frayed cable-ends? new caps? solder?
02-11-15, 10:54 PM
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Tulsa/B.A. OK
Posts: 172
Bikes: Crosstrail Disc
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
frayed cable-ends? new caps? solder?
I have 3 frayed, 2 badly. F-derailleur + r-brake due to no-helmet-impact-dazed careless adjusting minutes after a wreck and the caps got vanished, not sure how my r-derailleur got like that. (and not sure how i messed up the f-derailleur in a wreck)
I'm sure a bike shop might sell new caps for them, but are they easy to put on when badly frayed? bad enough/high-enough that I can't really cut off the bad part.
Looking at how tiny the caps are it seems it'd be about impossible to put a new one on a cable end as bad as 2 of mine are.
Would twisting it up with a drill then putting solder on it be a good solution?
I'm sure a bike shop might sell new caps for them, but are they easy to put on when badly frayed? bad enough/high-enough that I can't really cut off the bad part.
Looking at how tiny the caps are it seems it'd be about impossible to put a new one on a cable end as bad as 2 of mine are.
Would twisting it up with a drill then putting solder on it be a good solution?
Last edited by John Redcorn; 02-11-15 at 11:06 PM.
02-12-15, 12:50 AM
#2
Senior Member
Clean the ends up with a pair of good ****s and clamp on new caps. easy as pie. you'll need two sizes for the caps. Ten for a buck at your local bike shop. Don't solder.
02-12-15, 01:47 AM
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: D'uh... I am a Cutter
Posts: 6,139
Bikes: '17 Access Old Turnpike Gravel bike, '14 Trek 1.1, '13 Cannondale CAAD 10, '98 CAD 2, R300
Mentioned: 62 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1571 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 12 Times
in
9 Posts
I think solder can look nice on a vintage bike. But if the cables are already short and frayed that doesn't sound like a real option. For an emergency repair you can hand-twist the frayed ends and use an inch or so of electrical tape to hold it together.
I think my LBS sold me caps for 5 or 10 cents each... not much.
Replacement stainless steel cables were only $3.99 I think. Sometimes it's best to just replace the cable.
I think my LBS sold me caps for 5 or 10 cents each... not much.
Replacement stainless steel cables were only $3.99 I think. Sometimes it's best to just replace the cable.
02-12-15, 01:57 AM
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Buffalo New York
Posts: 2,470
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
I actually have used jb weld or 2 part epoxy on the end of my cables to prevent fraying, both work fairly well.
__________________
2010 Kestrel RT900SL, 800k carbon, chorus/record, speedplay, zonda
2000 litespeed Unicoi Ti, XTR,XT, Campy crank, time atac, carbon forks
2010 Kestrel RT900SL, 800k carbon, chorus/record, speedplay, zonda
2000 litespeed Unicoi Ti, XTR,XT, Campy crank, time atac, carbon forks
02-12-15, 05:03 AM
#5
Membership Not Required
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: On the road-USA
Posts: 16,855
Bikes: Giant Excursion, Raleigh Sports, Raleigh R.S.W. Compact, Motobecane? and about 20 more! OMG
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 70 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 15 Times
in
14 Posts
For temporary stop to the fraying, twist back together by hand with pliers and tape. Replace the cables, when you replace the cables you can solder or add new crimp caps. I usually solder.
Aaron
Aaron
__________________
Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
02-12-15, 10:11 AM
#6
Banned
Like above .. Zn treated steel cables solder easily . I solder where I Will Be Cutting them.
02-12-15, 01:45 PM
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,075
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 27 Post(s)
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I've heard of people using heat shrink tubing. The advantage is it can be removed if you need re-thread the cable. Never tried it myself.
02-12-15, 02:47 PM
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Middle of da Mitten
Posts: 12,486
Bikes: Trek 7500, RANS V-Rex, Optima Baron, Velokraft NoCom, M-5 Carbon Highracer, Catrike Speed
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1514 Post(s)
Liked 735 Times
in
456 Posts
If you can't get the cable strands wrapped back tightly, you may have to replace the cables. I've soldered new cables before. It just requires getting the manufacturing oil off them so the solder will flow into the strands. End caps are the easiest, though. I get them from Pricepoint, 50 or 100 at a time. They just pinch on with pliers, and if you're careful you can re-use them
02-15-15, 11:33 PM
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: New Rochelle, NY
Posts: 38,952
Bikes: too many bikes from 1967 10s (5x2)Frejus to a Sumitomo Ti/Chorus aluminum 10s (10x2), plus one non-susp mtn bike I use as my commuter
Mentioned: 141 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5907 Post(s)
Liked 2,776 Times
in
1,548 Posts
Solder is rarely an option on used wires because of a likely oil film on the strands. If you can roll the wires between your fingers small enough to slip on a crimp, do it that way. Sometimes you have better luck cutting them back a bit to get to a less frayed area.
Or you can by some heat shrink terminal covers from Radio Shack (while they're still in business) and use those. They have the advantage of being larger for slipping onto frayed wires. Plus in the future, you can shrink them on before cutting, and they do an excellent job keeping wires together.
Or you can by some heat shrink terminal covers from Radio Shack (while they're still in business) and use those. They have the advantage of being larger for slipping onto frayed wires. Plus in the future, you can shrink them on before cutting, and they do an excellent job keeping wires together.
__________________
FB
Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
FB
Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
