Stripping cable outers
- Thread starter Radius
- Start date
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jpembroke
New Member
Looking at BMX cables online last night I realised why it is that you had such trouble cutting through that cable outer: it must have been that compressionless cable housing (called linear cable in BMXland) instead of the usual coiled stuff. Compressionless outer is used on BMXs in order to stop the brakes from being applied when the rider spins the bars and stresses the cable. Compressionless outer is a bit like standard gear outer, in that it has wires running the length of the housing, but it's thicker and therefore very very difficult to cut. The recommendation is to use a dremel as suggested by 02GF74 above.
I'm not sure why your bike is set up with this type of outer housing as it's only necessary on bikes where the cables are prone to extreme stretching like BMXs. Anyway, I'm glad you got it sorted and apologies for doubting you.
I'm not sure why your bike is set up with this type of outer housing as it's only necessary on bikes where the cables are prone to extreme stretching like BMXs. Anyway, I'm glad you got it sorted and apologies for doubting you.
OP
OP
Radius
SHREDDER
Thanks j, and no problem, although I think it was actually my own inadequacy / bad tools that stopped me from cutting it, cos once we had the cutters it was pretty simple, just that it was so bodged the cable got a bit stuck 
Ah well, sor'ed now and I've been out on a ride with proper descents since, and it worked, so that's good
Ah well, sor'ed now and I've been out on a ride with proper descents since, and it worked, so that's good
jpembroke
New Member
I have no idea what you are talking about.
1) He said he couldn't cut through his cable outer
2) We all told him to use some park tool cutters
3) He said he'd tried that and they wouldn't do the job
4) After some thought I offer the possibility that his bike is set up with compressionless (linear) brake housing which would explain why he couldn't cut through it because the only way to cut through that stuff is using a dremel as suggested by someone else.
and I'm apparently giving duff advice.
how so?
1) He said he couldn't cut through his cable outer
2) We all told him to use some park tool cutters
3) He said he'd tried that and they wouldn't do the job
4) After some thought I offer the possibility that his bike is set up with compressionless (linear) brake housing which would explain why he couldn't cut through it because the only way to cut through that stuff is using a dremel as suggested by someone else.
and I'm apparently giving duff advice.
how so?
Radius said:
Ah right, nice bike.
Get yourself some cable cutters some time. Like you I piddle about with crap tools. I always manage but I spend as much time teasing frayed cables back into shape and cleaning up cut housings as I do fitting the whole goddamn shebungle in the first place. I did once buy some but I haven't a clue where they've gone.
jpembroke
New Member
Crackle said:
I was trying to work out why he couldn't cut through his cables with a standard pair of cable cutters. He said he tried but they wouldn't cut through. When ordering in some cables for a BMX the other day it occurred to me that only type of cable housing that can't easily be cut with standard tools is the compressionless type as used on BMXs etc. Avid Flak Jacket is similar. And no doubt there are others (Nokon?). This stuff is much more tricky to cut than standard brake outer.
In short, I was merely suggesting he had some form of compressionless brake outer on his bike instead of standard steel coil brake outer, which would explain why he couldn't cut through it easily with a pair of cable cutters. It was just a suggestion. I don't think I did a very good job of explaining myself. And having said all that, it is highly unlikely that a bike would come with this as standard.
Kind of wish I hadn't made the suggestion now.
