Can I replace throttle cable without pulling flywheel?

[Good Trout To You Sir]

Second owner of a 1998 4HP (E4BRECRJ). Throttle cable must be replaced.
Cannot find aftermarket cable and at 20" total length, $105 OEM kit strikes me as uneconomic. My workaround is to fabricate a cable. Plan to reuse the cable sleeve, terminal ends and cable retainer to ignition plate.
Had hoped to avoid pulling the flywheel to install new cable......does anyone have suggestions on a workaround for popping out or pulling out cable retainer to ignition plate in a way that would allow it to be reused or MUST I pull the flywheel?
Thanks for your time and thoughts.

 

[Bosunsmate]

Its a solid guess this just from that photo, can you not push it back in and then down once the cable gets in as far as that slot?

 

[Good Trout To You Sir]

Possibly. But my first take is to disconnect the cable end that is anchored to the ignition plate via the cable retainer.
I was hoping someone would have some insight on how this might be accomplished short of brute force to rip it out.
If the cable retainer has a flange on the top side of the ignition plate, then force would be bad. If someone has been successful with the cable replacement without pulling the flywheel, I'd appreciate knowing the workaround.