>Hi Tom...
>
>The cable head is made out of lead... VERY low melting point,
>
>Around 620 F vs Aluminum at 1220F... See where I'm going?
>
>Get a butane torch. (don't even try a lighter) Heat the lead side.
>Wear a heavy glove! Just as it drips melts, shut off the torch, put
>it down and pull on the cable strands with some side cutters... It'll
>pull right out. Watch where the lead dripps it's 620F!
>
>I've done it... Be careful... If you catch on fire... I never heard
>of this email....
>
>Don Williams
>Woodinville Washington USA
>
>On Thu, May 1, 2008 at 6:26 PM, Tom Hayes <hayesbikes@gmail.com> wrote:
>> Anyone have an easy solution (or given my current state of four of them
in
>> this condition, I will accept a difficult solution) for NR shifters that
>> have the head of the cable stuck in them. The head won't budge; no plac
e to
>> get a bite on the head. My latest attempt was to drill it with a dremm
el
>> and very thin drill bit, only to have two of the bits break.
>>
>> Thanks for the help and for giving me something to think about while
>> traveling to Trexlertown tomorrow.
>>
>> Cheers.
>>
>> Tom Hayes
>> Chagrin Falls, Ohio USA
>>
>>
Tom, As Don suggests, above, heat will help solve this, but if you can't co
ntrol the temperature precisely (or you don't want to risk injury, ruining
the lever, or fires) I would first try something more benign. Soak the leve
rs in ammonia. If that doesn't loosen the corrosion bond, move up to phosph
oric acid, but watch this closer as it's more aggressive if the solution is
concentrated. Applying "gentle" heat (less than the 620ยบ required to
melt lead) may expand the aluminum enough to aid dislodging the lead stump.
When and if all this failed, then I'd go to the big heat technique, and as
Don says wear welder's gloves, eye protection and a respirator, too (fumes
).
Good luck,
Alan Goldsworthy
San Francisco, CA, USA