Cable stretch tends to occur shortly after a new bike has been ridden a few times OR when your existing bike has had any of its cables changed (brakes or gears).
Do gear cables actually stretch?
This is a normal part of the bedding in process and can be caused by: gear inner wire stretching (this can even happen with ‘pre-stretched' cables); and/or . the outer cable plastic ferrules slightly compressing and bedding into the frame cable stops .
How do I fix my bike cable stretch?
How tight should bike cables be?
Holding the cable tightly so it can't slip, pull up with the pliers to remove all slack in the cable and hold it like this as you tighten the anchor bolt to secure the cable in place. It should now be tight enough so that when shifted onto the large chainring, there's no rubbing .
What is cable stretch on a new bike?
So what's the culprit? It's what we broadly refer to as “cable stretch” – your derailleurs and brakes are connected to your shift/brake levers by thin, braided steel cables . These shift or brake cables are amazingly thin for what they do! Shift cables are usually 1.1-1.2mm, while brake cables are thicker at 1.5mm.
How do you stretch a cable?
To calculate stretch, a formula can be applied. The formula is (E= (W x G) / D2) . The values derived from this calculator are an approximation, and it is important to remember to keep your units of measure constant. The most common measurement for cable is inches.
Can steel cables stretch?
When a steel wire rope is loaded it becomes longer . This elongation consists of two types of elongation – construction elongation (permanent) and elastic elongation. Elongation due to overloading (yielding) or due to rotation are not dealt with here.
How often should you replace your shifter cables?
It really depends on the amount of use. Every 2 years sounds good. My rear usually fails in that amount of time. If you are looking for durability, sealed cables are known to last a long time.
Does braided cable stretch?
Wire rope stretches or elongates under load . As the tension increases, the stretch in the wire rope increases as well.
What is a stretch bicycle?
Chopper and Stretch Bicycles are designed in a way similar to Chopper Bikes . They are constructed using custom bike parts. These bikes are gaining a huge popularity because of their unique design and style. Riding on the chopper style bicycle gives offers a distinct look and unique riding experience.
How do I know if my shifter cable is broken?
- Indicator doesn't match the gear. If the shift selector cable is going bad, the indicator light or cable will not match the gear you are in. ...
- Vehicle will not turn off. ...
- Vehicle starts in another gear. ...
- Vehicle will not go into gear.
How do I adjust the shifting cable on my bike?
- Step 1: Shift into the smallest gear. I also like to drop my cable tension as low as possible. ...
- Step 2: Adjust the high limit screw, usually marked with an “H”. ...
- Step 3: Tension the cable properly. ...
- Step 4: Carefully shift up into the largest gear. ...
- Step 5: Fine adjustments.
Should my derailleur cable be tight?
You need to pull it pretty tight before clamping it to the derailleur . Probably as tight as you can. Usually I find that's still not tight enough, so I screw the barrel adjuster down all the way before putting the cable in and then open it up until the tension is correct.
How tight should my rear derailleur cable be?
Can front derailleur cable be too tight?
If the derailleur rubs in the largest front chainring, double check H-limit screw and inner wire tension, which may be too loose. If chain is slow to shift to smallest chainring, double check L-limit screw and inner wire tension, which may be too tight .
What causes a shifter cable to break?
The most common reason for failure of a shift cable is stretching . It is more common in vehicles with manual transmissions because you move the shifter more frequently; you don't just set it and forget it as you do with an automatic transmission.
How do you tighten a gear cable?
What is a rear derailleur?
The rear derailleur is the mechanism that shifts the chain at the rear sprockets . There are many different models but they all share the same basic design and functionality. Derailleurs are secured to the bike with a mounting bolt to the frame's derailleur hanger.
How much does cable stretch?
Structural stretch is the lengthening of the lay in the construction of cable and wire rope as the individual wires adjust under load. Structural stretch in Loos and Company products is less than 1% of the total cable length .
How much will a rope stretch?
Static elongation will be somewhere around 10 percent, or 18 feet of stretch with 180 feet of rope in service. A wet rope would have stretched more, so perhaps that was the case.
Does stainless steel wire stretch?
Stretching of 25-gauge stainless steel wire causes alterations in the physical properties of the wire . The yield strength and ultimate tensile strength are increased and the elasticity is decreased. These alterations make stretched wire more satisfactory for maxillofacial surgical applications than unstretched wire.
Do longer cables stretch more?
The amount of stretch depends on the load we use and the shape of the material – a long wire will stretch more than a short one and a thin wire will stretch more than a thick one.
How do you calculate the weight of a wire rope?
Formula: SWL (kg) = D2(mm) x 8
For example: Rope dia (D) = 12 mm SWL (kg) = D2 (mm) x 8 = D (mm) x D (mm) x 8 = 12 x 12 x 8 = 1152 kg SWL (t) = 1.15 tonnes The above equation can be reversed to calculate the diameter (D) in millimetres of FSWR needed to lift a given load.
How do you calculate tension in a cable?
We can think of a tension in a given rope as T = (m × g) + (m × a) , where “g” is the acceleration due to gravity of any objects the rope is supporting and “a” is any other acceleration on any objects the rope is supporting.
How long do bike cables last?
5000 to 6000 miles is a good time frame to replace the cables. Other wise wait till they brake and either have a good stiff pedal in or nice easy spin, depending on the broken cable.
Do bike shifters wear out?
Shifters can wear out too (if you ride enough) , and most cannot be serviced back to health. But before you go sinking money into these more expensive components, best try a new cable/housing or get a second opinion.
