Originally Posted by
skidder
Just to clarify, are you using a shifter cable and not a brake cable (brake cables are thicker)? Not sure if you've bought the shift lever itself as shown in the Amazon link. If its a 40 year old bike you love, maybe its time to show it some love with a new shift lever and shift cable.
The thickness of brake cable core aside, both types of the terminations possible are likely to be too big to even fit into the opening of a shift lever housing. Other poster is correct though, decent quality shifters come with the cable already attached. The shifters off of Ebay should have instructions online for installing the cable. Follow them to the letter. If no instructions online then don't bother, toss them. You won't miss the $9.99 that shifters that crappy cost.