[Closed] Internal gear cable nightmare

vacuum cleaner and cotton's the usual advice, I think

I have the same frame and found it really easy to run the cables - what exactly is going wrong?

I put new cables on at the weekend and it was a bit of a faff as I was using a Gore cable set, but actually found it easier to run a section of normal cable through and then follow that with the plastic tube as the steel cable is heavier and keener to head to the right place.

A bit of wiggling of the cable and pluck the end out with long nose pliers if it doesn't just pop past the BB sleeve.

I use a small powerful wheel magnet.

I was going to suggest the magnet trick. Rare earth work best apparently.

I went and bought a metre of 7mm copper plumbing pipe, which worked pretty well but then I found some 3.5mm cunifer (copper nickel iron) pipe that is used for things like Citroen car hydraulics. This does the trick; you can put a small bend at one end then push it through and it emerges from the hole and you then feed the cable through it.

On the top tube you can also hook the cable out with the hub end of a spoke.

but actually found it easier to run a section of normal cable through and then follow that with the plastic tube

I don't have a plastic tube. Standard outer that sits in the cable guide on the frame, steel inner cable going from that round the bb to each mech.

I don't have a plastic tube. Standard outer that sits in the cable guide on the frame, steel inner cable going from that round the bb to each mech.

My point is, from experience of both, that should be easier than faffing with a tube. It should be easier to catch the steel cable through the cutout in the BB and pull it through.

I might be missing something, bare with me.

The cut out in the bb still has the plastic guide in there with the 2 runs for the cable to feed to the mechs. I took out the bolt that I presumed holds it in place but it didn't budge.

Should i be able to take it out?

I have the cranks/bb installed, are they stopping the plastic guide from moving?

Do i even deserve a bike?

Should i be ashamed that i worked in a bike shop for 8 years and i've been defeated by a simple task?

I nearly asked if you had taken that out 🙂

Its a tight fit, but will come out with a bit of gentle persuasion, and I've taken it out with cranks installed. I have to gently pry it out with a small screwdriver and I do have chipped carbon for my efforts.

One end of the plug is "hooked" in and the other not, I think you need to lever it out from the front side.

Failing that, you might have some joy with the plastic inner from the BB end if you take the bung out from the down tube but it will be a harder job than getting the BB plug out.

Ok thanks. I didn't want to start digging about at it because it seemed stuck in there pretty fast, now i know that it does come out i'll give it another go.