Re: Soldering nipple ends on cable (light duty).

In article <cvfdr195t4loija816oourmmk2sreoqj4f@xxxxxxx>, Don Foreman says...

>Dont use makeshift lead ferrules. Lead is too soft to hold. Use
>the zinc-plated copper ones that are readily available.

While I have to agree that the simple expedient of getting ends
crimped on at a local bike shop is absolutely the best approach,
and exactly the one I would recommend, I have to relate this
story:

My first foray into the world of mechanics and wrenching happened
when I was in middle school. I picked up a huge pile of three
speed bicycle parts (frames, wheels, all kinds of parts) from
a house near my home during one local junk pick-up day.

I assembled my first rideable bicycle from that stuff, and learned
a lot. I had a lot of time and not much money, so I mostly made
do with what I had.

For some reason, I didn't have a shifter cable the correct length,
but I did have one that was for some reason way too long. I cut
off the end, and not knowing any better, made a new one.

I cleaned the oil and grease off the cable, and wrapped it with a
single turn of solid copper wire of the correct diameter to form
a cylinder on the surface of the cable. After fluxing the assembly
with plumbers paste flux I simply flowed soft solder into the
coil to form a solid end to the cable.

Fast forward to recent times when I was overhauling that bike which
has been used for many years. I was a bit dumbfounded to see my
initial handiwork which provided faithful service all those years.

Like Don says, it shouldn't really hold. But oddly it did.

And those SA cables do get some serious tension on them when you try
to shift at the wrong time.

Jim


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