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Dropper cable when first used after sitting overnight it reluctant to 'catch'. Feels like the cable is stretching/spongy, then it catches and works as normal.
Now I dont use the dropper much, im the urbanite so its just there for ease on mounting/dismounting as im 6'3" and swinging the leg over at my age isn't as natural as it used to be.
Could it mean the cable is stretched and needs either a bit of slack taken up or something more serious. It's a year old, but as above, maybe only goes up and own twice each in a day..
Could need lubed, could need a new cable/outer. It could be ice in the bottom of the bend in current conditions.
One of mine started doing similar the other night - out for a chilly night ride and it'd stay neither up nor down.
Thought the actuator pin might have got a bit sticky, but when I took it out to check it seemed fine. Put everything back and reset the cable tension and it was all good. Out riding in the snow yesterday and it started doing the same thing, seemed to take a while for the cable to return and hold the post in place properly so I figure things are getting a bit sticky inside the cable outer.
Mine went a bit weird after less than a year, internally routed, pulled the cable through and it had gone rusty as shite in there. Thought it would be protected from the elements. I only ever put coated cables on internal or full length outer stuff now (eg. Clarks)
Problem appears to be solved. I tightened the cable with the slack adjuster and theres now no sign of any stickiness.
On a separate issue, can you swop the remote for a different brand ?. The specced one sits facing up and its not the most comfortable thing to get to, plus isnt exactly aesthetically pleasing. Something under slung would be a lot better.
Syncros Duncan 2.5
https://www.westbrookcycles.co.uk/syncros_2.5_dropper_seatpost_remote-12069
Absolutely you can swap them for any other you like. The main thing to look for is whether the cable end is at the dropper or the lever end. Easiest if you get a replacement that has the cable going in the same direction as the original.
swinging the leg over at my age isn’t as natural as it used to be.
Do you need another thread for that issue?
My Brand X dropper lever becomes slow and sticky when it's been in a cold shed overnight, only happens if it's been well below zero outside, soon returns to normal.
Of our three, two gather water at the lowest point - the BB bend.
Both corrode quickly and freeze in cold weather.
My cable froze up last night so the dropper wouldn't stay up or down. Probably damp in the cable somewhere. Seems fine this morning after it's thawed out - probably time for either a new cable or a load of grease
Shimano make a cheap, decent lever, either band mount or ispec.
Just check which end of the system the cable stop ferrule sits at - I assume it's the bar end in your case.
so how do you stop a dropper from freezing? It's an absolute pain. Last night, saddle high for riding up the moor, nope, won't drop for the descents. Lever wouldn't budge. It's unfrozen again now and all fine.
Worse on my hard tail: saddle drops, you head off down and the saddle surreptitiously raises itself, ready to tip you over the bars the moment you try to get your arse down low. Again, only when freezing.
Is there a solution?
Change the outer cable, it's just shite and moisture inside the old one which is freezing.
Change the outer cable
not the answer I was looking for. Isn't there a special spray or some magic words I can say or something? Portable blow torch?
On a separate issue, can you swop the remote for a different brand ?
Yes! But man, aren't some of them bonkers prices?! The most simple lever and they want £80 for em. Mental.
https://www.westbrookcycles.co.uk/search?q=remote
Personally, I get on ok with the Brand X or Bonty ones - Bonty's are reasonable price:
https://www.pedalon.co.uk/acatalog/bontrager-line-elite-multi-clamp-lever.html#a582177 or even cheaper
https://www.pedalon.co.uk/acatalog/bontrager-line-dropper-under-bar-lever.html
Shimano one I had on a bike was nicer looking, but sod paying out for aesthetics on something so small and hidden away. Long as it works.
Portable blow torch?
Try it and report back in the name of science. 🙂
Recently looked at a mates Brand x post that was just moving but took a lot of effort to actually press the remote lever, the outer cable had split at the point where it came out of the seat tube. Luckily the cable was long enough to cut the damaged bit off and re use the rest, works fine now after replacing the inner cable
Shimano one I had on a bike was nicer looking, but sod paying out for aesthetics on something so small and hidden away. Long as it works.
Aye, suppose thats a fair point, and 80 is a ****g rip off especially when you consider thats the price of a high end shifter with all its internal workings. Dropper lever is nothing compared to a shifter so the price is totally unreasonable.
I'll stick with what i have, but I've also a 3 way shift thing for the fork/shock and tbh Ive never used it. Maybe see if that can be utilized.
The dropper lever doesnt do anything other than activate it to drop, stay down and a 2nd press it goes back up again on its air cartridge. Its more like an on/off than anything that requires something to click on then off.
If you're going to change the cable, treat yourself to some Shimano SP41 outer (pre-greased, and very smooth), and more importantly, some SP4 sealed end caps to keep it that way.
My Brand X dropper has twice seized up on icey rides in last week. Had to pull out seatpost to get the seat to stay up, and then not use the dropper lever for rest of ride. Will replace the (fairly new - grrr) cable. Short term fix for next ride I’ll just pull the bike into the house overnight to keep it warm and frost free
Is there a solution?
Yes, a Reverb
haha the first time ive evver heard a reverb make sense
i also experienced this the other day at the end of a ride in -3..
i plan to replace with the fancy shimano cable inner and outer as it jst works and stays working, unlike the other stuff ive replaced