Jagwire Ripcord DIY Derailleur Kit

If you're struggling to change gear while riding your bike, or your shifts are rough, noisy or otherwise uncomfortable, your derailleur cable might need repair or adjustment. If the mechanism is slack, or looks frayed or stretched, then you should replace it. The Jagwire Ripcord replacement kit comes with everything needed to replace the cable, including a cable and housing, caps for the end of the housing and cabs for the end of the cable itself. It is also available in a variety of colors.

Things You'll Need

  • Jagwire Ripcord Derailleur Kit
  • Screwdriver
  • Wire cutters
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Instructions

  1. Remove The Old Derailleur Cable and Housing

    • 1

      Remove the cable from the derailleur. Loosen the retaining clip with a screwdriver. Either remove the end cap or cut the cable, and slide it out. The location of the retaining clip and screw will vary, depending on the derailleur, but it can be easily found by following the cable.

    • 2

      Slide the cap off the housing by pulling it, sliding it off the cable and then sliding the housing off the cable. Keep the housing on one side. We are going to replace it, but we need to keep the old piece so we can cut the new piece to the same length.

    • 3

      Remove the cap from the access port of the shifter on the handle bars. If your shifting mechanism does not have an access port then remove the cover by undoing the screws. How to remove the cover and expose the cable varies widely based on the style and manufacturer of the shifter, so it might take some ingenuity to remove the cover and expose the cable.

    • 4

      Shift the bike to the smallest chain ring. This will expose the maximum amount of cable. Pull the cable backwards out of the shifter by feeding it in from the side leading to the derailleur and pulling it gently through and out.

    Install the New Cable and Housing

    • 5

      Cut the new housing to the correct length by using the old housing as a guide.

    • 6

      Feed the uncapped end of the cable through the shifter. This is exactly the opposite of the way you removed the old one, so simply slide the uncapped end through the shifter and pull it gently from the far side until the capped end of the cable seats itself inside the shifter.

    • 7

      Install the end cap on the housing and feed the cable through the end cap and through the housing, and then install the end cap on the far end. Work from the shifter to the derailleur. There are also nosed-end caps included in the kit for use between pieces of housing. These are thin enough to get the housing to clip into the retaining clips on the frame.

    • 8

      Feed the cable through the derailleur and cut off any excess length. Leave about 3 inches beyond the derailleur so you have space to adjust the shifting and tension on the cable. Pull the cable tight and then clamp it in place by tightening the retaining bolt. Torque the retaining bolt to the specifications given by the manufacturer of the derailleur.

    • 9

      Install the cable end and crimp it in place. The cable end is important because it stops the cable fraying. Install the rubber boot above the derailleur unless it is a Shimano rear derailleur, in which case you need it to install the rubber boot between the cable stop and the pinch bolt.