Originally Posted by
Kimmo
Often not.
I have the opposite problem; these plastic ones on my gear cables are jammed like buggery into my STIs... I've ascertained the only way they're coming out is if I drill them out. I've nearly bust a gut trying to get them out with pliers...
So anyway, try twisting the ferrule off in the direction the strands in the housing go.
If you're trying to get the ferrules off your off-cuts, why are you scared of damaging the housing?
Maybe they have changed the design over the past couple of years, but I always thought the ferrules were built in to the STI levers... if you managed to stuff another plastic ferrule in there it's gonna be hella tight.