what are your solutions to better anchor the cable in a campy record front derailleur?

i recently bought a very pretty one, a three-hole version on ebay. but the groove in the arm for the cable to rest is a little too deep to allow the cable to anchor properly against the bolt/washer. if i use an additional washer so the cable no longer sits in the groove, i think it might work, even though it doesn't 'look' perfect. but i'd also like to know how you've solved any cable anchor problems with your vintage campy fd. many thanks.

Well, cables were tiny thicker back in the day, if you put a 10 speed cable that could explain the issue.

One solution is to cut a piece of sand paper and glue it to the arm, where the cable sits, then in the washer do the same.

If you can put a serrated washer if could work aswell.

You could use a flat file to file a little bit from the face of the arm so the v-groove for the cable isn't as deep. If filing on vintage parts isn't your thing, I'd just look for a fatter cable.

Wrap the cable around the bolt...not all the way around but maybe 90 degrees or so.

+1

Never thought on that back in the day

I always thought this was a weak design on Nuovo Record FD's. Hard to get that cable pinched in just so. Especially the thick Campy cables, which you couldn't really "wrap around the bolt", in my experience.
But, when it's in right, it has enough grip. Enough to pull the derailleur clamp down the seat tube if you're not careful.
Every time I tighten down a Campy FD pinch bolt I feel like I'm going to strip it out. But haven't yet.

The above is my take too.

True Campagnolo cables of the day were just a bit larger in OD than everyone else.

I save all my old Campy cables, for this reason. Not to derail but, anyone know how to bring the brightness back to old, darkened cables?
I think they must've been galvanized. Not sure.

I always rub them down with super fine steel or brass wool. You could follow that with some metal polish if you want it to really shine.

Soak them in aluminum jelly.

good ideas, guys. this is my third bike with this style campy fd, but the first time i've had this problem.

i thought about using aluminum foil (like the sandpaper idea, above). i didn't think of using a file, which is what i'll do. shouldn't take much filing at all, and i see no downside.

cheers.

On the related topic of saving old cables....
I hesitate to do so as I noticed the original cables I had on my 84 Peugeot actually got brittle and frayed right where they have to bend around the BB to go up to the FD. It took over 20 years for it to happen, but I was still surprised that they did that. The cables were fine otherwise and never nicked or scratched in that area, plus no sign of corrosion. I don't think it's the radius bend that did it in as the same thing happened to the free end extension past the pinch bolt of my FD. Do some types/brands of cables go through some sort of "embrittlement" aging??

Oxidation between the strands, yes. All cables are subject to this. Downtube Shift cables where there is little or no lubricant used have this happen faster.

And because of the oxidation between the strands, it makes them difficult to clean up. A soak in something seems like a plan, but I figured anything acidic might darken them even more.

I diluted down the aluminum jelly when I did mine, they turned out OK. Tomorrow, if I remember, I'll do another pair and post before/after pics.

As a side note, www.campyoldy.com has nos inner wires.

Just looked at the A jelly attributes Jim. Looks good. Thanks