Cable splitters for coupled tandems

[JayB]

I am not clear on how one replaces the brake and gear cables when there are splitters to aid disassembly of a S&S coupled tandems. For example you buy a Shimano cable with an end which fits into a Shimano brifter. The other end plain and normally, after fitting it to the derailleu or brake, you trim it for length. But how do you fit it into the cable splitter when you've got a plain cable end?

[gregm]

JayB, is this what you have?

http://www.davincitandems.com/images/split.gif

-Greg

[JayB]

Thanks. Very clear diagram. Only thing I am not sure about is how the splitter connected to the bit which goes to the brake / gear lever without having a nipple to keep it from slipping.

[TandemGeek]

I am not clear on how one replaces the brake and gear cables when there are splitters to aid disassembly of a S&S coupled tandems. For example you buy a Shimano cable with an end which fits into a Shimano brifter. The other end plain and normally, after fitting it to the derailleu or brake, you trim it for length. But how do you fit it into the cable splitter when you've got a plain cable end?

With cable splitters you need to use two cables for the front & rear derailleur and your rear brake(s).

On the bright side, you can use two normal-length derailleur (78") or brake (60") cables instead of the slightly more expensive and often times harder to find tandem length derailleur (120" - 160") or brake (108") cables.

[JayB]

Right, thanks gregm and TandemGeek. I think I've got it. Still not quite clear how the cable splitter thing grips the clipped off, slippery end of the cable with no nipple. Seems to have a tiny set screw.

A friend of mine told me that Co-Motion had recently introduced something called a "split cable bracket" for derailleur cables. Is this related to cable splitters for coupled tandems? Or is it something else entirely? Thanks again.

[TandemGeek]

Still not quite clear how the cable splitter thing grips the clipped off, slippery end of the cable with no nipple. Seems to have a tiny set screw.

There are actually two "pinch bolts" in each male fitting; you can clearly see their hex-heads in the illustration provided by Greg. These things are very effective and, if you really crank them down, you'll find it's very hard to get the deformed cables back out of the fitting.

A friend of mine told me that Co-Motion had recently introduced something called a "split cable bracket" for derailleur cables. Is this related to cable splitters for coupled tandems? Or is it something else entirely?

Can't help you there... I'll have to ask.

[JayB]

Thanks TandemGeek. Asked my friend and he said that he saw this "split cable bracket" mentioned on the Hobbes Tandem list. However, apparently it wasn't clear from that what it did / how it worked.

[TandemGeek]

I'll have to ask.

Confirmed with Co-Motion....

It's simply replacing the downtube shifter boss-mounted cable stops & integrated barrel adjusters with a brake-cable like cable stop & and in-line cable adjuster (INCA).

This is what you would normally see; a boss-mounted stop with adjuster:
http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2002/tech/probikes/AIS/cablestop.jpg

Or, another type of cable stop used by Co-Motion looks like this:
http://www.cyclesdeoro.com/images/Interbike%20Shows/Interbike2002/Co-Motion_touring2.jpg

This is a slotted brake cable stop:
http://www.yaquiusa.com/scans/frames/brzns/braze8.jpg

This is an INCA:
http://www.precisiontandems.com/cat_pics/cadavininca.gif

[JayB]

Thanks TandemGeek. As usual I got the wrong end of the stick. So the INCA will fit inside the new slotted brake cable stop or in front of it, rather than being integrated.

[TandemGeek]

Thanks TandemGeek. As usual I got the wrong end of the stick. So the INCA will fit inside the new slotted brake cable stop or in front of it, rather than being integrated.

I have not seen a picture of the installation and wouldn't hazard a guess at this point. Best to wait until someone takes a photo of a frame where you can actually see how they've done it.

[TandemGeek]

Kent Peterson from Co-Motion was kind enough to follow-up Dwan Shepard's original reply with a photo of the S&S front derailleur cable stop & in-line cable adjuster installation they are using:

http://static.flickr.com/19/109864816_3c684d69b2.jpg

Per Kent... "Here is a photo of the slotted cable stop with the in-line cable adjusters. This method makes packing a bike easier since you can now remove the bars and the cables come along with the bar. With the former method the cables stayed attached to the head or downtube and the possibilty of kinking a cable was greater."

