This is what the shifting cable looked like when it came apart.
The outer casing had rusted and when put under pressure split. Without the strength of the casing, the cable just makes a loop and doesn’t do it’s job of moving the shifting lever on the back of the transmission.
This is the repair he made that got us home.
There is a plastic hose inside of the grey one…then several wire ties.
We are now looking for new cables.