You did not have to take any part of the shifter apart. Simply click the small lever to put it in the small cog or small chainring position while pulling on the cable,then depress the brake lever to pivot open the shifter body and look at the side of the shifter opposite where the cable goes in.You should be looking at the head of the cable. Push on the cable from the opposite side and out pops the head of the cable,just like da weasel.