Shimano Shifter Cables are Fraying

.40AET · Aug 25, 2012

I'm looking for a cure. This is the second time that the right/rear shifter has eaten a cable just before the winder. It's not a big deal to change them out, but I'd love to find a solution to prevent it from happening in the future. I've had 2 sets of Shimano 105 shifters and they have both done the same thing. These are the newer ST-5700.

Thanks,

tihsepa · Aug 25, 2012

Thats prety common. I put a little triflow there and change them when they show an issue.

Retro Grouch · Aug 25, 2012

Look into a set of Gore Ride-on cables or go for broke and upgrade to Di2.

cxwrench · Aug 25, 2012

not sure why you think the Gore cables will not fatigue and fray like that. the OP just needs to replace his cables AND housing sooner. Gore cables will do nothing to keep this from happening.

svard75 · Aug 25, 2012

How many miles on a set of cables?

cxwrench · Aug 25, 2012

??? how long is a piece of string? there is no way to estimate the life of a cable based on mileage.

RoadBoy1 · Aug 25, 2012

I feel I need to ask a question here about these Shimano shifter cable failures. My last bike had Shimano Ultegra 6600 10 speed with exposed shift cables. I rode generally 1,000 to 1,200 miles per years and I had a set of shifter cables last me for 5 years before I replaced them. I didn't replace them because I was having a problem or because they had failed, I replaced them as a preventative maintenance thing so I wouldn't have a problem later on.

Approx, 6,000 miles over five years and never an issue and yet I am seeing here and on other forums all sorts of issues including trashed shifters when a cable frays before failing and I have to ask what is going on here? Has Shimano made the shifter barrels smaller and that is what is causing these failures or does the hidden cable routine somehow muck the shifting system up and cause the failures or is it something else altogether?

What the heck so going on with Shimano shifters?

cxwrench · Aug 25, 2012

it happens just as much w/ 6600 as with 6700. if you don't shift a ton, it won't happen. if you shift a lot (lots of climbing, for example) it can happen. as much as it does happen, i'd say it's still a very very small percentage of total bikes out there. there are so many variables...mileage, conditions...
if it hasn't happened to you, it isn't going to start happening if you buy new 6700. but i think 5 years is kinda long between replacing cables/housing. unless you don't ride in anything but the best conditions and keep your bike very clean...

fahrenheit · Aug 30, 2012

Sorry for the hijack (forum wont let me post because I havent posted 5 times) but I have a question along the same lines. I traded my TT bike for a road bike and the PO had removed the shifter cables. They are Ultegra 6700 shifters and I have no idea where the cable goes and the Shimano instructions really suck. Is there a step by step with photos anywhere? I bought some Jagwire but it has two end styles on it and I just dont know where the end goes in the shifter itself. The brakes are easy. The shifting, not so much. Thanks and sorry again.

svard75 · Aug 30, 2012

Try this vid for older ultegra Bike Repair - Replace rear derailleur cable part 1 of 2 - YouTube

Or this one for newer montaje cables maneta Ultegra 6700.wmv - YouTube

cxwrench · Aug 31, 2012

imo those double ended cables suck. that is all.

Wheelman55 · Aug 31, 2012

There has been an issue with Jagwire cable heads and 6700 shifters. The heads are sometimes out of spec (too large) and can get stuck inside the shifters. They are a bear to get out. Stick with Shimano cables...they don't cost that much more

Best of luck with your repairs!

.40AET · Aug 31, 2012

The Shimano inner cables are around $5. None of the Shimano instructions are very clear for putting the cables in. Hopefully one of the videos work for you.

Good luck

svard75 · Sep 1, 2012

Just noticed youve got a metal cap on the derailleur cable going into the shifter. Doesnt that seem strange? I never use caps there as long as my housing has the wire just cut it straight and file it down so it aint sharp. Maybe the cap is causing that little bit more friction causing the cable to fray right there?

cxwrench · Sep 1, 2012

this kind of advice is what causes more problems that it helps fix. shimano sti shifters ALWAYS need ferrules on the housing. if you're not using ferrules when you run your cables, you're doing it wrong. big time. shimano also recommends alloy ferrules at the shifter end of the housing with 5700, 6700, and 7900, not plastic.
cables fraying and breaking in shifters is a well known problem. it's not the ferrule that's the problem. the cables start fraying further inside the shifter than that.
please...if you don't know the right way to do something, don't give advice on how to do it the wrong way. it's very easy to find the correct way to do anything that involves shimano parts.

MMinSC · Sep 1, 2012

And if you like Gore cables, start hoarding them. Gore is leaving the cable business...

PlatyPius · Sep 1, 2012

The only way to stop this from happening is.... switch to Campy or SRAM.

Or maybe replace your cables every year as part of your "get ready for spring" service.

Trek_5200 · Dec 23, 2015

.40AET said:
I'm looking for a cure. This is the second time that the right/rear shifter has eaten a cable just before the winder. It's not a big deal to change them out, but I'd love to find a solution to prevent it from happening in the future. I've had 2 sets of Shimano 105 shifters and they have both done the same thing. These are the newer ST-5700.

Thanks,

The cure is changing the cables regularly. After getting burned twice i now change the cables every 2,000 miles. you should notice before the cable goes that shifting isn't acting smoothly as well. Fortunately cables are not expensive. Seems poor customer service for Shimano to know about this and not be working on a fix, let alone give customers a discount on cable till then, at cost i would think.

I will also say this never was a problem with my 6500. Seems everyone wants cables under the bar tape for neatness, but the old exposed wires did the job. If Shimano made the old 7800 i'd probably buy a set.

Lombard · Dec 24, 2015

This problem existed before Shimano shifter cables ran under the bar tape. The problem exists solely because the way the shfiter works is to tighten the cable by wrapping it in a tight circle inside the shifter, nothing else. I've seen this happen a few times on the right shifter, never on the left for the obvious reason that the left doesn't get used anywhere near as much as the right.

Granted that running shifter cables under bar tape and inside the downtube opened up a whole new can of worms. But that is not the issue here.

mfdemicco · Dec 26, 2015

Anyone tried Alligator 31 strand cables?

Shimano Shifter Cables are Fraying

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