Mechanics and Fixing Any Questions Answered

Often the limit screw is so far in it's pretty much run out of thread and doesn't take much to jiggle right through and fuck things up. The (very widespread) lack of knowledge that they're set up differently makes me think it's certainly a possible explanation. I always check those design mechs when I see them and it's getting better but I still reckon about half are incorrectly set up, even from new, with a few so bad something like this happens.

Cheers troops, I will fastidiously follow the set up instructions. I used a good YouTube video last time but I will cross reference with the official documents.

Follow Shimano manual, it's pretty decent. And change cable and outer while you're at it, makes a big difference in some cases

Don’t loosen the pinch bolt. Twist it with your fingers in the direction of the original twist. The wires will eventually settle as close as they can to their original positions. Add super glue, steel putty, or cable crimp.

Many thanks. Steel putty sounds like a good excuse t0 buy yet another kind of mystery gloop. But maybe I'd regret it.

Isn't a new inner going to be cheaper than buying steel putty!?

I wouldn't want to bother with a frayed cable that close to the pinch bolt. New inner cable + end crimp should cost less than a coffee in London.

I won't do steel putty, or admit defeat by fitting a new cable!

I wouldn't want to bother with a frayed cable that close to the pinch bolt.

If it's after the pinch bolt, it will make precisely no difference at all. Other than looking fugly. And making your fingers bleed if you try to wind the fine, pointy and ouchy strands of the cable back into place.

I love that one strand of cable going deep into your finger feeling.

Just made my toes curl up. Thank you.

Not tried jabbing then into my toes yet.

Not tried jabbing then into my toes yet.

I can recommend working with wire brush cups/wheels.

The strands of wire, which are about the same weight as the strands of brake cable, get pinged off in all directions and show up randomly in your socks, shoes, pockets, carpets, hats, gloves…

I could probably count on the fingers of one hand the parts of my body I’ve not pulled bits of wire out of.

I'm aware this might not be hugely helpful but the Finnish brand Jopo uses 22" tyres and I think last time we needed some we got them from Finland. Also some Radwagons but silly fat width.

I can recommend matching titanium on a milling machine and lathe inside your house. The swarf gets everywhere, despite all the efforts to contain it, is fine and very sharp, and isn't magnetic. It is, as a result, a total bugger to get out of your feet after a bit gets stuck in your socks.

BETWEEN your toes

Right through the webbing?

"precisely no difference at all" Not something I, or any other qualified mechanic would let back to a customer without the very simple and cheap job of doing it properly though.

In that case I refuse to accept this sloppiness. I demand my money back.

I had a 1cm length of single strand steel cable go into my nail bed once. Stayed in there for about 6 months. My nail grew with a dip in it.
Eventually pushed it's way back out and I pulled it the rest of the way with tweezers.
/CSB

Grim

"precisely no difference at all" Not something I, or any other qualified mechanic would let back to a customer without the very simple and cheap job of doing it properly though.

Neither would I. I wouldn't have one of my bikes with a cable looking like that, and if I was fitting it professionally I wouldn't let it out of the workshop looking like that, because it looks awful. Nonetheless, once the cable leaves the clamping point, on a purely functional level, it doesn't matter if it's held together with a cable end, left as fluffy as a horse's tail, stuck together with rocking horse shit, or bonded tightly with the tears of a unicorn. In fact, you could trim it right back so that no part of the cable extended beyond the clamping washer, and it would make no difference at all as long as the cable didn't slip, which it wouldn't if it's tightened properly. As it is, provided the retaining nuts is tightened sufficently, the splayed cable makes no functional difference, hence the "precisely no difference at all" comment. It's still not something I'd want on my bike.

What were you wearing?

I made this mistake 3 years ago in a carpeted living room. Have had it professionally cleaned, we vacuum regularly, and we still find bastard wires stabbing us from time to time.

That cable didn’t look too frayed. A gentle touch with one hand turning near the pinch bolt and the other hand gently pinching the ends between twists would minimise the chance of transdermal eventualities.

Very glad you pointed this out. Would’ve doomed my relationship without even realising it.

Replace it? It’s a front brake. It’ll take a couple minutes.

I'd need to find a cable and a crimp. It's too hard. The flat is a mess. Things are just piled up. My Me/cfs is bad. Simple things are like the fucking Augean stables.