Replacing outer cable run inside top tube.

p38lightning said:

I have a Serotta Colorado II which has the rear brake cable run inside the top tube. While this is a neat and aesthetically pleasing routing, I'm unsure as to how to route a new cable through the top tube. The entrance and exit holes in the top tube a barely larger than the outer cable sheath as you might imagine. It has occured to me that attaching the old cable to the new one and pulling it through would be a good way to do this but I'm unsure as to what would be a good way to do this.
I can always replace the inner cable only, but would rather change the whole thing. Any ideas would be appreciated.

Wait for other replys since they might have better solutions.

I would atach a thin "line" to the old cable/sheath and pull the whole works out.

This should draw the "line" through the tube.

I would then slide the sheath over the "line" through the tube.

With it resting on the line I would think you can get it through the out whole primarily by pushing and posibly using a toothpick to place the sheath where you want it.

Then attach the new cable to the "line" and pull that through.

This is what I have done on similar applications and it has worked fine.

heat shrink? i use it for cables and it works fine, im sure houseing would be just as easy

Slide thin tubing over the cable and pull the cable out leaving the tube behind. Then just slide the new cable back in. That's how many framesets come shipped, like for instance my Klein.

capwater said:

Slide thin tubing over the cable and pull the cable out leaving the tube behind. Then just slide the new cable back in. That's how many framesets come shipped, like for instance my Klein.

Mostly +1.

Since you want to replace the cable and the housing. Leaving the cable in place, pull the housing off either end. As Capwater said run a small tube over the cable that runs the full length plus some inside the frame tube so that this "small tube" extends beyond where the housing would enter and exit the frame tube. Insert new cable (with housing on the handlebar side in place) into small tube and thread through frame tube. Remove small tube and slide housing over the cable now at the rear of the bike. C'est tout.

To make the job easier, you can find housing that might have a smaller O.D. than what came stock. Jagwire cables and housings are smaller than stock Shimano and Campy housings and work just as well.

p38lightning said:

I can always replace the inner cable only, but would rather change the whole thing. Any ideas would be appreciated.

Easy.
1. Leave the inner cable in place and pull the cable housing out.
2. Cut the new cable housing to length and slide it over the old inner cable.
3. Now remove the old inner cable and replace it with your spiffy new one.