Who carries the stainless cable housing style that was OEM for the SunTour barcons? Just the bare spiral-wound stainless cable housings, not the clear vinyl-covered braided housings that VeloOrange sells.

I'll use the VO braided housings or blue vinyl housings to match the existing blue brake cable housings if I have to, but I'd prefer the original style uncovered housings.

Thanks in advance!

The SS bare wire housings might be hard to find. I know the shorter version for the chainstay/RD is being sold by some eBayers (for not so cheap), but I don't remember seeing much of the longer version that were used for bar end shifters, maybe only a set or two in over two years of surfing around eBay.

Yeah, I saw those 14" long rear derailleur sections on eBay - for $50

I can't believe that the SunTour barcons I bought NEW in '76 from Bike Warehouse cost only $9.99 - and they included the stainless cables/housings/downtube stop at that price!! I recently paid close to $50 for just the two shifters, another $18 for the double downtube stop, and the cable housings are near impossible to find! That $14 cable kit from V-O is looking better and better!

And I recently pulled a pair (complete with ss housing) out of a box of a friend who is selling stuff off as he gets ready to move. I also got a Cyclone GT RD out of that box. somewhat off topic, and somewhat on.

Go to ebay.it.

Search the terms "guaina grigia 4,5" https://www.ebay.it/sch/i.html?_odkw=...4%2C5&_sacat=0

You will get cable housing for Vespas. Strip the vinyl off, and bobsyeruncle, stainless coil. I have about 6 meters myself.

I love the way it looks but modern housing shifts many times better... it has a lot of internal drag.

I agree, going with the old bare spring cable housing is just for looks at this point.....
Plus the crud and moisture gets between the cable and the housing much easier.....
I'd use the clear covered cable housing instead, with the plastic internal sleeve in it if I were mounting up some bar ends on a bike.....

With the smaller cable, will a liner fit in?

Retrofitting with an internal liner sounds like a good idea.......but not sure if they will fit as the old bare spring stuff must be small ID wise because it only had to accommodate a bare cable,........unless the modified/peeled Vespa sourced housing that iab suggested might have a bigger ID that will accommodate the liner....

That stuff's worth money? I'm not telling where my stash is.

Worth money? I should have known. I tossed both pieces away when I cabled up the barcons on my High Plains. I used Jagwire housing instead.

Oops. I guess that's why it's rare.

I asked my friend where he got things like cables for his 80+ year old bikes, he said for many bike now he strips the vinyl outer layer off leaving the stainless coil.

I think leaving the vinyl on looks good too. Here's the above mentioned cable, with vinyl, on my 80-year-old bike.

A fellow BF.net member contacted me with the offer of a set of used OEM SunTour housings for a VERY reasonable compensation. Thanks so much!!! (Not mentioning his name just in case he wishes to remain anonymous)

That's the last pieces/part I need to make my latest 'n+1' set up to where I want it. As soon as I get the housings, I'll be able to reposition the brake levers to my 'fit', convert to the SunTour barcons, and wrap the bars... I have a replacement leather seat (Japanese Brooks knock-off), but not sure I like it yet... It has a much different feel than my beloved Fuji's original Fujita Belt saddle.

Once that Univega project is complete and I'm satisfied with the ride, the Fuji will be outfitted as a fendered 'light' tourer.

Just saw this pop-up on VO's blog:



https://velo-orange.blogspot.com/2013...ample-box.html

You mean like 150 feet for $30? Don't even need to be resourceful, it's just there.

Looks like this,

Man. I just need the barcons ! Not even going to sweat the cable thing yet.

Bumping this thread. I recently fell victim to the BF.net affliction known as N+1, and need yet another set of bare stainless shift cable housings for SunTour barcons... This time for a Univega Gran Tourismo touring bike.

So, are there any new/current sources for the stainless housing?

Also, this latest Uni is gold/bronze in color, and I'm not sure what color brake housing would look 'right'. The original housing is brown and in dire need of replacement. Red and use red panniers/bags? Yellow since I already have yellow panniers/bags?

I buy cable housing from Porkchop BMX either on line or via eBay. They have that clear housing where you see the spiraled metal inside the plastic housing. It's brake cable housing & I use too for friction shifting like they apparently did way back when. I use this if I want that specific "look" that was original to the bike. I have it on my Miyata One Twelve Mixte.

Bicycle 5mm Lined Brake Cable Housing and Hardware Kit BMX MTB Clear Blue | eBay


Close up of cable housing. See the metal spirals inside.
Cable "Helpers" by velocivixen, on Flickr
https://www.flickr.com/photos/130319.../shares/1R025g

Best way to get it is with the bar cons or derailleurs. I tend to include them when I sell those pieces. Sure I could hose the buyer and keep them, or sell them separately. Just doesn't feel right.

Typically mine come in the form of a complete bike. Several models from the late 1970s came with barcons, and if it is a recreational level bike, most buyers don't appreciate them. Believe it or not, many would prefer stem shifters.

That's not it. It should be round wire. Somebody here bought it in bulk a while back and sent me some for free. It's not that I think he wants to remain anonymous. I just can't remember who it was.

That's a flattened wire. What I'm looking for was OEM for SunTour and Campy. Only .165" (4mm) OD. The new Uni has the original bare round-wire housing at both derailleurs already ( complete with crimped-on stainless ferrules), and I need the housing for the downtube cable stop (I need one of those, too...) up to the barcon shifters.

That all depends on if the original installer cut the housing to fit that particular bike. The shifter-to-cable stop housing that I got for my other Univega is a bit short. Yeah, I could have it exit the wrap and make a big loop out in front of the cockpit like I have on my Fuji's installation, but wanted to clean up the Viva Sport's cockpit by using aero brake levers and also running the shift cable all the way to the stem under the bar wrap. It just makes for a tidier installation.

This is an example of one of the short cables



The upper cable would have a ferrule on one end and be around three feet long

I bought some in bulk but I don't give it for free.