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After constant shifting issues, I decided to stript my rear mech cables and outers.
Yep the inners were poo high! so gave them a clean.
I however had the bright idea to flush out the outers with WD40 (sorry).
Is this a good idea or is it new outers time?
What does 'poo high' mean?
Why would you need new outers?
The inners were covered in muck on the 3" section which is not covered by an outer.
Now that I have put WD40 in the outer - have I buggered them up?
Cheers
Probably not, GT85 or chain lube would've been better though
Well depending on the outers, it may have washed out any grease that had been in them, but depending on their age it probably negligable.
I'd recommend fitting some Middleburn cable oilers on any new set you install. They allow you to pump lube in mid run of outer, so you can guarantee it's full lubed, not have to take the inner cable out to do it & you push out the crud of both ends, rather than potential push crud through from one end contaminating clean area's...
You could run some thicker oil through the outers, but I find that anything, be it water or oil in cable outers tends to drag muck in. I just replace the cables, outer and inner when they get sticky, using the cheapest stuff.
They'll function but WD40 is both a cleaner and lube so over time residue deposits occur, needing you to use more WD40.
It's ok on your garden gate, I wouldn't go near my bike with it. I used to, before I knew why not! But my bike was nothing like I ride today 😀
Rock & Roll cable magic has always worked well for me. I do tend to replace both inner and outer when they are sticky and then a few drops of cable magic on the new inner.
I have managed to resurrect a sticky cable by flushing it through with likes of GT85. It is at this time I make a mental note to order a new inner and outer.