Bike Tech help Please

Triathlon Forum
1

So the front derailleur cable snapped on me; it snapped right near the base of the “stopper” (that metal thing that is at the core near the shifting unit.

So here’s my problem, I can’t get the remaining parts of the old shifting cable out of the STI lever.

Here, I tried to take a picture:
http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/9621/brakecablexm5.th.jpg

I something wrong with my STI shifting lever or is it just that I don’t have the cable to guide it out of that place. Right now I’ve tried for 45min and this damn thing is stuck.

Any help is appreciated. Thank you.l

2

You have to get that cable end out.

There are a couple of methods. No matter what, shift to the small ring. From there you can
a) push the end out by grabbing what may be left of the cable and pushing with needle nose pliers
b) pushing the end out with a mechanic’s pick (or sharpened spoke)
c) working the end out with a pic or screwdriver by clawing at it.

3

I’ve got these rare earth magnets that will stick on opposite sides of my hand. Is the head of the cable ferrous (is it magnetic)? Maybe a magnet can get it out.

Or, take the shifter off of the bike and try shaking it upside down.

4

I tried again for a half an hour, small nail everything. There just isn’t enough room. I wonder if my shifter broke because I never had this problem before. If I don’t push it far enough down the metal to the right of the cable end blocks it from coming out, push far enough past that end the cutout is not big enough to get it out.

This is just so frustrating and I’m starving, so that doesn’t help with dealing with it. I’m thinking about drilling it out or drilling the round cutout hole a bit bigger. Or is there a way to take the STI shifter apart. I’m sure there’s a way, but is there a way to get it back together or is that something not to mess with due to the springs, etc.?

Thanks

5

Don’t have any magnets and don’t know if that would work due to the other material nearby. I did try to put some tooth floss in so that once the cable end comes down I could pull it out but that didn’t work. Thanks. and I had the bike on its side and upside down, everything. This actually put my Sunday upside down.

At this point I’m tempted to throw it off the balcony but that wouldn’t be good. So I better go eat.

6

I would not drill or cut the hole out. You cannot repair or get parts for STI shifters. Take it to a shop or put it down and work on it tomorrow.

7

That sounds like a good idea.

8

absolutely and totally for sure …do not alter the shifter in any way shape or form…not cutting or drilling. If you do either you might as well just toss it off the balcony for all the good it will be. If you can’t fix it please take it to a mechanic who can (and by can I mean they won’t hack it either)

9

I would not drill or cut the hole out. You cannot repair or get parts for STI shifters. Take it to a shop or put it down and work on it tomorrow.

I assume you are talking about Shimano shifters as each and every little part, spring, ring, etc. can be ordered for any Campy shifter.

10

Did you look at the photo he posted?

11

Did you look at the photo he posted?

Nope - after just recabling my cross bike, rebuilding a Record shifter and putting new ones on my road bike, I’ve seen enough.

edit: OK, I’d drill the cable cap with a small drill to extract

12

I’m sure you’ve seen enough after that. I took another look and tomorrow I take the drill to it, I’ll drill from an angle and hope to break the cable stopper in half.

13

And?

14

Have you tried some needle nose pliers from the bottom, to grab and push up on the cable as close to the nipple as possible? Also, there is a can of coolant that shock-cools what it’s pointed at. You can get it at most auto parts stores. It cools stuff down to -45f, which shrinks it, and frees stuff up. I forget who makes it, but it works great! I would try that before drilling. you’ll hit the cable with the bit and the bit will drift off center and into the soft aluminum, possibly doing irreparable damage. Good luck, Adam

15

99 times out of 100 if you WD-40 the cable end from the back side and front side of the shift lever before you try to force it out it will make all the deference in the world on the removable. You may need to let the WD-40 soak in for a while to work on the corrosion that may be holing in place. When you replace the cable grease the end this will not happen next cable change.

A last resort after lube and trying to force it out will not work, drill the lead cable end off with care your problem will be solved.
c

16

Make sure you have fully “downshifted” the front shifter (I think that is the direction you need). Give a few clicks to ensure that the cable is not wrapped on the internal drum.

I’m not a mechanic, just my $0.02.

Edited to remove the other stuff that I wasn’t sure about.

17

Sorry, I’ll let you guys know. Didn’t have time yesterday but will work on it again today. I’ll try to drill the cable end into pieces to get it out.

18

Try going from the opposite side and pushing it out with an old spoke or a stiff wire. Maybe a bit of coat hanger.

19

Thanks. I already made sure I’m fully down-shifted.

20

Update.

Finally got it out. Well, not me but a bike mech. It took them some time with different tools but the problem was that somehow it was stuck and didn’t shift into the easiest gear. I was very thankful that they could help as I’ve lost all patience with it. A portion of the broken cable must have fallen into a spot where it prevented it from shifting into that last gear, so it prevented the cable end to come out. Just by a mm or so but it just wasn’t enough.

So thanks everybody for your help and suggestions.