I'm just glad I'll only need to ask it once.

I can't figure out how to thread universal shifter cables into Shimano 105 1050 downtube shifters. The cable tip won't fit anywhere in the shifter.

Either I have the wrong cable, or I just don't get it. Either way, someone save this rookie!

I know that this may seem silly but have you cut off the tip that you do not need. You likely need to cut off the circular tip and then thread it through.

But then, won't it slip back out? Where does it hold?

On your photo you need to cut the tip that is at the bottom of the photo, the round one. Then thread the cut end through at the shifter and the barrel end will then engage in a specially designed slot in the shifter.

Can I say "duh"? I am so silly. Thank you

It "holds" by clamping the far end to the derailleur. The little button you retain keeps it secure in the shifter's recess. BTW, the end you cut off fits MTB shifters and the end you retain fits road shifters.

I understand: they are dual-purpose/can be used for either application. Good info!

Here's where it gets interesting. A bicycle is a simple machine but the devil is in the details.

If you cut the cable with an ordinary pair of side cutters, the cable will probably immediately start to fray and you'll have trouble threading it through the cable housing. Bike shops use a special cutter that doesn't fray the cable so badly. My favorite work-around is to neatly solder the cable where I plan to cut it and cut through the solder.


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What?!? Road and mountain shifters use the same cable. The cable in the OP's photo is a brake cable. A 'universal' shift cable would have a Shimano/SRAM end and a Campy end. That is a brake cable w/ Shimano/SRAM road end and a mountain bike end.

I got the image from this page: https://sheldonbrown.com/harris/cables.html as it looks exactly like my shifter cable.
If I have the wrong cable, can you direct me to a picture of the one I need?
Thanks!

Whoops!!! That's correct and the illustration is indeed a brake cable with Shimano road and MTB ends. You are right that a double end shift cable has a Shimano/SRAM fitting on one end and a Campy on the other. I really should have picked this up as I have those double end shift cables in my parts stock.

Would this cable work? https://www.amazon.ca/Shimano-Stainle...no+shift+cable

Yup, it'll work great. You won't be able to solder the cut end but it'll come with a little crimp-on end cap..

Thank you!

I have two more questions, still about cable installation:

First:

I have TEKTRO RL340 levers (takes brake cable type: 1.5-1.6 mm) and TEKTRO R539 calipers. The head of my current brake cable (this one: https://www.ebay.ca/itm/290794262586?...84.m1439.l2649) won't fit through the aero "passage" in the lever hoods, although it does fit in the larger of the two cable end holes on the rotating piece in the actuated lever (can't explain this better as I don't know the terminology).

Moreover, the other end of this cable definitely doesn't fit into the hole in the calipers. Neither would this: https://www.amazon.ca/Shimano-Stainle...no+brake+cable, I imagine, since it looks like exactly the cable, except naked and shimano branded.

Is there a special cable I should be using with different lever and caliper inserts?

How about a picture of your whole bike? I'm pretty sure that brake cable will work but I don't know which end you need to cut off and the cable housing is it's own issue.

Here's my second question while I take and upload a pic of the bike.

I have cane creek crosstop levers. I read up on how to install the cables on the Park Tool's website but the part I didn't understand was how the ferrules work.

If I'm using a single cable, that I split in two in order to route one piece from the aero lever to the crosstop lever, and the other piece from the crosstop lever to the calipers, how do I use the ferrules to turn the split cable end into a "head" to fit into the receptacles in the levers?

Sorry if this is all too evident, it's my first time installing cables of any kind.

You don't. The cable stays in one piece. Only the housing gets split.

As you pull the crosstop lever it pushes on the cable housing and extends the housing's length.

You do not cut the cable for aero levers, you cut the housing. Cross levers work by increasing the effective housing length. The housing runs from the aero ever to the cross lever, and another piece from the cross lever to the cable stop on the frame. A single cable runs from the aero levers, through the cross levers, and into the brakes.

Oh, so the ferrule basically just covers the end of the housing. That explains that.

Ok, so here's a view with the two levers and the front caliper:



The caliper:



The aero hole in the brake lever hood is much smaller than it looks. My cable head fits here but stops somewhere inside, where, to my eyes, the actual hole that it's meant to pass through is made for a much smaller head:



The rotating piece inside the brake lever (showing the larger hole, but there's a smaller one on the other side if you rotate the piece):

The cable shown is a double ended French shift cable. I, too, initially thought it was a brake cable, but the barrel end is noticeably different than that used on a road brake lever.

If indeed the OP has this same French cable, is there a reason why it wouldn't work with his Shimano shifters?

That cable was intended to be a shift cable, but it was determined that it wasn't the correct one.

The cable I'm having trouble with now is a brake cable - this one:



As it won't fit in the aero passage in the hood, nor the other end in the caliper.

The logical explanation would be that I am again using the wrong cable. Can one of you non-rookies point me to a cable that would work?

Ferrules are a nice "finishing" touch on brake housing, but they're not necessary. If your brake levers are like the levers I've used, the opening at the lever body won't be large enough to accept a ferrule regardless. Just cut the housing as close to square as you can,...then hit with a fine file or sanding drum/belt to smooth.

What is stopping you from heading over to the LBS and buying the proper cable? No LBS? It seems like you're making this much more difficult than it needs to be.

You're right, I am making it more difficult. There is a LBS, I'll go take care of it there. Thanks!