For anyone else who has this issue in the future, having a nice clean cut on the cable end plus a bit of wiggling and perseverance should be all that is necessary. This indicators are the bomb, I have one on every one of my bikes, 9 or 10-speed. I know I can look where the chain is, or try to memorize it, but why not add 3 extra grams to your bike to have the rear sprocket that you are in shown right in front of you? Simply awesome.