What does excessive wear on both sides of a control cable pulley groove indicate?

Excessive wear on both sides of a control cable pulley groove typically indicates pulley misalignment. When a pulley is not aligned correctly with the direction of the cable, it can cause uneven tension and stress on the cable as it passes through the groove. This misalignment results in the cable rubbing against the edge of the groove, leading to accelerated wear on both sides. Proper alignment ensures that the control cable moves smoothly through the pulley without unnecessary friction, which helps to maintain the integrity of both the cable and the pulley itself.

In contrast, pulley lubrication issues, while they can lead to increased wear, typically cause a different pattern of wear and operational problems. Control cable fatigue generally manifests as fraying or breakage of the cable itself rather than wear on the pulley. Lastly, improper installation of the pulley might create various alignment challenges, but the specific indication of wear on both sides points more directly to a misalignment issue specifically.