replacement cabling for bikes?

[clerkkent]

I've been coming across more mid to upper grade multi speed bikes where the cabling has either rusted beyond repair, or the sheathing has decayed and frayed to the point of being unattractive and unsafe. The derailleurs usually are in working or serviceable condition. Usually I remove the derailleurs on the lower end bikes and just make it a single speed bike, I have a couple nicer bikes I'd like to get back to almost factory functionality.

Do the cable kits at stores fit the bill? Would a cabling machine be a better long term 'investment' (I loathe using the term)? other solutions?

 

[user 135]

The Bell Cable kits from walmartwork for flipping bikes. For your personal bikes, I would buy better quality from an LBS.

 

[jerrykr]

http://www.bikeworldusa.com has pretty much anything you would need. I bought a 25 ft roll of cable housing and some replacement cables for shifter and brakes (they are different sized and have different ends). I have a Park cable cutting plier tool to cleanly cut both to length. get the housing ends and cable ends too, they are cheap by 100 in a plastic bottle, and make for a professional job.

 

[yoothgeye]

The only problem I've read about the Bell kits from Walmart (also on Amazon) is that the housing is not compressionless, so for indexed shifting, it will compress and mess up shift points. This shouldn't effect braking.

 

[Gold Street Customs]

I have used the Bell kits plenty of times, for shift and brake, as far as cutting the cables, at the bike shop I used the Park tool, at home I used my cheepo dikes. A little trick I picked up for some of the cables that did not cut as desired and the hole got flatted. Take an old spoke on the grinder till it gets nice and pointy works great for fixing the hole (caution ,don't poke yourself) and don't forget to throw some thin grease on the cables before the housing is slid over.

 

[user 135]

Compression less housing will work on thumbie friction shifters.

A bench grinder is the best for cleaning the cable ends. :wink:

 

[jerrykr]

I have used the Bell kits plenty of times, for shift and brake, as far as cutting the cables, at the bike shop I used the Park tool, at home I used my cheepo dikes. A little trick I picked up for some of the cables that did not cut as desired and the hole got flatted. Take an old spoke on the grinder till it gets nice and pointy works great for fixing the hole (caution ,don't poke yourself) and don't forget to throw some thin grease on the cables before the housing is slid over.

Never thought about using a spoke. If you have a screwdriver with a broken end, (who dosent) grind it to a dull point and use it.
It has a nice handle on it.

 

[Sinner4]

If you need a bunch, Niagara Cycle, I buy 50' at a time for around $20 each roll. Get the lined cable. It comes in black, white, red. green, blue and yellow. I cut it with diagonal cutter then take a sharp awl and open the end. be careful and not slip and stab yourself.. Also you can cut with a Dremel and cut off wheel.