bikecarmel

Like the title says , do you put grease on the cables under the BB shell ?
(or is it enough to make sure that its clean down there ?)

motorhommmer

No will only attracr dirt

San Rensho 

Yes, grease it and clean it out every once in a while.

TallRider

+1. They slide smoothly enough against dry plastic or paint or metal. Grease may smooth them for the moment, but dirt will build up in short order and the effort will have been counterproductive.

powers2b

Yes, use oil if the guide is metal (as on older bikes).
No, if the guide is plastic. The plastic will wear before the cables and the grease will degrade the plastic.

The cable housings should be lubed with light oil periodically to prevent corrosion.

The Key factor in both cases is to keep your bike clean.

Enjoy

Bobby Lex

YES!

Plastic or metal, doesn't matter. (e.g. Cable housing is plastic, but that gets lubed from time to time. Shimano's high-end stuff comes pre-lubed). All moving/sliding parts should be lubed from time to time.

Bob

MattP.

I wouldnt. Under the BB shell, it will only attract dirt, and clog it all up. But in the housings, yes I wouild put a little oil in.

bikecarmel

Thanks everyone I will leave it clean.

Rev.Chuck

you can also get nylon tubing to run the cable thru at the guides. I do this when I have a bike with worn metal guides(i see this on Trek Carbons, they use a plate with guides bent into the end of it)
I also use it for the tri guys that are bad for dribbling energy drink on the down tube, cytomax will glue the cables in place. It helps a bunch.

white lobster

The nylon tubing is a good idea, Chuck. Grease is too goopy and it'll definitely attract dirt, but a bone dry or dirty cable guide can cause a lot of friction, so it's a good idea to keep it lubed. I've found that Tri-Flo stays pretty clean. A few drops can improve shifting dramatically. If you're really worried about dirt, use a wax-based lube like White Lightning.

DieselDan

I treat it like a chain lubrication. I spray, or drip, a little lube on the cables, then let it sit for an hour or so. Finally, I wipe it dry. Like the good Rev. said, energy drinks will gum up the cables if you aren't careful.

spunkyruss

What's the poper name for the nylon tubing (if it has a proper name), and where can I get it?

I have a couple of older bikes that are overdue to have the worn tubing replaced.

Wil Davis

PTFE tubing - here's a pic of my mods to my Schwinn - made a big difference, shifting is now much smoother…

- Wil

Bobby Lex

Here's what Calvin at Parktools has to say on the subject:

Hello Bob,

There is no one answer that works in all cases. If you have a plastic bottom bracket guide, it is typically best not to lubricate at all. The plastic material is for the most part self-lubricating. Any oil or grease will tend to attract dirt, which will eventually cause friction in the system. If the there is creaking from the cable rubbing at that point, you will need to lubricate. If the guide is steel, some grease is a good idea. You will need to clean it from time to time.

Calvin Jones
Park Tool

Bob

spunkyruss

Does anybody know where to get PTFE tubing in small quantities?

I know that I could order a big (and expensive) roll of the stuff from a laboratory supplier, but I only want to buy about a foot of it.

Rev.Chuck

Bike shops usually have a roll of the stuff laying around.

spunkyruss

Thanks for the info. I've come up empty at my local shops, but I'm moving next weekend. Hopefully I'll have better luck in a different area.

I was surprised that I couldn't find it at biketoolsetc or loosescrews.