Barrel adjuster seized, what is this part?
 

Hello,

So my barrel adjuster for a shift cable was seized, and I recently freed it up. When I removed it, it looks like three separate parts came out as one piece. One piece was press fit into the cable "slot" on the frame. Screwed into that was the barrel adjuster. And something which looks like a cable end cap was seized inside the adjuster, but the metal appears to be thicker and more brittle. This could just be part of the barrel adjuster too.

My question is, what is that press fit piece called (I can't seem to post a picture since I have under 10 posts...) ? I lots of sites selling the barrel adjuster, but I can't seem to find the part which presses into the frame. Thanks for any advice

-rudy

The barrel adjusters usually have two parts, and often a spring:

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...cac28ae2fe.jpg



The other piece of metal sounds like a cable housing ferrule:

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...e82a9ecf8c.jpg

The barrel adjuster does have a spring, but there is another tube attached to it. I'm wondering if it was not supposed to be removed from the frame...

I did some more searching and came across a part from Jagwire they call a "mickey" (A google search for "Jagwire mickey" brings up a picture of what I removed). This part looks very close to what I removed.

The mickey is just a barrel adjuster essentially the same as the one in my pic. I guess I'm unclear as to the extra part that you described as "thicker and more brittle." You're halfway to being able to post pics, so go post some howdy's in the "Introductions" forum until you can put up a photo.

Is it bigger than a breadbox?
Some dimensions might help....

Are we talking a breadbox that holds a loaf of bread?

Here's a picture of what I got:

Top of picture part was what fit into frame, everything is seized together at the moment. Got it out with some penetrating oil and a lot of wiggling back and forth with the vice-grippers.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...353a42db32.jpg

I can't tell what that broken part is, but if I had to guess, I'd say it's some kind of cable housing ferrule or reducer.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...3af695327b.jpg


If you replace your cable adjuster with a Mickey, you should be good to go. Whether the inside diameter of the end that accepts the cable housing has room for a ferrule remains to be seen. If one will fit, I'd use it. But it might require the cable to feed into it as pictured below:


https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...d83de0eef0.jpg

Hope this helps!

Is "mickey" a general term? The only one I can find is by Jagwire. Any other manufacturers produce one?

I think Mickey is a proprietary name that Jagwire calls theirs. You can also get an "in line" adjuster, which you can place anywhere along the cable housing, as shown below. Pic #2 is Shimano's version.


https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...20c4aea93e.jpg

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...5e4625f42e.jpg

Mickey's are NOT inline adjusters, they are intend to go into an unthreaded cable stop to give a frame mounted adjuster. Mickey's "ears" are set against the frame to stop the unthreaded insert from spinning.

All three parts will unscrew together by turning the part pictured at center. Remove the cable first and there's nothing to it.

Yes, that's what we've been discussing all along. An inline adjuster can be used instead, however, if one wants to just put the cable and ferrule into the cable stop without an adjuster there, and move the adjuster to elsewhere along the cable, where it might be easier to reach and turn. Pics below:


Mickey:

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...f6019c4464.jpg

Inline Barrel Adjuster:

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...5fe019df1c.jpg