Installing Cables With Internal Routing

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by Rwm
I am in the process of switch a bike from flat bars to road bars. It is a Klein with internal cable
routing and I am having trouble getting the cable through the internal runs. Does anyone have any
suggestions that might help?

Thanks...

There are two problems here: the cable is too flimsy to go where you want it to and the hole is too small. New frames come with a cable liner/guide through the holes for easy routing - you put the cable through the liner/guide and then take the liner out. If you don't have this go get some - you see it a lot on mountain bikes with exposed cables on the top tubes so bike shops have it but I don't know what it's called. It's good to have for regular cable replacement too so you can do this the easy way next time.

First pull out the little insert from the exit hole; for rear brakes this will be the one on your top tube under the saddle. Use a needle nose pliers and try not to damage the insert or it won't stay in when you're done. Now you'll have a much bigger hole to aim for. Now poke a long piece of copper wire (thick enough to stay semi-rigid when you straighten it out) through the entry hole (with the insert still inserted) and play around with it until you get it through the exit hole (this will be MUCH easier with wire than with cable). Once you've got it through, use it to pull the cable liner/guide back through to the entrance hole and you'll be all set to feed the cable through the liner/guide. After you get the cable through replace the insert. Klein dealers can order extras of those if you do mess them up. I don't think the derailleur cables have inserts at the exit holes so you can skip that part.

"RWM" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I am in the process of switch a bike from flat bars to road bars. It is a Klein with internal
cable routing and I am having trouble getting the

cable

Quoted message said:

through the internal runs. Does anyone have any suggestions that might help?

Thanks...

I've heard sucking a string through with a vacuum cleaner and then using it to pull the cable
through works.

Mike

Thanks, I spoke with a couple of the mechanics at my LBS. They use cable liners and a magnet to
steer the cable. I was able to get them done with a little luck. I think that the internal cables
are kind of silly as I never had a problem with external routing.

"DiabloScott" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Rwm said:

I am in the process of switch a bike from flat bars to road bars. It

is

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

a Klein with internal cable routing and I am having trouble getting

the

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

cable through the internal runs. Does anyone have any suggestions that might help? Thanks...

There are two problems here: the cable is too flimsy to go where you want it to and the hole is
too small. New frames come with a cable liner/guide through the holes for easy routing - you put
the cable through the liner/guide and then take the liner out. If you don't have this go get some
- you see it a lot on mountain bikes with exposed cables on the top tubes so bike shops have it
but I don't know what it's called. It's good to have for regular cable replacement too so you can
do this the easy way next time.

First pull out the little insert from the exit hole; for rear brakes this will be the one on your
top tube under the saddle. Use a needle nose pliers and try not to damage the insert or it won't
stay in when you're done. Now you'll have a much bigger hole to aim for. Now poke a long piece of
copper wire (thick enough to stay semi-rigid when you straighten it out) through the entry hole
(with the insert still inserted) and play around with it until you get it through the exit hole
(this will be MUCH easier with wire than with cable). Once you've got it through, use it to pull
the cable liner/guide back through to the entrance hole and you'll be all set to feed the cable
through the liner/guide. After you get the cable through replace the insert. Klein dealers can
order extras of those if you do mess them up. I don't think the derailleur cables have inserts at
the exit holes so you can skip that part.

--
Check out my bike blog!

diabloscott.blogspot.comdiabloscott.blogspot.comOpen ↗

Quoted message said:

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Posted via cyclingforums.com cyclingforums.comcyclingforums.comOpen ↗

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by Rwm
Thanks, I spoke with a couple of the mechanics at my LBS. They use cable liners and a magnet to
steer the cable. I was able to get them done with a little luck. I think that the internal cables
are kind of silly as I never had a problem with external routing.

Silly? Why would you consider hiding even 1% of that beautiful Klein paint job with external cables?

RWM said:

I am in the process of switch a bike from flat bars to road bars. It is a Klein with internal cable
routing and I am having trouble getting the cable through the internal runs. Does anyone have any
suggestions that might help?

From an article I posted in 1998, found via Google:

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

Aesthetics aside, internal cables can be a pain to replace.

Good timing. At the moment I'm in the middle of a complete refurb on one of my bikes. I pulled out
the internal brake cable thinking the old "vacuum and string" method would make replacement easy;
although I had just read about it and never tried it. So while the previous post sat on my screen I
went downstairs and tried it. Not as easy as I imagined, but not all that difficult. I started with
a Dustbuster and string, and progressed in stages to a cannister vac and piece of thread. What
eventually did the trick was tying a small paper "flag" on the end of the thread, then the vacuum
sucked it right through the little holes.

jeverett3<AT>earthlink<DOT>net home.earthlink.net~jeverett3Open ↗

It is a nice frame, but I don't find the paint job to be museum quality...

"DiabloScott" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Rwm said:

Thanks, I spoke with a couple of the mechanics at my LBS. They use

cable

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

liners and a magnet to steer the cable. I was able to get them done

with

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

a little luck. I think that the internal cables are kind of silly as I never had a problem
with external routing.

Silly? Why would you consider hiding even 1% of that beautiful Klein paint job with
external cables?

--
Check out my bike blog!

diabloscott.blogspot.comdiabloscott.blogspot.comOpen ↗

Quoted message said:

--------------------------<

Posted via cyclingforums.com cyclingforums.comcyclingforums.comOpen ↗

"Michael Dart" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

"RWM" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I am in the process of switch a bike from flat bars to road bars. It is a Klein with internal
cable routing and I am having trouble getting the

cable

Quoted message said:

through the internal runs. Does anyone have any suggestions that might help?

Thanks...

I've heard sucking a string through with a vacuum cleaner and then using it to pull the cable
through works.

Mike

Yep. Works great for sucking coaxial cable through underground conduit as well. Sometimes works
better with a ball of tape on the end. Use the strongest vac you can find.