Is there a trick to this? I have clicked the shifter to the smallest cog (figuratively of course) but I can’t seem to fish the shifter out of it’s little cave. There’s a little plastic panel that seems to hide where the shifter cable mechanically hooks in, do i just remove that little piece?
I’m swapping out components and would like to save the cable so cutting it is not an option. This is a brifter for a rear mec.
Thanks!
The cable is done, you have to get a new one. thats the way it is.
you dont fish it out, you push it out with the other end of the cable.
Pull (with your hands) the cable and shift down till you see the cable end…now, use a pliers to press on the cable - from the derailleur side until the cable end pops out of the hole. It is not uncommon for the cable to stick in there with sport drink and other shit from a year or so of use…not like in this image, you need to get the end out of the seat first - but you get the idea.
that’s not 6700, 6700 is a bit different
i am 2 for 2 in bad install on front der cable on 6700. 2x to shop to get it unjammed and a new cable installed. it seems easy enough, but I have tons better luck fishing cables out of an internal frameset or getting a dropped valve extender out of a wheel 
I had a problem removing cables on my 6700 shifters and also ended up taking them to my LBS for help. Even they weren’t able to get them out. They contacted the Shimano rep and I ended up getting two new shifters under warranty.
I was told that the Shimano rep said 6700’s require a specific cable that has a different (larger?) ball end than what 7800/6600 and previous models used and that if you didn’t use the right cable, the ball end would get jammed and couldn’t be removed.
True or not, I ended up with new shifters, since the shop had done the install.
The shop made up a story to hide their mistake. Same cable for all shimano brifters.
Broken shift cables have been a problem as long as there have been derailleurs and shift cables. Shimano combined shifter / brake handle are a lot easier when riding, but more complicated to fix. Its a trade-off.
When the cable on my Shimano sifter broke, I found several websites explaining how to put in a new cable. They didn’t mention that the broken end might be hidden inside the mechanism and needed to be removed first.
Here is what to do:
Go the Shimano website and find the manuals for your model shifter. Look for DM, the Dealer Manual which will be many pages long explaining how to install the shifter. For ST6800, page 23 is titled “How to pull out the disconnected inner end.†The manual for your model should have a similar section.
The instructions show a small screw that holds an inner cover about the size of a thumb nail.
HOWEVER, the first step says to remove the entire lever assembly from the handlebar. Depending on your model and good fortune, you might possibly be able to just fold back the rubber cover and remove some handle bar tape to access the screw. Try this before taking everything apart.
When you (finally) remove the cover, the broken cable end will be visible and can be easily removed with tweezers or maybe just your finger nail.
Now put everything back together.
Go for a fun ride; you earned it.
In the future, I will be replacing all of the cables as preventative maintenance, every 2500 miles. And also before starting on a tour.
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