I picked up a little Schwinn Mesa to refurbish; it's missing the rear (right side) shifter. So, by luck, I found an integrated 8-speed brake/shifter on another junker. Appears to work great.

Looking at this thing, I can't figure out how to change the cable. Most all these Shimano jobs just have a little hole you pull the cable out of; can not find one.

Do I have to take this little dude apart?

Model number appears to be ST-EF33-8.

some of the integrated shimano shifters have 3 little phillips head screws that need to come out, and a little plastic cover that is then removed so you can change the cable.

The rear shifter needs to be in the smallest cog position to install the cable.

You don't need to be taking anything off with a screwdriver to change cables. Like previously said, drop the gear down to the smallest cog and the cable will slide out from the shifter.

I'm inclined to think Flatfender is right; I'm well familiar with the more modern rapidfire-type shifters, they're dead easy.
This one has no access hole at all...
The number-indicator cap has a couple of phillips screws holding it on.

I am correct. many of the shimano integrated flat bar brake lever+shifters dont have the little access holes.
Heres a picture from my GFs MTB which requires the little indicator on the top to be removed before you can remove the cable. AL1943 is also correct in the fact that they need to be shifted into the smallest cog before the cable can be removed.



its super easy.