Appreciation post: the old timer who swore by a drop of oil on cable ferrules

I thought it was just a messy habit for years, but after a customer brought in a bike with a sticky shifter that nothing else fixed, I tried it. That tiny bit of oil on the cable end at the derailleur made the shift crisp and quiet. Anyone have other little tricks that sound odd but actually work?

3 comments

3 Comments

felix4146d ago

That "tiny bit of oil" trick works on barrel adjusters too... keeps them from freezing up.

park.miles6d ago

Yeah, that oil on the barrel adjusters is smart. I put a dab on the cable housing ends where they plug into the stops, stops that annoying creak.

daniel_gonzalez6d ago

My old Shimano barrel adjusters get totally stuck without that oil trick. What specific oil do you guys use? I've tried Tri-Flow but it attracts dirt after a few wet rides.