Appreciate the input gentlemen. Since the IA and I are replacing the cables I just pulled the old sleeves out with pliers .... they were really stiff .... reason I couldn't push them back in through the second bend. I'm replacing them with the polyethylene sleeves Bumper mentioned. I'm also toying with the idea of putting cable ties around the sleeves at each end of the S-tube .... just tight enough to keep it in the tube without binding the rudder cable.

Mike J.