How do you...remove brake cable "crimp"?
 

Merry Sunday morning folks,

I should be able to get out for a ride later today and hope that all of you can do the same.

Question: I want to change the brake "housing" on my brake cable. I need to get the "crimp" off the end to make the switch and have never done this before. How do I make that happen? Do I need a special tool? Do I just cut it off? How do I get one back on there? I can borrow a tool/get another "crimp" at the LBS but I always like to know exactly what I'm after before I go in there...

Thanks for the guidance. Last Sunday in April!

ryan

i don't of any way to get them off. i've always just cut it off, and then crimped a new one on. your lbs will definately be able to help you out.

You're talking about the crimp-on cable ends, right? The ones that keep cable from unraveling? I've found that you can usually get them off with pliers, either by pulling them off with the pliers or by closing the jaws over the cable above the crimp-on and sliding pliers down to knock the crimp-on off. The crimp-ons can be salvaged - just pry it open a bit with very small screwdriver or other suitable tool. By the way, super glue works well to keep cable from unwinding...just dab it on the end of cable and no need for the crimp-on after that...solder works even better.

just yank em off with what ever you're using to cut cables with, but yer best bet is to replace it, 50cents to a dollar if your lbs is kind enough to sell you the bulk they buy and not the Shimano retail ones

Yeah just give em a good pull!

If it's really stuck, just cut off half of it, and the other half comes off more easily.

Good call Smorgasbord. I never thought of that...

Interesting, I have always had more problems with them coming off accidentally while adjusting cable tension then worrying about them not coming off. I think I might try using solder in the future.

You must not be crimping them on very well. I usually put two crimps in them with a pair of dull wire cutters. This way they look clean and they're on there pretty good. I havn't had one fall off. How do you crimp them down?

i've never had any problem just pulling them off with pliers, nor have they ever accidentally come off. I've reused them many times. I tend to just lightly tap a suitably-sized nail into the opening. Works fine.

I would never pay for them. The LBSs I go to have just given me as many as I want for free. Housing caps too (even in a really sharp black). Take your wrench some beer every now and then, and you'll be repaid a lot more in the end.

I have always just used pliers to squeeze them the opposite sides of the crimp so they loosen up - and off they come. Then they are still resusable and you can just crimp them back into place. never had a problem....

You are right, I probably am not doing it properly. I have never actually had any training in these things, I am just sort of making it up as I go along.

Some are actually crimped on and those should just pull off with pliers. some are permanently attached on at the factory and are not true crimp-ons, but more like soldered ends. Those need to be cut off. But I've only encountered a couple of those.

I've never had an lbs charge me for a single crimp-on. But it depends on the shop. I've had places throw in a whole new cable at no charge, and other places charge me almost $4 for a cable, and extra for the crimp.

I've never tried solder or glue, but they both sound like good ideas. Fraying is bad. Also, some cheap crimps will brake if you pinch them too hard, so pinch hard enough to get it on tight, but don't break the lil' thing either.