TOPIC: Control Cable Removal on '73 Power Pilot?

I tore down the Power Pilot control box on my '73 85HP Evinrude last night. I know the throttel cable needs replaced but I wanted to regrease all the internals to make sure the bind was really coming from the cable. I ran into a problem.

I couldn't get the control cables loose fro the levers in the control box.

I loosened and the removed the set screws at the center of each pivot in the photo below, but the wire and cable wouldn't pull out.




As I understand it you pull the set screws and the cable wire pulls out of the white plastic part. Have I got that wrong? What am I missing?

The control box certainly needed cleaned and greased, but the cable absolutely is the problem. I need to get one ordered in the next couple weeks. Just got to figure out how to get the old one out!

Anyone? Is this mic on?

Should be set screws in both ends of those pins.

There are. I removed both of them and still couldn't pull the wire out.

The set screws usually put a bit of a kink in the bowden wire, which can get caught in the barrel of the cable anchor. Sometimes brute force is required, or twisting the cable and brute force combined...

Just to update this, I finally got around to replacing the throttle cable. I guess my previous attack of loosening screws and tugging on the cable must have loosened things up. Both ends of the cable easily pulled out. I had the cable changed in about an hour taking my time to do it. I haven't had her out on the water yet, but just operating the control lever in the garage it seems to work the exact same as the old one for range of motion, but boy is it easier and smoother to move! I didn't even have to change the adjuster on the motor end. I literally pulled it out of the box and bolted it on and it seems to function perfectly. Makes me nervous.