Bicycle Mechanics - Chainstay cable housing guide too small--??

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NRRider
10-01-06, 03:56 PM
The cable housing guide on my chainstay (the one that holds the housing leading to the RD) is so small that it won't even take the bare cable housing (forget about using a ferrule). I tried peeling off the rubber coating on the housing and sticking it in the guide but that makes a big mess of the housing. Is there some sort of secret to this? How do I get it to look clean? Righ now I have the ferrule just butting up against the outside of the guide and it looks, well, less than good.

HillRider
10-01-06, 04:26 PM
Are you sure you are using derailleur housing (4 mm diameter) and not brake housing (5 mm diameter)?
ISeeDeadHuffies
10-01-06, 06:34 PM
Sounds like you need a stepdown ferrule. Should be available at the LBS. I'm guessing this is an oldish road bike?

TallRider
10-02-06, 06:39 AM
ISeeDeadHuffies is correct. I've got a late-80's Centurion Ironman Expert (http://www.unc.edu/~cupery/pics/bikes/Centurion_Ironman_Expert/IMG_1520--Centurion_pink_bike.jpg) that has this sort of cable stop. I had a stepdown ferrule sitting around and got the old (normal-width) cable-housing ferrule off by heating it up with a lighter so that the plastic underneath got soft, and I put the stepdown ferrule in its place the same way.
HillRider
10-02-06, 06:58 AM
I'm surprised that frames from that period won't take normal 4 mm derailleur housing. In my immediate circle I've got an '85 and '86 Bridgestone, and an '83 and '85 and '88 Trek and they all accept derailleur housing with no problems and no need for step-down ferrules.
NRRider
10-02-06, 07:39 AM
Thanks for the responses. It's not that old. It's from 1995. Never heard of a step-down ferrule but it sounds like that might be the ticket. In fact, once I had the term "step down ferrule" I did a search and found this thread, where it looks like the guy has the exact same issue and this was the answer. Thanks again.
http://www.bikeforums.net/archive/index.php/t-84926.html
jimmythefly
10-02-06, 05:16 PM
I'm surprised that frames from that period won't take normal 4 mm derailleur housing. In my immediate circle I've got an '85 and '86 Bridgestone, and an '83 and '85 and '88 Trek and they all accept derailleur housing with no problems and no need for step-down ferrules.

Odd. I have an '84 Trek and it does need a step-down ferrule. (to use 4mm housing).