I recently had to recable a hybrid bike as a result of a handlebar change. I cut the shifter cable for the rear derailleur, clicked it to the position where I could push the cable out, inserted a new cable, clicked it all the way out to the #8 position, bolted the free end of the cable to the rear derailleur, and found that it doesn't work. That is, the mechanism goes through all seven clicks, both up and down (it's an 8-speed shifter) but it doesn't pull any cable. Removing the dust cover and looking at the ratcheting mechanism as it operates seems to indicate that it's working as it should. It was functioning perfectly before I recabled it. Shifter and cable are off the bike now, but I can't get the shifter to pull any cable no matter what I do.
What gives? It's as if the stop at the shifter end of the cable is not engaging in the right place--otherwise I can't see why it's not moving when the shifter moves. As far as I can tell, though, it's pulled into the shifter as it should be. But since it's invisible once it's pulled in to where it seats, I can't say for sure that it's in the right place.

Edit--figured it out. I'm an idiot--forgot to click to 8 before inserting the cable. I'll go back to C & V, where I belong.