What do you use to lubricate your cables?
I used to use pedros ice wax, then i tried regular grease. It embeds well into the fibers of the cable. Now ive been using tri flow, a squirt down the housing. What do you use?
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Originally Posted by phantomcow2
I used to use pedros ice wax, then i tried regular grease. It embeds well into the fibers of the cable. Now ive been using tri flow, a squirt down the housing. What do you use?
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You don't want to use... grease.
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Originally Posted by operator
You don't want to use... grease.
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Originally Posted by phantomcow2
I think tri flow might be better though, maybe its just my imagination. Im very fond of the stuff
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No i just think it lubricates well. Best chainlube i've used, i figure its probably good for the cables as well
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A thin layer of white lithium grease if i remember to do it before the housing goes on.....
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Back in the day. It was standard practice to put a thin film of Phil grease on the cables before the housing went on.
Didn't seem to attract any ick. -Z |
I've heard modern teflon lined housings don't need lubrication, but I use a drop or two of a thin lubricant (tri-flow) before sliding the housing on. Seems to work nicely, and my cables are smooth as butter.
Grease might congeal up on you, its a bit stickier than what you want. Grease is meant to be beefy to handle the stress of metal/metal contact, not be the best lubricant possible. Tri-flow and its ilk are good lubricants that won't goo up. peace, sam |
The Shimano cable housing that come with STI shifters has grease injected inside from the factory. The grease is injected in from the end with the "Shimano" logo on it. These cables should be installed with the logo up at the shifter end so when the inner cable is inserted inside the grease will push through toward the other end of the cable.
As far as what to use for lube, I can see no reason to question Shimano on this. Grease is the best lubricant and when used with those nice Shimano cable ends with O-rings inside, the grease stays inside and the water stays out. Ed |
Originally Posted by phidauex
I've heard modern teflon lined housings don't need lubrication, but I use a drop or two of a thin lubricant (tri-flow) before sliding the housing on. Seems to work nicely, and my cables are smooth as butter.
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Most of my bikes have cheap, old housings and cheap old cables. Hey, I'm old and cheap! :rolleyes:
I lube them with Triflow becauswe I always have some around in my work tool kit, if not in my bike kit. I've had no problems in years. Doc |
I work on a lot of bikes without the lined housing, and grease seems to work well. I use a red synthetic grease that's very good, but it stinks!
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I don't. Like Rayain, I use teflon housings and teflon coated cables.
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Originally Posted by DinoShepherd
Back in the day. It was standard practice to put a thin film of Phil grease on the cables before the housing went on.
Didn't seem to attract any ick. -Z |
White Lightning
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Lube attacts dirt. Teflon coating shreds eventually. I prefer bare SS cables and uncoated housings and leave them alone until they are replaced.
Al |
I use Dupont Teflon Dry Lube from the hardware store.
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nothing
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Whatever I'm putting on my chain...Pedros Extra-dry all purpose -says for cables as well.
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I do remember someone using graphite back in the '80s.
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Originally Posted by DieselDan
I don't. Like Rayain, I use Teflon housings and Teflon coated cables.
Originally Posted by Al.canoe
Lube attacts dirt. Teflon coating shreds eventually. I prefer bare SS cables and uncoated housings and leave them alone until they are replaced.
Al http://img60.exs.cx/img60/240/travelagent6bb.jpg The gear cables on the other hand looked as fresh as they did when I put them in. On the other hand you'd probably get more life out of your cables and a smoother action if you took some step to "smooth" things out. Some lubes may attrach dirt but rust LOVES unlubricated surfaces. |
Originally Posted by Raiyn
......as he absolutely murders my handle. :roflmao:
That's funny I inspected my year old cables today and the only evidence of "shedding" is only at one specific location. along the pulley for my Travel Agent. The gear cables on the other hand looked as fresh as they did when I put them in. . Stainless Steel cables don't rust. I get at least as good, mostly better service from cables with no teflon as I get with it. Lube itself adds drag to the cable, but that really only affects, if it does at all, the rear derailleur response time. For my ATB, I like to put on a new rear derailleur cable (inner +outer) every 12 to 14 months, about 800 miles of mostly sandy single-track, to insure snappy down-shifting. It's cheap. Al |
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