your fingernail. Behind this flap is a metal holder that the nipple on the inner cable seats into.
Hope this makes some sense.

+1 for this

Just make sure that when the cable is out you dont press the shifter as I think it can get jammed.... iirc.



Tony....

 

[Twister]

Re: Re:

There will be a port to feed the cable into, it may well be covered with a plastic cover, so be on the look out for a small screw holding the cover on.

Please do note that the screws holding the gear cable cover are usually made of cheese so unscrew and replace with care.

They are also tiny so take care not to lose them.

Good luck.