Once you get it open, you can pull the old latch cable out of it's sheath and cut it to leave a length hanging down low enough to grab until you can fix it. I got some stainless wire at Ace (bring a piece of the old one to match the diameter +/-) and easily pushed a new wire through (can't remember from which end). I made sure the end was filed smooth w/ no sharp edges. Secured at each end by wrapping back around it's self, w/ enough extra for future adjustments.