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-   -   My rear derailleur cable broke... (https://www.bikeforums.net/bicycle-mechanics/897159-my-rear-derailleur-cable-broke.html)

zacster 06-21-13 06:53 PM

My rear derailleur cable broke...
 
after 32 years of almost continuous use! My son was riding my custom built for me Davidson, with Campy NR downtube shifter and derailleur. It is probably the original Campy cable, unless the shop that built it substituted something else.

Ya think I should take it back for warranty service??? (The shop is 3000 miles away in Seattle, but they're still there. It was from before Davidson opened his own shop.)

But seriously, what kind of cable do I get? Do the modern cables still use the same barrel end?

byrd48 06-21-13 07:16 PM

I put new cables on my 20+ year old road bike with downtubes and the modern cables fit it fine. If you take it to your local bike co-op or lbs, they should be able to advise. It's one of the fortunate bike parts that does not come in a thousand different sizes :)

oldskoolwrench 06-21-13 07:21 PM

A universal ROAD derailleur cable will work just fine; usually about $5.00 - $7.00 each, depending on where you purchase it. If the piece of outer cable housing next to the derailleur is in good condition, flush it out with some spray lube, put a little dab of grease on the end of the cable and thread it through the housing, then re-connect the cable to the derailleur. Make sure the shift lever is all the way down towards the ground, and the chain is in the smallest rear cog.

NOTE: IF you have to replace the outer gear housing, make sure to save the housing caps on the ends of the old housing; you'll need to put them on the new piece of housing. Those end caps are special to the frame set.

zukahn1 06-21-13 08:49 PM

You should be fine getting a standard shifter cable at any bike shop for $5 just make sure you get one with the same type size end there are a couple of different size ends I'm not sure which one the Campy's takes. Pretty much any shop or bike coop should have the cable you need. Just take the old cable in and match the end.

FBinNY 06-21-13 09:44 PM


Originally Posted by zacster (Post 15769550)
.....

But seriously, what kind of cable do I get? Do the modern cables still use the same barrel end?

Yes, any modern cable will fit, but the ones made for Campagnolo have slightly larger heads and will fit better. Buy stainless steel wire and it'll stay brighter looking longer. Buy a second wire while you're at it and replace both, along with the rear housing loop so all is good to go.

You might also consider buying 2 more wires as spares, so you'll have them on hand 32 years from now.

zacster 06-22-13 03:59 AM

I'm also remembering that I need a rear cable for my Chorus 10 set up. I had aligned the derailleur, but had to pull the barrel adjuster off when I put it back together and the cable was too frayed to get it back on. I cut the frayed end and had barely enough to get in the clamp. And then there's the third bike, my trainer bike, where the rear housing popped open. And even a fourth bike, my Italian steel Zilioli, where the brake cables have always been too stiff. I have a set of cables for that but I never put them on, mostly because I never ride it either.

So with all these cables to cut, which cable cutter? The Park cutter isn't particularly good, nor is the Pedros, according to the reviews I've read. But I'm not opening a shop, I just have a bunch of cables to cut at the moment and then I won't use it again for a while. Are the Park or Pedros good enough?

zukahn1 06-22-13 04:19 AM

The Parks cutters are fine nice sharp cut good for several hundred nice cuts.

zacster 06-22-13 09:08 PM

I ended up with a Campy cable set that has cables for the 2 that need rear derailleur cables, and housing for the third. I also bought the Park cutter.

oldskoolwrench 06-22-13 09:25 PM

3 Attachment(s)
zacster,

Remember to save the old housing ends from the old piece of derailleur housing, especially the one that looks like this...

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=324980
I bet your Davidson uses a Campy cable stop like this...

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=324981

Instead of a slotted one like this...

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=324982

That fitting is specifically made for the one on your frame; the other ones that are provided are designed for the slotted one, and won't work with your frame.

zacster 06-23-13 04:26 AM

I'll probably reuse the old housing for the Davidson. I've only gotten 32 years out of it. ;) Consider that this is the FIRST time I've had to replace anything in the rear drivetrain, and the thing shifts like its brand new. I use it with a 10 speed cassette too and it shifts flawlessly and silently, and when Nuovo Record was new there was only 5 speed, or maybe 6. Let's see if everybody's Ultegra lasts that long.

It was a good excuse to buy the cable cutter. I've been looking to buy one for a few years now and just never did because the online reviews of the Park aren't good, but I didn't want to spend more than that. As Zukahn says though, its good enough for more than the number of cuts I'll ever do.


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