How do i restore cable housing?
09-06-13, 02:29 PM
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Manteca, CA
Posts: 24
Bikes: Cannondale R500 , Trek 520, Trek 500 Fixed Gear, Peugeot, Miyata Americana
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
How do i restore cable housing?
I have an old 10 speed road bike that has black cable housing and i want the cables to be nice and shiny. Is there a household product that i can use?
09-06-13, 02:39 PM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Rochester, NY
Posts: 18,114
Bikes: Stewart S&S coupled sport tourer, Stewart Sunday light, Stewart Commuting, Stewart Touring, Co Motion Tandem, Stewart 3-Spd, Stewart Track, Fuji Finest, Mongoose Tomac ATB, GT Bravado ATB, JCP Folder, Stewart 650B ATB
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4222 Post(s)
Liked 3,910 Times
in
2,332 Posts
ArmorAll? I'd look at the automotive arena for plastic restorer products and test on a hidded section first. Andy.
09-06-13, 03:06 PM
#4
Banned.
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Brighton UK
Posts: 1,662
Bikes: 20" Folder, Road Bike
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Hi,
Replacing them all for shiny and new is a good idea, I understand Walmart
do cheap cable replacement kits. FWIW metal polish should clean them up
well, and leave a nice patina, unlike horrible automotive plastic restorer.
rgds, sreten.
Replacing them all for shiny and new is a good idea, I understand Walmart
do cheap cable replacement kits. FWIW metal polish should clean them up
well, and leave a nice patina, unlike horrible automotive plastic restorer.
rgds, sreten.
Last edited by sreten; 09-06-13 at 03:10 PM.
09-06-13, 03:30 PM
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Roswell, GA
Posts: 8,319
Bikes: '93 Trek 750, '92 Schwinn Crisscross, '93 Mongoose Alta
Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1438 Post(s)
Liked 1,092 Times
in
723 Posts
Shining up the outside will do nothing towards ensuring smooth operation of the brakes and shift mechanisms; replacing the cables will help make them look AND perform well.
09-06-13, 05:37 PM
#7
Mechanic/Tourist
Keep them and shine them up if you really want to keep them, but only if they are lined - not metal to metal, they have proper cable housing ends, none of them are too short, and the cables run through them smoothly.
09-06-13, 05:44 PM
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: New Rochelle, NY
Posts: 38,829
Bikes: too many bikes from 1967 10s (5x2)Frejus to a Sumitomo Ti/Chorus aluminum 10s (10x2), plus one non-susp mtn bike I use as my commuter
Mentioned: 140 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5849 Post(s)
Liked 2,680 Times
in
1,494 Posts
+1, if the ozone and UV have them to where they've dulled considerably they're nearing the end of their life. This isn't an issue with brake cables who's plastic covers are only cosmetic, but is a problem for derailleur housing where the outer plastic cover is structural, buttressing the long spiral steel so it cannot bow out and collapse.
BTW- many of the products which give you a nice short term shine actually speed the aging process.
BTW- many of the products which give you a nice short term shine actually speed the aging process.
__________________
FB
Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
FB
Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
09-06-13, 06:23 PM
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Santa Clara, CA
Posts: 92
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
1 Post
a new set of cables runs for <$20 so i'd just replace them. i recently replaced all the cables on my 10 yrs old bike and now the brakes and shifting feels like new.
09-06-13, 08:09 PM
#10
~>~
https://www.amazon.com/Bell-Bike-Fix-...es+and+housing
Might as well do the shifters while you are about it.
-Bandera
Last edited by Bandera; 09-06-13 at 08:13 PM.
09-06-13, 10:25 PM
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 766
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
+1, if the ozone and UV have them to where they've dulled considerably they're nearing the end of their life. This isn't an issue with brake cables who's plastic covers are only cosmetic, but is a problem for derailleur housing where the outer plastic cover is structural, buttressing the long spiral steel so it cannot bow out and collapse.
09-07-13, 07:43 PM
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Rochester, NY
Posts: 18,114
Bikes: Stewart S&S coupled sport tourer, Stewart Sunday light, Stewart Commuting, Stewart Touring, Co Motion Tandem, Stewart 3-Spd, Stewart Track, Fuji Finest, Mongoose Tomac ATB, GT Bravado ATB, JCP Folder, Stewart 650B ATB
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4222 Post(s)
Liked 3,910 Times
in
2,332 Posts
The OP requested restoration advice. He now knows that most suggest replacement. Any other restore suggestions instead of piling on the replacement advice he didn't ask for? Andy.
09-07-13, 07:56 PM
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: New Rochelle, NY
Posts: 38,829
Bikes: too many bikes from 1967 10s (5x2)Frejus to a Sumitomo Ti/Chorus aluminum 10s (10x2), plus one non-susp mtn bike I use as my commuter
Mentioned: 140 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5849 Post(s)
Liked 2,680 Times
in
1,494 Posts
Depending on the type of vinyl, and if it has a smooth surface, he might use automobile rubbing (polishing) compound to buff out the dull surface oxide layer, and bring up fresh vinyl. A bit of compound on a rag or paper towel rubbing the cable lengthwise should brighten them up fairly quickly. Applying the brake, or pressing the gear lever to tighten the cable will stiffen the cable and make the job go fairly quickly.
They also sell products to brighten or de-oxidize the vinyl trim on car "opera" roofs. I've had good success with these on other vinyl applications.
BTW- there's not much you can do with the older PVC covered brake cable who's surface is textured. This stuff oxidizes (white turns yellow or brown) and the discoloration is through and through. This is why I hate and won't use white or gray cable housing.
__________________
FB
Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
FB
Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
Last edited by FBinNY; 09-07-13 at 08:05 PM.
