Housing UNDER the cable guide?
 

I appeal to the collective hive mind here! I just had a bike powdercoated, and the suntour friction bar ends feel terrible when I built it back up. Takes a LOT of force to pull the cable. It's not the housing, it's not the shifters, it's not the routing. I've checked it over thoroughly. My current theory is that the powdercoat under the brazed-on cable guides is either slightly gummy or I need to 'wear it down' a bit, and wear down a clean channel? My LBS guy suggested I ride it and shift it, and it would get better.

Perusing eBay tonight I ran across this image:
http://i921.photobucket.com/albums/a...pshferzc5g.png

I've never seen such a thing. Anyone know what it is called, or where to get one? Looks like it might be worth a try in my current situation. The photo above is from a 1989 MB-1.

Thanks!

Modern LBS will have white plastic covering that come on modern bikes when they ship. Get some, cut it down and give it a try. I did it with my Gazelle with the BB cable channel just cause...

They throw that stuff away so SHOULD be free.

I haven't had issues with those cable guides, but with new paint, etc., it seems plausible.

I've used teflon tubing where the cable goes under the BB shell (on slightly newer bikes than yours). It does a nice job of allowing the cable to slide without grinding away the paint or anything. The only downside is that rain or spray will wash gunk down into the tube and cause friction. I think that is why the little donut things are installed on the cable in the photo. They cause the water to divert before it gets into the tubing.

Steve in Peoria

I believe Shimano sells just teflon liner for really reasonable. I use it on my frames when they run the cables directly on guides.

Jagwire MTB kits come with a liner for the open section of cable that would probably work.

I like the idea. My guides are a bit rusty...

I've got some thin poly tubing. Send me a PM with your address, and I can drop a foot or so in the mail. It won't have the ends, but it may not move that much (hopefully).

Now I'm wondering about that Teflon tape that plumbers use...

I presume you're talking about that tubing? Jagwire has it in some of their cable kits. I ran across this with a recently acquired 1995 Trek 820 where the rear brake cable goes across the top tube, then around the seat tube through a metal tube. It originally had that plastic tubing all the way across and through the metal channel/tube, but I didn't want to use it. I used those rubber "donuts" on the cable along the top tube, but I could not get raw cable through that metal channel without fraying the ends, so used a piece of the plastic? Tubing to get the cable through there.

What about using the lining out of a brake noodle off a mountain bike ?

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=489039

It comes in white (thin), yellow & pink (thicker).

It might help make it a little slicker, but I'm doubting it would truly last more than 30 seconds. It always seems to tear so easily.

I use this stuff, it's very tough and holds up great. We have a big roll of it at work.

Bosch-Actron FST7554, Bosch Retro Line Gauges | Bosch-Actron

Housing liner works for this as well:

Amazon.com : Jagwire Black Housing Liner 30 Meter Roll, Fits up to 1.8mm Cables : Bike Shift Cables And Housing : Sports & Outdoors

I save the portion of the housing that I cut of and strip the liner out for this use.
[IMG]https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5518/...0294bae5_c.jpgP1000536, on Flickr[/IMG]

I see others have preceded me here, and for good reason: they're right.

That white plastic is some slick stuff, and is great at that application.

Also, some cable liners, such as those that come in Tarmacs and other internally routed frames will work.
If you're going with straight-out cable housing, I recommend a piece of brake housing, perhaps the larger inner space would be better for your application.

I have seen what you showed, and I have seen it (and done it) with the stainless coiled housing that doesn't compress. In fact, I think on some bikes, that was originally there, because the FD had a cable stop built onto the back of it.

Just do a search for Shimano housing liner and it's exactly what your looking for. One roll with last you many frames.

Thank you, folks! As usual, make a post here = learn tons of new stuff. Like most of you, I have lots of scrap/cut ends in my shop, so I can try cutting out the liner. I can also try housing itself. I can also source some plastic from my LBS. They sell those fancy Tarmacs. Lots of options. Now that I think of it, I believe I have seen that narrow plastic tubing at a friend's house who has an elaborate air compressor setup for painting/airbrushing. I'll try to report back.
@CliffordK, many thanks for your kind offer of sending some tubing. I'll shoot you a PM if I can't source locally. Otherwise, I'd like to save you the trouble! Thanks also to @JohnDThomson and @MichaelAngelo for the helpful links, and to @SJX426 for the cool Colnago BB photo.

And @RobbieTunes, always good to hear from my NC pal who hands out free derailleurs!

One short post to C&V, and I have tons of options. Thanks again!

@simmonsgc - If you liked the Colnago BB shot, here is a Pinarello:

[IMG]https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3869/...97abb018_b.jpgP1020179, on Flickr[/IMG]

Gotta protect what is left of the original paint on these Italian flaky finishes!

And that's straight-up brake housing (not just the 'jacket' from the outside or the 'liner' from the inside)? I'll have to check to see if complete housing will fit...I think my guides are too small. Like I said, though, lots of good options to try provided in the replies from the herd. :)

@simmonsgc - No that is the lining. The braze on material is about equivalent to the diameter of the housing.

Bare cable has worked fine for over 30 years on my bike Built in '75.

cable guide braze-on was a Campag part I think

maybe STI is fussier..

Yeah, for me too. After this recent powdercoat job is the first time I ever had this issue. My braze-on guides are Campagnolo as well... saw the 'Brev. Campagnolo' stamp when I sandblasted. And this is friction.

I don't disagree with no liner and just cable to frame approach. Haven't found any data or study that says the liner makes a difference. There is more friction between similar metals than not, and the sawing action of a cable on the housing is a bit disconcerting to me. I have a couple of bikes that have grooves in the BB from cable wear. At least the liner is replicable!

Note that the clamp on down tube cable guides, like Campagnolo's, are typically chrome plated, which has less friction as compared to bare steel or paint then steel.

[IMG]https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5523/...0f2697fc_b.jpgLC_Crank_01, on Flickr[/IMG]

I don't know why anyone wouldn't put some liner in at the next cable change anyway.

It's worth a try.

I get pretty much the same results from using Phil grease on the guide as I do from cable liner. Both seem to free it up nicely.
Liner probably does a better job of protecting the paint, tho.