So, now you know.

[gregm]

That looks like the jagwire in-line barrel adjuster:

http://aebike.com/page.cfm?PageID=30&action=details&sku=BR4049

http://aebike.com/images/library/catalogs/soc/p350X350m/BR4049.jpg

Bought half of a pair (aka "one") from my LBS a while back... need to install it on the rear brake cable on my Trek T100, since the stock setup has no adjustment for the rear brake.

-Greg

[JayB]

Thanks. Pictures helped a lot.

[ElRey]

dude, as a lifetime safety professional I strongly urge you to have a pro handle this. You're unclear, and these are your brakes: a failure at the wrong monment may be unhealthy.

[PaMTBRider]

I've used the inline cable adjusters on two different Cannondale singles and had nothing but trouble. They didn't seem to hold there adjustment very well and caused "ghost shifting" with the rear derailleur. I replaced them with a solid cable housing and boss mounted adjusters and haven't had any problems since.

[JayB]

Wait a minute. Fog descending again: are these cable splitters as well as adjusters? That's what comment from Kent Peterson implies, no?

[dubbelop]

Wait a minute. Fog descending again: are these cable splitters as well as adjusters? That's what comment from Kent Peterson implies, no?
I think they're adjusters only. The slotted cable stops (under the down tube) allow you to take out the cable housing so the cables are slack.

[JayB]

"Here is a photo of the slotted cable stop with the in-line cable adjusters. This method makes packing a bike easier since you can now remove the bars and the cables come along with the bar. With the former method the cables stayed attached to the head or downtube and the possibilty of kinking a cable was greater." This is what the message from Kent Peterson said. Further up, above the Co-Motion supplied photo is says the photo is of "the S&S front derailleur cable stop & in-line cable adjuster". So, I thought, if only for S&S and if it allows bars to come off with cable, must be they are splitters too. But you are saying the splitting happens somewhere else, right?

[TandemGeek]

Wait a minute. Fog descending again: are these cable splitters as well as adjusters? That's what comment from Kent Peterson implies, no??

No. These are "in-line" cable adjusters. The derailleur cables pass through these fittings and the fittings can be screwed clockwise or counterclockwise to move the cable housing ends closer or futher apart. As the housings move apart, they move the derailleurs "up" the cogset or chainrings and as they move together the move the derailleurs "down": fine tuning, if you will.

All these things do is replace the cable stops with integrated barrel adjusters that I provided photos of in an earlier reply to allow the use of the split cable stops. For example, on our travel tandem, I must remove the two screw-on cable-stops with a hex wrench to detach my handlebars/shifters/derailleur cables from the front 1/3 of my frame. On a Co-Motion, the cables can simply be pulled out of the stops; saves about 2-3 minutes (5 minutes if you're not fast with a wrench) when packing and Unpacking.


So, I thought, if only for S&S and if it allows bars to come off with cable, must be they are splitters too. But you are saying the splitting happens somewhere else, right?

Yes, there are cable splitters located further along on the derailleur cable runs.

[Brian]

Ok, so what are my options for splitters? I'm trying to get our tandem to pack down easier. I've got the new fork to install, but need to sort the shifters.

[JayB]

I think they're adjusters only. The slotted cable stops (under the down tube) allow you to take out the cable housing so the cables are slack.
Thanks, dubbelop. Got it now. Somehow wasn't taking on board the key word: "slotted".

[JayB]

TandemGeek,
Thanks to you and dubbelop bearing with me I've finally got it. Somehow wasn't taking on board the key word: "slotted".

[TandemGeek]

Ok, so what are my options for splitters? I'm trying to get our tandem to pack down easier. I've got the new fork to install, but need to sort the shifters.

http://www.sandsmachine.com/ac_cable.htm