nPn

I noticed that my rear GRX derailleur could not be adjusted to use all 11 cogs. After some investigation I think I found this was most likely the issue.

Frayed cable in shifter

After removing the cable.

I have a set of Shimano Optislick cables and housings. I am guessing the Optislick inner cables are not compatible with the existing Jagwire housings and Slick Lube Liners, right?


I know it's dirty - it's a gravel bike.

Question is this. Is it worth while to try and get a set of Jagwire inner wires and leave the housing / inner liners, or just replace everything with the Optislick housing and cables? The only down side I see is that the raw cable would be exposed on the bottom bracket (like every other bike I own, and I would have to re-tape my bars.
Any comments would be appreciated.

cxwrench

You can use pretty much any cable w/ any housing. There are no 'compatibility' issues.

nPn

Thanks for the quick reply cxwrench.
The Jagwire setup is 3 layers; the inner steel cable, the "lube liner" and then the outer housing. You think I should be able to just thread the new inner cable thru that white lube liner?

Crankycrank

Yes, works fine. I have had issues with the Jagwire 2 piece housings where the liner can migrate out of the housing if the various housing stops along the routing have larger cable holes than some ferules. You can just put a "flare" in the ends of the liner with a small poker of some sort to make them stay in the housing.

nPn

I can't catch a break today. I looks like the actual inner cable for the Jagwire elite sealed is thinner than the Shimano cable and the end cap in the shifter will only take the thinner cable, and I don't have a cable end to fit the Shimano cable.

BCDrums

nPn,

Are you saying that the Shimano cable is too wide for the Jagwire housing, or that the receiver in the shifter won't accept the tip on the Shimano cable?

Both the Shimano cable tip and the Jagwire tip ought to fit in the Shimano shifter. I measure the Shimano Optislik shift cable at 1.2mm, and the Jagwire Sport model at 1.10mm.

Are you confusing a brake cable (1.7mm) for a shift cable? It would NOT fit in a shifter or shifter housing. That fat cable in your picture looks like it could be a brake cable.

Good luck.

_ForceD_

Isn’t it actually four layers? Cable, lube liner, steel casing, plastic housing.

Dan

Ghazmh

Id say that the steel casing layer and plastic housing layer are manufactured into one item which is colloquially referred to as the housing.

nPn

Yes the Shimano Optislick would not fit in the Jagwire ferrule that was used in the original build. And yes I measure the same Optislick 1.2mm, Jagwire 1.1mm. I think the Optislick would fit in the outer housing but not the inner white "sealed" housing.
I ended up just getting a Jagwire cable at my LBS and was able to get things up and running again. I don't think it's their "high end" cable, but it will get me thru for a while at least.

Crankycrank

Hmm, that photo just doesn't look right. The top cable looks far thicker than just .1mm over the Jagwire cable. I've used the 1.2 Shimano cables in full Jagwire housing and ferrules before and no problems. But can't argue that if you have measured them already or as BCDrums mentioned it may not be a shift cable. Anyways I have found the top tier Jagwire cables to be just as durable as Shimano's and I'd just ride with what you have for now and not worry about it.

nPn

Well this is embarrassing. Notice the opened box of brake cables and the unopened box of shift cables. I swore I checked that twice but sometimes you can look at something all day and not see the obvious mistake. Sorry for taking you folks down a rabbit hole. I did measure at 1.2, but that was probably user error or the cheap caliper I have.

Crankycrank

Haha, no worries. At least that was better than using shift cables for your brakes.

genejockey 

It would have been something to see, trying to get the brake cable end into a shifter.

BCDrums

As a Boston cyclist might say, You're shifting me...

KCT1986

This explained it. Looked at your detailed picture of the cable and was wondering why the new cable did not have the green Optislick look. Been staring at my Optislick cable and couldn't figure it out.

Another suggestion, in your original pic of the housing and liner end, the exposed strands of steel not covered by the plastic outer layer could be a concern. I'd pull the inner liner back and trim off the unsupported strands. May not be too much of a problem if you're using steel/allow housing ends but something to think about the next time you're in there.

SoSmellyAir

Coincidentally, I just replaced my shift cables today too! I bought both cable sets so had to put away my brake cable set to avoid the same issue.

My Shimano road shift cable set comes with a softer RD loop (Shimano SIS OT-RS900))