The diameter of the housing is 4.2mm and is labeled shift housing, but the metal within the housing is coiled as opposed to strands. The housing came with a 3×8 shimano trigger shifter set. Has anyone seen this before? I haven't tried it as shift housing yet, but surely if it is does not have strands then it is not compressionless?
by Killa_Kev_
5 Comments
Shimano uses a short section of coiled housing for the last foot where the cable enters Shadow type road rear derailleurs (11spd+) but that is all. Any indexed shifter should be using SIS type housing.
8 speed shifters are not very sensitive. This kind of housing will work and has been a known thing from Shimano since at least 2010: https://www.bikeforums.net/bicycle-mechanics/617508-spiral-wound-shifter-cable.html
Cheap Shimano shift housing is coiled. It’s fine for what it’s intended for.
Old shift housing was coiled. It worked, it’s not the best, but we got by. There are lots of variations. I just got to use some cool old stock white brake housing on a new build and I have a single piece of blue brake housing with a removable teflon inner liner waiting for a special project yet to appear in my life.
The coiled outer is possibly shimano’s OT-RS900.
It was supplied with 11 speed road rear derailleurs and is much more flexible than typical STI housing. Many frames with internal cable routing had a very tight bend between the frame and derailleur.