Cable frozen in braze-on shifter
01-10-16, 08:40 AM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Cable frozen in braze-on shifter
Hi. I have a braze-on down tube shifter with the cable frozen in it. Any ideas how to get the cable out?
01-10-16, 09:21 AM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: City of Brotherly Love
Posts: 1,562
Bikes: Raleigh Companion, Nashbar Touring, Novara DiVano, Trek FX 7.1, Giant Upland
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 22 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Start with penetrating oil, pushing on the cable with a vise grip. If that fails, the melting point of the cable end is far lower than the melting point of the lever.
Last edited by Bezalel; 01-10-16 at 09:57 AM.
01-10-16, 09:32 AM
#3
Mechanic and Enthusiast
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 83
Bikes: 1995 Fuji Roubaix- 25th Anniversary Edition, 2003 Bianchi Veloce
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Grab pliers and push the cable in is my first thought...
If that doesn't work, let it soak in a cup of penetrating oil or whatever substance you want to use.
You can even try cutting it so it's a small nub at the end. Hit it downward on hard ground. That way it'll be like removing a nail from a piece of wood.
Last option, fire.
If that doesn't work, let it soak in a cup of penetrating oil or whatever substance you want to use.
You can even try cutting it so it's a small nub at the end. Hit it downward on hard ground. That way it'll be like removing a nail from a piece of wood.
Last option, fire.
01-10-16, 09:33 AM
#4
Super Moderator
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Ffld Cnty Connecticut
Posts: 21,843
Bikes: Old Steelies I made, Old Cannondales
Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1173 Post(s)
Liked 927 Times
in
612 Posts
1) Vice grips or pliers grabbing the loose end of the cable, very close to the shifter, then wiggle & push.
2) Center punch the cable end to make a dent in the middle, then use a drill bit positioned in the dent to drill the head. If you slip, you may scratch the shifter.
2) Center punch the cable end to make a dent in the middle, then use a drill bit positioned in the dent to drill the head. If you slip, you may scratch the shifter.
__________________
Bikes: Old steel race bikes, old Cannondale race bikes, less old Cannondale race bike, crappy old mtn bike.
FYI: https://www.bikeforums.net/forum-sugg...ad-please.html
Bikes: Old steel race bikes, old Cannondale race bikes, less old Cannondale race bike, crappy old mtn bike.
FYI: https://www.bikeforums.net/forum-sugg...ad-please.html
01-10-16, 09:33 AM
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Rochester, NY
Posts: 18,063
Bikes: Stewart S&S coupled sport tourer, Stewart Sunday light, Stewart Commuting, Stewart Touring, Co Motion Tandem, Stewart 3-Spd, Stewart Track, Fuji Finest, Mongoose Tomac ATB, GT Bravado ATB, JCP Folder, Stewart 650B ATB
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4197 Post(s)
Liked 3,849 Times
in
2,300 Posts
I've had the best success by poking through from the small cable passage hole with a thin probe, like a sharpened spoke. Andy.
01-10-16, 10:01 AM
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: New Rochelle, NY
Posts: 38,689
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: 140 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5772 Post(s)
Liked 2,563 Times
in
1,420 Posts
Start by soaking in ammonia or a product made for freeing frozen bolts, ie. Kroil or PB blaster. Give that plenty of time to work, then grab the wire in a vise or locking pliers. Twist the lever in the direction that winds the wire tighter (this is important, lest you unravel the wire and make then job impossible). You don't need to push, just twist until the head can turn, then you can push while twisting.
The alternative method is to drill it out, but this can be tricky and should only be necessary in the most extreme cases.
The alternative method is to drill it out, but this can be tricky and should only be necessary in the most extreme cases.
__________________
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.
01-10-16, 05:55 PM
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 33,656
Bikes: '96 Litespeed Catalyst, '05 Litespeed Firenze, '06 Litespeed Tuscany, '20 Surly Midnight Special, All are 3x10. It is hilly around here!
Mentioned: 39 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2026 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1,096 Times
in
742 Posts
01-10-16, 06:56 PM
#8
Old fart
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Appleton WI
Posts: 24,782
Bikes: Several, mostly not name brands.
Mentioned: 153 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3587 Post(s)
Liked 3,398 Times
in
1,932 Posts
Start with a bit considerably smaller than the cable head. Clamp the lever securely before drilling. Sometimes the drill puts enough torque on the cable head to break it free, otherwise, you can thread a small sheet metal screw into the hole, grab it with a pliers and pull it out.
01-10-16, 07:23 PM
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: New Rochelle, NY
Posts: 38,689
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: 140 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5772 Post(s)
Liked 2,563 Times
in
1,420 Posts
But you're right, ammonia and caustics need to be used with caution on aluminum parts.
__________________
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.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
airick
Bicycle Mechanics
8
07-16-23 01:40 PM
dtbaker61
Bicycle Mechanics
113
07-15-23 09:48 PM
