Bicycle Mechanics - rear shifter housing problem (img included)

http://timsmith.org/images/rear-shifter-cable-housing.jpg

Ok, so what's going on? This is the cable housing directly from my rear rapidfire shifter. The plastic junk was all tangled up, gumming up the shifting, and those wires... Oh my.

As my signature file says.. I am just learning as I go along :)

So anyway the back story: My rear shifting has always been weird on my Specialized HardRock Sport 2004. I think I finally found out why. Anyway, I was just trying to tune my rear derailer, and found it was a bit frayed, so I decided to replace the cable altogether. That's when I found this mess inside the shifter. Sorry I didnt take a picture of the mess while it was inside the shifter.

I don't have an replacement housing... Any suggestions on where I can get some? I live too far away from LBS, and my usual sites Pricepoint, Nashbar, Performance don't seem to carry what I need.

Bummer, I'm out of commission until this is fixed :P

I wasn't clear... This is JUST the housing. The actual cable is removed from the housing, so it's not frayed left over cabling.

Ok I was just out tinkering with this bike again... It suddenly hit me that I don't have a barrell adjuster for the rear shifter, like I do for front shifter. I rode this bike yesterday and remember looking for the barrell adjuster when I was having shifting trouble.. Didnt think much of not being able to find one.

Until now.. Hmmm... I'm guessing that the folks who built this bike screwed up at the LBS.. I guess I also need a barrell adjuster.. :P

Guess it would be easier for me to just get a whole new rear derailer shifter/brake lever deal - upgrade it than to locate all the cheapie parts that came with my specialized hardrock.

It's housing that's worked it's way thru the end of the plastic end piece.Time for new housing....www.loosescrews.com has casing and end caps....also make sure your RD also uses a barrel adjuster.

I second sydney. You can always upgrade to the newer fancy housing, like Avid flackackets, that a lot of mailorder businesses sell. They also come with ferrules. Barrel adjusters are another problem. You might try buying a cheap used derallieur on ebay and cannibalize it. Good luck.

I second sydney. You can always upgrade to the newer fancy housing, like Avid flackackets, that a lot of mailorder businesses sell. They also come with ferrules. Barrel adjusters are another problem. You might try buying a cheap used derallieur on ebay and cannibalize it. Good luck.Before he goes skipping down the yellow brick road it would be good to confirm he really needs one.I have a Sram 7.0 that does not use a barrel aadjuster at the RD. And a used one out of a junk Rd might even be free at LBS.

I MAY have some spare barrel adjusters around.. That would rule if I did. if I am lucky, all I need is new housing...

I learned something new today.. Cable housing have wires inside them to help them keep a firm shape. I didn't know that. :)

Thank you!

Nashbar have In-line cable adjusters for $5.

I'd check the shifter for one first.

Try http://aebike.com/site/ or http://www.yellowjersey.org for 1.2mm (shifter) housing/cable/ferrules/end-crimps.

Got some replacements on the way... My searching got a bit easier when I figured I could search either "housing" or "Casings" :) I went with some Avid Straitjacket.

Now for the bad part- the waiting for the parts to arrive :(

Thanks for the Alfred E. Bike linkage.. that site is cool :)