I have a 9 year old Cannondale hybrid with a SRAM X-4 Trigger Shifter. Been having shifting issues so I wanted to change the cables. I was able to remove the cables without issues but I can't seem to put the new cable into the shifter. It somehow gets stuck in the middle. I can't see it coming out the other end. Is there a trick to feeding the cable through? The manual makes it seem very easy - "just feed the cable through" yeah right!

Any help is appreciated. Not sure if the shifter is somehow broken and I may just need to buy a new one

You have to be shifted to the lowest (or highest) position, so that the cable be at it's lowest tension. When you have the shifter positioned you should be able to see all the way through. I have some X7's off the box I'll go check them out and see it I see anything.

Yes, with the shifter shifted to it's lowest position you should be able to feed to cable right through.

Thanks dksix. I've put it both at the lowest and highest settings and it seems to be hitting something that prevents it from going through. I've actually tried to fish it through the other end just to see and the result is the same.

Had similar problems trying to replace the cable on a Grip Shift unit. Fought with that sucker for hours. Ended up buying a new one for $15, it just wasn't worth my time or my patience.

Hopefully you will have better luck with this one than I did. I swear, some of this stuff must get installed by a machine at the factory, either that or by a person who does nothing but insert shift cables all day long.

remove the cable adjuster.... try it again...

I did this too thinking that what was preventing it from going through. No luck. Will try again tomorrow. A bit frustrated at this point. I’ve replaced the cable on my road bike and that one was way easier

try pre-shaping the cable with a bit of a curve to it...

What kind of sorcery is this? It actually worked. Thanks maddog34.

Bike mechanic magic!

On many places a cable can got through, there is a place where the end of a cable can get stuck when you try to push is through. Think about the end you put on the cable housing for instance. Once the cable end is through, no problem. I've found that just giggling the cable against what ever is stopping it will usually help it find it's way through. You'll get the feel of it after a doing a few hundred.