Brake cables too short.

When I turn my front wheel to the right, it yanks on my rear brake cable and the brakes clamp down.

This is not a happy event.

I'm gonna take the critter to the LBS for help (I was playing with swapping out front end parts, so the change in cable tension is my fault). How involved is this kind of thing to fix? Is it gonna cost me an arm and a leg? Can I do it myself?

(the housing is too short, not the inner slidey cable)

Now that I've got my new Surly all set up so the geometry is the same as my Waterford, I'm quite bummed that I can't actually RIDE the thing!

Sorry, Knot, I am no help to you here.

On another note...remember awhile back I said Clif Shot Bloks did not agree with me? Well, I take it back (bowing low, begging for mercy in my foolish ignorance...).

Mmmmm... Shot Bloks. :p

No need to beg for mercy :D just beg for Shot Bloks!

What's your favorite flavor? I like the Cran-Razz the most, followed by the cola. But Cran-Razz is far and away my favorite.

I heard somewhere that someone was eating cold boiled potatoes on long rides. Actually, that sounds really good to me. I love potatoes. Add a little salt, could be very nice ride food, and wouldn't be rough on the tummy.

Now, once my brake cable issue is under control, I'll be riding and might actually need potatoes and Shot Bloks!;)

cold red potato (boiled beforehand) is served along with banana, and oranges at some distance rides. Its really good for distance rides and you can even carry it in your pocket without turning into mush unlike a banana. hmm red potato with salt hmm....

Not sure how much LBS would charge for installing a new cable housing. They would need to replace the brake cable as well. Cable itself is pretty easy on some setup.

Have some one show you the steps on the first go around. And have the person show you a trick to keeping the caliper from spreading too wide when tightening the screw that hold the cable on the caliper. Centering of caliper is relatively easy. Again have the person show you how its done. Once you understand the process its not that hard.

smilingcat

I haven't done it THAT often, but changing cables and cable housing isn't hard at all, on my Trek mtb at least. Winter riding means you get to do it more often than most ;) Cheap parts too. Make sure you cut the cable housing neatly (90 deg) with a sharp cutter, any pinching means the cable will drag.

If the housing in front (from the brake lever to the frame) is too short: try cutting the housing long enough to free the wheel completely, try it out, and then shorten it a little if necessary. Too much housing means you get a big "loop" up front which adds friction.

Last time I did this I had trouble with the little metal doodads that go over each end of the housing. Turned out there was a small rubber lining inside each one that just gave too much drag, so I poked them out with a pair of nail scissors and it all worked just fine :)

I snack on cold boiled potato too. Pure carbohydrate!

Should cost too much or be a big deal. Takes maybe 20 minutes I'm guessing?
The main cost will be the labor.

Easy job. If the cable runs under your hb tape, then the bar has to be unwrapped and retaped, which would be the hardest part (but you already know how to do that). To do this yourself, disconnect the brake wire from the caliper. Pull the wire completely out of the housing. Remove the housing from the bike. Cut new piece of housing somewhat longer - long enough to eliminate problem but keep the loops and bend as short as possible to avoid sharp turns in cable that add friction. You'll probably need a new piece of wire also as the old will be too short for the new housing, so figure out how to remove the wire from the brake lever. There is a lug of metal permanently affixed to the end, and usually you push the wire an inch into the lever, then move the wire sideways out of the cable-end holder. A new cable may come with two different lugs on the ends - figure out which one you need and cut off the other. Insert new wire lug into brake lever. Sometimes there is a little metal sleeve between the cable housing and lever or caliper, so slide that onto the cable first. Position the housing where it belongs, then thread the wire through it, greasing the cable as you slide it in (maybe there are some new cables that don't require grease, but I would grease them anyway). Put the cable end through the anchor bolt on the brake. Now use a 3rd hand or find some other way (toe strap, string, human hand) to hold the brake calipers firmly against the rim. Screw adjusting barrel of brake, if it has one, all the way down. Grab cable end with pliers. Pull on the pliers while squeezing brake lever - cable should run smoothly and housing should sit firmly on brake lever and caliper stop. Tighten anchor bolt, release brake, and test brake adjustment by squeezing lever. If too much space between pads and rim, use 3rd hand again and readjust cable at anchor bolt. If too little space, open anchor bolt and let 1/8" of cable slide out. When adjustment is correct, tighten anchor bolt very firmly. Trim off excess wire. Pat yourself on the back.

so how do you eat the potato? Like an apple with salt? How about those potato flavor things that you can buy? Sour cream and butter in the other pocket?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by madscot13

so how do you eat the potato? Like an apple with salt? How about those potato flavor things that you can buy? Sour cream and butter in the other pocket?

---

straight up :D or with plain salt. keep'em in a zip lock bag.

definitly hold off on sour cream, butter, chive, bacon bits. On a long ride, the plain cold red potato taste yummo.

smilingcat

DebW: What a great tutorial. THANKS!

Knot: The only flavor I've ever tried is the black cherry, because I ordered a box to save money. You are always raving about the cran-razz, so for sure that will be my next order!

(They had potatoes at the rest stops this weekend in Shasta. I didn't try any because I don't eat new things on important rides. But, later in the night when I woke up, stiff as a board & hungry, I felt extremely smug about having loaded my hotel room fridge with a cold steak and a baked potato! Protein & carbs, baby! Not recommending the steak until after the ride! LOL)

You know what's good? Boiling little red potatoes in crab boil. It seasons it just right. Mmmmm, now I want 'taters. :)

The easiest, fastest, and cheapest way to fix this is to simply splice in the necessary length of cable housing using a double ended ferrul. All you're doing here is adding additional length to your existing housing. Saves the hassle of removing bar tape and all....:)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by roadfix

The easiest, fastest, and cheapest way to fix this is to simply splice in the necessary length of cable housing using a double ended ferrul. All you're doing here is adding additional length to your existing housing. Saves the hassle of removing bar tape and all....:)

---

Thanks for the tip, Roadfix. I've never heard of a double ended ferrule.

Took my beloved Crow Carmelita Cross Check the Disco Queen Surly to the LBS, where she will have her rear cable re-used as her front cable, and a new rear put on. (for $5, which is peachy with me) They will also check to make sure I put my new front-end component on correctly. And she will get her 90-day new bike check-up.

I'm feeling a pang of loss, cuz she is away from home. And her parking spot in my livingroom is sadly bare, reminiscent of Tiny Tim's crutch in the corner... snif.

(english lit majors shouldn't be allowed to write about their bikes)

Thank you all for your info, I feel better knowing what is being done to Crow, and knowing that I *could* do it if I had the materials and tools.

Y'all are awesome!:D

And I *really* wanna try cooking some potatoes in crab boil now.