Originally Posted by
Andrew R Stewart
All cables have some lengthwise bend/shape to them which gravity won't straighten. But to use this bend, or add a short dog leg at the cable's end, is a time honored method to try to catch the exit port while both pushing of the cable while twisting it. The twisting will make the cable end move about and hopefully let it catch/find the exit. Andy.
I had to do this recently on an '87 Pinarello Montello. I used a length of Jagwire housing liner (extremely useful stuff, though I've never used it as housing liner) and bent one end up in the manner you suggest. The entire length had an arch to it from having been coiled on the roll, but I had to bend the end to get it to "find" the opening. It still took 5-10 minutes of twisting and stabbing but it eventually popped out. After that, it was a simple matter to thread the brake cable through the liner and pull the liner out (because it wouldn't fit into the ferrules).