Cable Changes

mooth-running, well-lubricated cables are ,ssential for sensitive bike control. You will find that regular servicing and replacement will also make breakages a rare occurrence. For brakes, you should use the thickest cables that your system will accept, particularly with hybrid and mountain bikes. Thicker cables are stronger and less likely to stretch,

and have a better, more positive feel. In left- side-of-the-road Britain, most people use the left-hand lever for the rear brake. The rest of the world uses the right-hand lever for the rear brake. Gear changer cables are much the same in principle as brake cables, therefore guidance on their general maintenance can be applied to both.

CABLE TYPES

Cables come in different thicknesses and lengths (upper left), and with different types of nipples. Always obtain the right size and type, particularly for gear changing systems, either ordering for your make and model of bike and components,

or by taking the bike or old cables to the

shop. Keep a spare set in case one breaks.

HOUSING PROBLEMS

Check the cable housings for kinks and fractures (lower left), and the cable wires

for fraying. If there are problems, replace

the wires and/or housings as soon as possible. It is prudent to replace wires in pairs, gear and brake. After cutting cable housing, if ends are burred and uneven, neaten them with a file.

SIDE-PULL BRAKES

REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT

Turn the cable adjusting screw fully home (clockwise). Fit a

third hand to the brake mechanism and undo the cable anchor bolt (above). Depress the brake lever and extract the cable wire (above right). If you are replacing the housing, remove the old housing and install the new one, passing it through the cable guides if required, and re-fitting the ferrules (little caps on the ends of the cable housing) if your system uses these.When cutting cable housing, use cutters with large enough jaws, and avoid mashing the housing flat by nesting the jaws between the

coils of the housing. Where necessary, use nylon zip ties to secure the housing to the frame. Then grease the cable wire and nipple, and thread it through the brake lever housing and cable housing. Rotate the cable wire as you insert it (usually clockwise), so that the wire strands stay together rather than

fray apart. Make sure the cable housing ends are firmly seated,

do up the cable anchor bolt, and press the brake lever hard several times to stretch the cable. Then adjust the brake, as described on p.166.

CABLE CHANGES

CANTILEVER BRAKES

REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT Turn the cable adjusting bolt fully home

clockwise. Fit a third hand to the brake mechanism and disconnect the straddle wire and cable anchor bolt, above. Align the slots in the adjusting screw and

lockring with the slot on the brake lever,

GEAR CABLES

and slide out the cable wire through the slots, and the nipple out of the brake lever. Replace the cable housing if required, and grease and install the new wire. Insert the nipple into the brake lever, and nest the cable housing securely in the adjusting bolt.

Pass the wire through the cable anchor bolt, make sure the cable housing ends are fully nested in their stops, tighten the bolt, and connect the straddle wire. Press the brake lever hard several times to stretch the cable, and then adjust as described on p.166.

REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT

Put the chain on the smallest chainring and sprocket. Screw the cable adjusting bolt(s) fully home clockwise. Reverse the bolt on the rear derailleur two turns,

to give leeway for future adjustments.

Undo the cable anchor bolt. On rear

derailleurs, it is on or inside the body of the derailleur. Most of the front derailleurs are the same, but some have the cable housing stop on the derailleur body, and the cable bolt on the bicycle frame.

Dismount levers (not always necessary

on down-tube levers) to withdraw the cables. As for the brakes, above, grease and insert new cables, and tighten all mounts and bolts. Stretch the wires where they are exposed by pulling them outward.

Adjust the gears if necessary.

CABLE CUTTING TIPS

If possible, wait until you have installed the new cable wire before cutting off any excess wire. Cutting will sometimes cause the end of the wire to fray, making it difficult to

thread the wire through the housing and cable anchor bolt. Use good- quality wire cutters – ordinary pliers will fray the cable. When the cable wire has been installed and trimmed, crimp

a cap to the end to prevent it from unravelling. When cutting cable housing, first use a knife to cut the vinyl sheath and expose the metal housing. See "Fine Tuning" (p.I86).

A

q

in firmly but if it sticks, back off,

wiggle the link to line up the rivet with the holes, and try again.

• Sedis 2.38 mm gold chain

emwemeor-

Sedis 2.38 mm standard chain

HyperG lide chain

CYCLE MAINTENANCE