Which replacement dropper seat post cable?

[Blakey]

Hi Amflow riders,

I have a PL 800w model, medium size frame, and the dropper seatpost has stopped working. The cable has come through the lever and has stretched. It looks like a simple replacement cable will do the job, but I'm mindful not to buy the wrong one. Note that the cable casing all looks fine. I just need the internal cable. Can anyone give me a 100% definite link to the right replacement cable please?

Connected to this question, there is a tiny grubber screw which holds the cable in place in the lever. It looks to be an alun key but it's smaller than my smallest (2mm) alun key. Does anyone know the correct tool to tighten that up? Is there even an alun key smaller than 2mm?

Thanks!
Blakey

 

[Excalibur]

I replaced my cable last year when it fraid and bought a Jagwire dropper cable which fitted perfectly, I found it easy to fit and it has worked fine since I replaced it.

 

[Blakey]

I replaced my cable last year when it fraid and bought a Jagwire dropper cable which fitted perfectly, I found it easy to fit and it has worked fine since I replaced it.

Yes, I have heard they are good. I don't suppose you know exactly which cable (preferably with a link)?

 

[Excalibur]

This is a new one I bought just in case it happens again.

 

[Blakey]

Thanks!

Did you need to re-run the outer casing through the frame? I am hoping mine is just the internal cable and i can just push that through the outer casing and it'll essentially route itself.

 

[Excalibur]

Thanks!

Did you need to re-run the outer casing through the frame? I am hoping mine is just the internal cable and i can just push that through the outer casing and it'll essentially route itself.

No I just replaced the inner cable and it worked perfectly if you look on Youtube it shows you how to reinstall a dropper cable and it's easy to do.

 

[Blakey]

I guess it's a bit of a waste buying the external cable but at least you know the internal cable and all bits work.

Do you know what size the tiny grubber screw is which keeps the cable in place on the lever? I think it's a sub-2mm allen key but I can't be sure.

 

[Excalibur]

I guess it's a bit of a waste buying the external cable but at least you know the internal cable and all bits work.

Do you know what size the tiny grubber screw is which keeps the cable in place on the lever? I think it's a sub-2mm allen key but I can't be sure.

I used a Park tool allen keys set and one is smaller than the other I know it is a bit fiddly reconnecting the cable but I did get there in the end.

 

[Excalibur]

Hope this helps.

 

[Darren66]

I guess it's a bit of a waste buying the external cable but at least you know the internal cable and all bits work.

Do you know what size the tiny grubber screw is which keeps the cable in place on the lever? I think it's a sub-2mm allen key but I can't be sure.

Isn't calling a gear cable a dropper cable just a reason to increase the price?

 

[Excalibur]

Isn't calling a gear cable a dropper cable just a reason to increase the price?

No a gear cable is thicker and will not work as I found out.

 

[Excalibur]

This is the Jagwire cable you need.

 

[Darren66]

No a gear cable is thicker and will not work as I found out.

That's strange, every dropper I've fitted, I've used derailleur cable.
Are you getting confused with brake cable?

 

[Excalibur]

That's strange, every dropper I've fitted, I've used derailleur cable.
Are you getting confused with brake cable?

No I did fit a normal gear cable at first and it was sticking when I pushed the lever and I was told it was thicker than a dropper one, When I bought the dropper kit the cable is thiner and glides in when inserted.

 

[Darren66]

No I did fit a normal gear cable at first and it was sticking when I pushed the lever and I was told it was thicker than a dropper one, When I bought the dropper kit the cable is thiner and glides in when inserted.

Must be an issue with the dropper or lever?
I've used at least five different brands of dropper and numerous dropper levers, zero issues with using derailleur cable, inner or outer.

 

[Excalibur]

Must be an issue with the dropper or lever?
I've used at least five different brands of dropper and numerous dropper levers, zero issues with using derailleur cable, inner or outer.

I found out it is thinner than a regular gear cable and does the job.

