16Victor

OK, so my overhaul and cleanup of my recent n+1 Raleigh Comp GS has been going well. Found the right rear derailleur and have been reassembling all the stuff.

Got a cable end that won't come out of the shifter handle. Tried twisting, pushing, etc. but no go. Worked it so much that the cable is now broken off flush at the back side. I even tried drilling it (hence the marks) but gave up due to the risk.

Let's hear your thoughts on how to rescue this - it's Campy GS and I don't have a spare.

Thanks!

cyclotoine

drill it with a dremmel and then screw a small coarse thread bolt to screw into it and hopefully pull it out?

thinktubes 

Isn't that lead? Maybe you could get at it with a soldering iron or torch.

If it's steel, may a freeze heat thing since you have dissimilar metals.

wrk101

Drill press, drill from the bottom up

rootboy 

If it were me, the first step would be removing the lever from the rest of the assembly. Much easier to work on. Then, I would cut the remaining stub of cable off the back side as I could with a Dremel cut off wheel, if you have one. Then set the lever on the bench and punch the thing out from the back side with a small drift punch.
That's what I'd do, anyway.

16Victor

That's what I did. Was a bit worried about getting the pin punch broken off in the hole, but that didn't happen. Was close to the heat idea but the heat gun was in the basement and I wasn't.

Thanks for the help, embarrassed to have had to ask.

Michael Angelo 

It looks like the wrong size cable was used, Non Campagnolo end. Campy ends are much smaller and do not tend to get stuck like that. Also a bit of grease or Anti Sieze compound on assy works wonders.

RobbieTunes

I read this with interest, having had the sam issue with a 10-sp Veloce Ergo.

It was a great learning experience, not only about the Ergo, but about patience and perserverance and tempering anger.

Suffice it to say I use CAMPY cables henceforth.

TimmyT 

Well, there's the answer I need. I have a Cyclone shifter with this problem.

RubberLegs

Your BIG HAMMER should be kept locked away with a 3-day timer lock to give one a cooling off period when dealing with stuck bits...Patience and careful wrenching IS the preferred method...brute force often has bad results....

unworthy1

Drilling and some careful surgery with a Dremel and diamond bit was what I had to use...it's amazing how welded lead and aluminum can get (and we thought steel and AL was bad!)
I also check the fit before installing (especially in Campy levers) and sand the ends if the fit's too tight, also dab them in grease beforehand, too.

Grand Bois

It's unlikely that you'll ever see steel cast onto the end of a cable.

thinktubes 

So is it lead? I've always thought that it was, but with the current environmental regulations I'm curious.

16Victor

rootboy's idea seems obvious in retrospect. I was embarrassed about even posting this thread and nearly deleted it, however it will stay for posterity and future help.

I'll tinker some evening with a heat gun, old cable, and spare shifter to see what melts, discolors, etc.

unworthy1

AFAIK yes, it's lead though they may alloy it with a little zinc.
So, take the usual precautions that you would with lead: wash your hands after handling and don't let children teethe with old cables (no matter how they whine!).
Aside from lead bullets and pellets polluting the soil around gun clubs and in game, lead is a little like gold (hard to run with the weight, etc.) in that once it's mined it can keep being recycled 'forever' and so has enormous longevity...both a plus and a minus, depending on human's handling.