Question regarding shift cable housing ferrules
 

Hello,

I recently got a replacement cable kit and came across a slightly smaller shift ferrule than what is currently on my bike. The ferrules on my bike are slightly larger and fit much better than the ones supplied in the kit. Not sure what the difference is and was hoping someone could tell me which is which. Since I am unable to upload a pic due to my limited amount of posts, I can only describe what I see. The larger ferrule is about 3/4" black plastic with 3 grooves while the smaller one is at about 1/2" and has only two grooves.
Thanks for understanding.

Greg

Size is kind of irrelevant. If the ferrule fits over the cable and can be clamped, no issue. If it doesn’t fit, go the LBS and buy some that do. They’re like
$.05 each,

Thanks I wasn't sure if there were specific sizes but I will check with my lbs.

WHAT Bike and what model year is it ???
Cable housing came in 2 sizes, depending on age, older Shifter Cable HOUSING was the same size as Brake cable housing - 5mm diameter (there is a important difference in brake housing and shifter housing...)
However in the past 15 ? years the standard shifter cable housing became 4mm ... I'm not quite certain/remembering when the change to smaller diameter came about, and different companies and their different models will likely have made the transition over a number of model years...
That may be what you're noting as a difference - if your bike is an older bike.
Your Shifters (brifters) will also play an important role in which they work with. Newer (in the past decade+) 4mm sizing for the shift cable housing will NOT work well trying to use 5mm.
But Older shifters which fit 5mm housing will prolly work ok with 4 mm housing and ferrules...
5mm Shift cable housing may now be hard to find ... so use what you can get and make sure the cable movement is smooth and not impeded.
Ride On
Yuri

Wrap the ferrules that came in the kit with some electrical tape. Problem(?) solved.

The size of the cable stops on bikes hasn't changed. If you have 4mm housing it goes with thick walled ferrules to make the same outer diameter as 5mm housing with thin walled ferrules.

The OP probably has some correct by slightly sloppy fitting ferrules. Unless they are so loose that you could put 5mm brake housing into them, they are just fine - ferrules don't have to do anything more than cup the end of the housing. They do not need to fit tightly around the housing.

I prefer short, slightly loose metal ferrules to tight fitting long plastic ones. But both work.

You're seem right about the sizing...fairly certain the frame stops will work with 4 or 5 mm housing/ferrules.
I checked an old set of Ultegra 6600 shifters, currently off a bike... They mic out to having a 5.9mm port where the shifter cable/housing and ferrule fit.
As for newer model mechanical shifters where the housing exits alongside the bar - I dont have any off-bike at the moment, so nothing to measure, so can't really assume compatibility with 4 and 5.
So you could use either 4 mm or 5mm Shifter housing... Seems as though all the newer supplied shifter cable housing is 4mm...
Personally I also prefer the metal ferrules - most of the shops around here don;t seem to have metal for 4mm housing - only the plastic ones.

OP, if the housing you have will fit into either ferrule type, then you decide which you'll wish to use.
Ride On
Yuri