Teach Me: Shifter cables/housing

[trhoppe]

In the past, I've used a couple of the XTR kits to replace my shift cables. While this was all good, it seems expensive for what you get, and the housing runs on my bikes are actually longer than the stupid pre-cut cables, so I have to use 1/2 plain housing.

What housing/cables should I buy in bulk and just use across all my bikes?

1) Are all the housings the same? Alligator vs SRAM vs Jagwire, any different?

2) 4mm vs 5mm. Wha? Isn't all shifter cable the same, why two different dimensions?

3) Coated vs stainless cables. Any difference here?

4) Sealed vs open end caps. Should I bother with the alloy sealed end caps vs the nylon open ones that come with the housing?

These are leading the charge right now, any reason why I should buy something else?
Housing - Jagwire L3 housing - $22 for 25ft - http://www.treefortbikes.com/product/33 ... lleur.html
Cable - Jagwire Slick Stainless - $5 a cable - http://www.treefortbikes.com/product/33 ... 8238___735
Alloy Sealed End Caps - $27 for 50 - http://www.treefortbikes.com/product/33 ... Alloy.html

-Tom

[Plan 9]

IMHO, jagwire is good stuff. You might want to buy in more bulk however if you have a few sleds in the fleet.

[jetman46]

Teflon lined housing.
4mm stainless for shifters, 5mm is for brakes
sealed end caps, I have seen them in both alloy and nylon.

[trhoppe]

I've seen 5mm "derailleur" housing all over the place, so sounds like that's just mismarked.

-Tom

[bikephan]

shift cables are typically 1.1-1.2mm thick. The big difference is slick/die cut. they do galvanzied, stainless in both. The die cut or slick is forced through a circle die that cleans/smooths the outside. Teflon is just slick coated. I use teflon usually just because i like the looks. I have used sealed and non sealed and other ferrules and have not had a build up issue some talk about. Prob because I change it often enough with no issues and some bikes are full length housing.

I find 4mm housing is better. We use 5mm housing on cheaper bikes. from years of asking why 2 sizes, it is a holdover from older shift systems(friction) and universal style housing. I have used sealed and non sealed plastic ferrules because they squeak less especially on carbon frames that have housing fittings made of alum or other metals. metal is cute if you are one that needs to add anodized color stuff to your bike. I have found plastic ferrules even non sealed do a little better than any metal especially with water. As to brands, I am sure they are all close if you are comparing apples to apples.

The jagwire L3 housing is a lubed/coated inner that is similiar to the shimano xtr or SP41 housing. Jag is a teflon coated/impregnated while shimano actually uses a lube/grease inside theirs. I can't say I have noticed any difference between them. We use both in the shop but always a lubed inner of some sort.

[trhoppe]

Thanks.

Sounds like I got everything ordered correctly, except possibly for the Alloy ends.

I was going to grab the coated Jagwire cables, but they were close to 3X the price of the regular slick stainless, so I figured the cheaper cable + more frequent replacement is a better bet.

The 25ft packs of L3 housing come with the plastic end caps, but I figured the sealed Alloy ones would offer better performance. I'll try em, as I like the sealed concept, especially with the amount of mud/washings/etc that the mountain bikes see. I got the black ones, so no bling. Worst case, I'll use the cheapo plastic ones that came with the packs.

-Tom

[GTscoob]

I've never noticed a difference comparing cheap to nice shifter housings, maybe I just change them out/rebuild/repurpose bikes frequently enough that they dont wear out. If I've got time, I soak the cables in tri-flow, otherwise I'll just stick the nose of the bottle into the housing to lube the inside of the housing.

Cheap brake housing can be a deathtrap though, but it's a non-issue if you're running hydraulic brakes.

[Treybiker]

4mm is slightly more flexible than 5mm. Performance wise, its negligible. Teflon is slicker and works better under duress, (clogged housing), and the better housing should have a little better compression properties giving you a little crisper shifting. Night and day?..... no. And make sure your cable ends are the plastic ones with brass inserts. The ones without make for some mushy shifting.

[trhoppe]

And make sure your cable ends are the plastic ones with brass inserts. The ones without make for some mushy shifting.

What about the sealed alloy ends? Specifically these: http://www.treefortbikes.com/#navbar=pr ... 3921___417

These have the brass inserts but are alloy instead of plastic.



-Tom

[bikephan]

same thing. I have just found that personally they do not do as well. no flex coming out of the end etc. it is pretty much the same sealed insert in either. Out in the desert we have been running open plastic ferrules.

[Jonesy22]

bikephan - still have the xt brakes?

[ColonelCash]

Anyone used the "JagWire" kits from eBay? They usually sell for $12 a set (brake and shifter).

[bikephan]

Anyone used the "JagWire" kits from eBay? They usually sell for $12 a set (brake and shifter).

some kits are good, some overated. You have to be careful becuase alot of that shift housing is 5mm. Even if it is shiny the 5mm does not seem to hold up as well