 

[Blakey]

Hope this helps.

View attachment 184239

I guess it's the 1.5mm one you used? I could not get a 2mm to fit.

 

[ozzybmx]

No I did fit a normal gear cable at first and it was sticking when I pushed the lever and I was told it was thicker than a dropper one, When I bought the dropper kit the cable is thiner and glides in when inserted.

Strange, I have the same PL Carbon and swapped the 150mm KS dropper for a 180mm BikeYoke Revive.

While I was swapping it, I whipped out the existing cable and replaced with standard Shimano gear cable without issue.

Original Amflow outer is still in place.

 

[nowayfra]

I can confirm for the amflow PL a simple shifter cable and housing is sufficient. Its just important that the metal wires in the housing is parallel to the pulling cable and not a spiral one (less flex).

 

[Jurassic]

Dropper cables have traditionally been just gear cables (outer and inner) but recently Jagwire released a narrower dropper specific cable set which is designed to take up less space in the section above the motor (which is often very tight for space on ebikes). It's also supposed to be more flexible than a gear cables.
I've always used gear cables previously but have just fitted a Jagwire pro dropper cable kit on my ebike and it did make life slightly easier (although it's still a PITA job on my bike).

 

[ozzybmx]

Dropper cables have traditionally been just gear cables (outer and inner) but recently Jagwire released a narrower dropper specific cable set which is designed to take up less space in the section above the motor (which is often very tight for space on ebikes). It's also supposed to be more flexible than a gear cables.
I've always used gear cables previously but have just fitted a Jagwire pro dropper cable kit on my ebike and it did make life slightly easier (although it's still a PITA job on my bike).

A quick Google says..

Whereas standard gear cable housing uses a 4mm outer diameter with a 1.1mm diameter inner wire, the Pro Dropper Kit utilises a special type of cable called Lex-SL. The housing features a thinner 3mm diameter, while the stainless steel inner wire uses a 0.8mm diameter.

All sounds good until you break the 0.8mm cable on a MTB trip away, then need motor removal to replace the lot with a standard gear inner/outer.
Surely nobody is scrambling for 1mm additional space above a motor.

 

[Excalibur]

I bought my Scott ebike in 2024 and the cable that was fitted to the dropper was a Jagwire cable which is thinner than a regular gear cable, that is why when I used a normal gear cable at first to replace the damaged one it felt tight and was sticking. I did ask the shop where I bought the bike from for advice and they recommended I replace it with a Jagwire cable and now I have smooth movement on my dropper post.

 

[Gauss Guzzler]

If your cable just slipped on the set screw and unraveled a bit, you can likely just twist it back into shape just fine - it doesn't need to be un-kinked in the set screw region, just twisted properly inboard of that.

But if it is mangled beyond recognition, you can just trim it a little shorter. They're usually way too long for most bar setups anyway.

 

[Pyr0]

Hi,
Does anyone know where to find a 1.2mm diameter cable with this type of end please? (Amflow PX pro dropper)

I've just ordered one of the jagwire cables above but I think it comes with the wrong cable stop for my dropper..
unless either type will work with a dropper??
Starting to see why some people prefer wireless posts.

 

[Excalibur]

Hi,
Does anyone know where to find a 1.2mm diameter cable with this type of end please? (Amflow PX pro dropper)

View attachment 185123

I've just ordered one of the jagwire cables above but I think it comes with the wrong cable stop for my dropper..
unless either type will work with a dropper??
Starting to see why some people prefer wireless posts.

View attachment 185124

Accendcomponents on ebay is selling these barrels for £4.99.

 

[Pyr0]

Accendcomponents on ebay is selling these barrels for £4.99.

Hi @Excalibur , thanks for the recommendation.
I found something similar last night on Amazon and ordered for delivery today. But when I actually dismantled everything, I realised the barrel end on the stock cable was removable and this morning I confirmed it fits the new Jagwire cable.