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Repair guides › Drivetrain

Replace shift cable and housing

Skill level 2 of 4 · Tune-upReplaceModerate45 minTrigger shifter (rapidfire)

Thumb levers that pull or release the shift cable one gear at a time. The big lever pulls cable (shifts to bigger cogs, easier gears). The small lever releases (smaller cogs, harder gears). Each click is a fixed amount of cable; the barrel adjuster on the shifter fine-tunes tension.

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Tools

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Steps

  1. Shift to the smallest cog. This gives the most slack.
  2. Cut the cable end cap off at the derailleur and loosen the anchor bolt.
  3. Open the cable hatch on the shifter (small screw or cover) and push the old cable out of the shifter head.
  4. Feed the new cable in through the shifter, out the barrel adjuster.
  5. Measure new housing against the old pieces. Cut with the cable cutter, then open the liner hole with a sharp point. Fit a ferrule on each end.
  6. Route cable through housing and frame stops, with a dab of grease on the cable where it enters housing.
  7. Screw the shifter and derailleur barrel adjusters all the way in, then back out 1 turn.
  8. Pull the cable snug (not tight) under the anchor bolt washer, in the groove, and tighten to spec.
  9. Cut the cable 3 cm past the bolt, crimp an end cap. Then index (see Adjust rear derailleur).

Torque

FastenerTorque
Shifter clamp bolt (MTB trigger)2.5–3 Nm
RD cable anchor bolt5–7 Nm

Diagram

front →
Side view, chain side toward youHandlebar + Rear derailleur
ShifterClamp boltBarrel adjusterHousingFerruleFrame stopBare inner cableHousing loop to the derailleurBarrel adjusterAnchor boltEnd capHousing protects the cable between stops; bare cable runs along the frame.
Cable and housing: from shifter to derailleur

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