Siezed shifter cable head in DT shifters
05-23-22, 01:07 PM
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Siezed shifter cable head in DT shifters
Doh, my Mavic shifters have a stuck cable. After penatrants fail, any tricks before I break out the drill?
05-23-22, 01:28 PM
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Downtube shifters, presumably.
If the cable is intact---i.e., if the cable's end isn't broken such that it is flush with the top of the shift lever hole - that should be an easy fix. Clamp the exposed cable (at a point about 5 mm or less beyond the surface of the shift lever) with a ViceGrip that's at a right angle to the cable. You can then tap on the side of the head of the ViceGrip with a small hammer to drive the cable deeper into the lever, which should free the cable end.
If the cable end is flush with the top of the shift lever hole, use something of suitable diameter - e.g., a spoke, preferable cut short - as a miniature drift pin to drive the cable into the lever as described above. Might work best to grab the spoke with a ViceGrip, etc. If the spoke isn't the right diameter, maybe trimming a chopstick to fit might work. Don't get it stuck in the lever, though.
If the cable is intact---i.e., if the cable's end isn't broken such that it is flush with the top of the shift lever hole - that should be an easy fix. Clamp the exposed cable (at a point about 5 mm or less beyond the surface of the shift lever) with a ViceGrip that's at a right angle to the cable. You can then tap on the side of the head of the ViceGrip with a small hammer to drive the cable deeper into the lever, which should free the cable end.
If the cable end is flush with the top of the shift lever hole, use something of suitable diameter - e.g., a spoke, preferable cut short - as a miniature drift pin to drive the cable into the lever as described above. Might work best to grab the spoke with a ViceGrip, etc. If the spoke isn't the right diameter, maybe trimming a chopstick to fit might work. Don't get it stuck in the lever, though.
05-23-22, 01:45 PM
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Chill Out
Toss them in the freezer overnight. The lead cable head will contract more then the hole housing it. Twist the cable in the direction of its twist, and push. Should pop right out.
(Among my favorite buys are (broken) Brifters with stuck cables where the PO used the slightly larger cable head of a different brand without filing it first, and jammed it in.)
(Among my favorite buys are (broken) Brifters with stuck cables where the PO used the slightly larger cable head of a different brand without filing it first, and jammed it in.)
