mavic517

I am new here, hello. I have two questions:
1) The rear brake cable on the Vitus is routed through the top tube. I want to replace it.
Do I have to "fish" the cable through the top tube or is there some kind of "Tunnel"
inside the top tube that is used to route the rear brake cable ??
2) I would like to purchase a Cris King Classic Wheelset. Will the hubs fit in both the front
and rear dropouts? After the rear casseste is attached to the rear hub, will I have a
spacing problem in the rear drop outs..........that is, will the rear hub with the casseste
attached fit ok?
Thanks for your time & let me know about the questions.
Sincerely,
Mavic517

badamsjr

If the brake cable has housing going through the top tube, it is a 'fishing trip' to replace. If there are stops for the housing at each end, it MAY be 'tunneled', but I am not an expert on Vitus.

If the housing goes through, try this. Remove the inner cable, and use a NEW inner cable to help 'fish' in the new housing: insert the new inner cable, and slide the old housing out, leaving the inner cable in place through the top tube. After cutting the new housing to match the old for length and 'clearing' the ends (rounding and removing obstructions or sharp edges), slide the new housing over the inner cable, through the top tube. Once the new housing is in place, remove the inner cable, and continue installation as usual. Good luck!

Retro Grouch 

1. There are three ways that have been commonly used to route cables through frame tubes and, frankly, even fisning a bare cable through the tube isn't as hard as some people make it sound. If you have a cable housing that runs through the frame tube, just pull the old cable out and use the old cable housing to guide the new cable. Then pull out the old cable housing and use the new cable to guide the new cable housing through. If just the bare cable runs through the frame tube I just position the frame so that the cable exit is on the bottom and gravity makes it easy to snare the cable and pull it out.

2. Sometimes 1 measurement is worth 1,000 guesses. Measure the distance between your rear dropouts. If it's 130 mm, you're golden. My guess is that the rear hub isn't going to fit.

JohnDThompson 

Yes, there is a tube inside the top tube to guide the cable.

Re: your wheels -- what is the width of the rear hub? What is the width of the rear dropouts on the frame? N.B. you will *NOT* want to attempt to cold-set your Vitus frame. If the dimensions don't match, you must either add or remove spacers on the hub (and likely re-dish the wheel) to obtain the proper width. Failing that, you may need to use a different hub with the proper width.

operator

Even if there isn't, all you need is a section of plastic housing they typically use to protect carbon BB shells from derailleur cable wear. It's literally a 3 second extra cable replacement with it.

mavic517

Thank you for your ideas, they are very good

mavic517

I will check it out..........and thanks for your thoughts

mavic517

Thank you for your response...........I will measure

fietsbob

Mechanical principle thought, not from experience

You may be able to tie a thread onto the old cable and pull the thread thru as you pull
the old cable out, then use that thread to pull the new cable thru, again ,

even if the liner sleeve inside the frame may be displaced ..

its what electricians do to pull wires thru conduit tubes , just a miniature version.

mavic517

Thank you

mavic517

thanks

Paul01

My mid 80s Vitus 979 has 126 mm rear drop out spacing.

Great frame. Sean Kelly won a bunch of TDF green jerseys and a Vuelta riding one.

One caveat, if you're a 60 rpm pedal masher this frame isn't for you. If you're smooth spinner, like Kelly, it will be great ride.

WMBIGS

No problem with the cable. Has an internal tube. Remember the Vitus is on the flexy side before you go bombing down any hills, gets pretty squirlley at times.

_ForceD_

Just resurrecting this old thread after Google searching for advice to do this job on my own old Vitus today...for future reference for others, and my experience that nearly ruined my day.

On the Vitus 979... yes, there is a plastic tube inside the top tube for routing the cable. But, when I pulled out the old cable, from the front, a short piece of end of that plastic routing tube came out the end of the aluminum cable stop that is braised to the top tube. The kinks from where the old cable was fastened to the rear brake caliper created too much resistance and caused it to pull out just a bit. I thought it was ruined and I'd never be able to get the inner cable routed. But, luckily this time it did go through OK. In hindsight I should have cut that part of the old cable off so that it would have pulled through easily.

Dan

easyupbug 

On routine common jobs I admit I will skip the think it through step and just go. I can see me doing that and regretting it, thanks.