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replacing SRAM twist shift cable ?

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Old 01-22-11 | 07:54 AM
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replacing SRAM twist shift cable ?

before i lose all sanity, can anyone help ?
SRAM X-7 nine speed twist shift gear changer, i need to change the cable, but just cant see how !
its got the lil rubber door, but i cant wiggle anything out, depsite it saying `easy change` !
google not being entirely helpful, so any one here have any experience !
cheers !

(there is no emoticon which describes my current frustration !)
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Old 01-22-11 | 08:01 AM
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I have never had a good experience with Grip Shift. I don't think it was designed to let a normal person change the cables.
Change it our for a some form of thumb shifter. You will be happier and changing cables is a piece of cake. If I get a bike with Grip Shift that is the first
thing to go!
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Old 01-22-11 | 08:08 AM
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Originally Posted by a77impala
I have never had a good experience with Grip Shift. I don't think it was designed to let a normal person change the cables.
!
Me neither, they are a nightmare because even if you can get cables out, its a pain snaking them back in. I only managed to do it succesfully once after taking the whole shifter apart. As I have said before in other threads for other reasons I HATE GRIP SHIFTERS.
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Old 01-22-11 | 08:12 AM
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Originally Posted by DOS
Me neither, they are a nightmare because even if you can get cables out, its a pain snaking them back in. I only managed to do it succesfully once after taking the whole shifter apart. As I have said before in other threads for other reasons I HATE GRIP SHIFTERS.
+1
Change to a thumb shifter.
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Old 01-22-11 | 08:48 AM
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hmmm...thanks for the quick replies !
i've only just sent away for it, its for my recumbent, so twist is better than trigger, for knee interferance !
older models have slid apart, and have been easy, this model does'nt !
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Old 01-22-11 | 09:16 AM
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https://www.sram.com/_media/techdocs/...k_Att_1_03.pdf
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Old 01-22-11 | 09:44 AM
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done it !
but my way, like the older models, sliding the grip away from the housing, not the right way, but their way was next to impossible for me !
thanks again for the promt replies !
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Old 01-22-11 | 11:29 AM
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I switched out my Grip Shifters to SRAM X-3 thumb shifters. They can be found new for about $20/set including cables. They are easy to install and adjust, and cable replacement is very simple on them. I do not miss the grip shifters.
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Old 01-22-11 | 11:40 AM
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I prefer SRAM triggers on my bents, too. (x7 and x9) But, there can be leg/knee clearance issues.
I have had trouble with cable replacement with the twist shifters but have always been able to get the job done 'the SRAM way'.
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Old 01-22-11 | 11:40 AM
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Bikes: Catrike 559 I own some others but they don't get ridden very much.

Just about every model of SRAM grip shifter is different relative to cable replacements. Except for the ultra-common MRX ones I pretty much reinvent the wheel every time that I do one.

Here's a tip: No matter what the shifter, it always goes easier if you remember to shift into the smallest cog before trying to remove the old cable.
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Old 01-22-11 | 02:29 PM
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Open the little rubber door, rotate the shifter to #1 position, push the cable a little from the barrel adjuster side, and use an awl or scribe to pry up on the metal clip holding the cable head in place. It will come out easy. The trick to installing a new cable is to get 1.2mm cable. They have enough stiffness to thread in easily. bk
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Old 01-22-11 | 02:34 PM
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I'll take all the Shimano compatible Sram Gripshifts that haters are uninstalling. No Halfpipes, please.

Originally Posted by Retro Grouch
Here's a tip: No matter what the shifter, it always goes easier if you remember to shift into the smallest cog before trying to remove the old cable.
+1

Last edited by LesterOfPuppets; 01-22-11 at 02:46 PM.
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Old 01-22-11 | 04:40 PM
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lol, it came with a new cable, but too short for my 'bent, had to install a tandem cable, enought length then !
and no way could i pick it out that little door, but like i say, done it now, fitted, works a treat !
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Old 01-22-11 | 05:09 PM
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Originally Posted by gavtatu
lol, it came with a new cable, but too short for my 'bent, had to install a tandem cable, enought length
Yup, another one of those recumbent things.

A standard length shift cable is just exactly the right length for my SWB recumbent. It's long enough, but there isn't any extra at all. Recumbent helps to explain using twist shifters too.
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Old 01-22-11 | 10:05 PM
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Originally Posted by LesterOfPuppets
I'll take all the Shimano compatible Sram Gripshifts that haters are uninstalling. No Halfpipes, please.
Drat- I have a set of 9-speed Shimano-compatible Grip Shifts. They were working fine when I took them off my wife's recumbent. They're Halfpipes, though.
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Old 03-30-21 | 07:22 AM
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Originally Posted by bkaapcke
Open the little rubber door, rotate the shifter to #1 position, push the cable a little from the barrel adjuster side, and use an awl or scribe to pry up on the metal clip holding the cable head in place. It will come out easy. The trick to installing a new cable is to get 1.2mm cable. They have enough stiffness to thread in easily. bk
Very helpful ! Will give it a try
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Old 03-30-21 | 09:49 AM
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I think there was a patent issue that forced SRAM to design a grip shifter much more complicated than it needed to be - the cable head is anchored in place and the shifter worked by an eccentric sleeve rotating under the cable. The more obvious design, to have the head of the cable anchored to the rotating part, was (I think) owned by Sachs, who SRAM bought in the mid 90s, when SRAM started making their own '1:1' derailleurs and shifters. THe cable change on these was likely a thousand times easier than the old eccentric slider design.
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