HELP!! Steering cable bound up, I’m going in circles!

I have a Mirage 11’ inflatable and the steering assembly has issues. The spectra was so bound up that I couldn’t turn the handle at all. Things just progressively got worse over time so I got the idea to replace the spectra with cable. Found the right diameter (or so I thought) watched the video on the Hobie site and made the leap and…one side of the cable went through the guide tube very easily…the other side, not so much. It felt like there was something blocking the tube. On the side that went in easily, there was a little plastic sleeve right at the entrance to the tube from the steering assembly; on the difficult side, there was no plastic sleeve. It’s possible that it got pushed into the tube by the previous owner but, who knows? I was finally able to get both cables through the guide tubes and attach them to the rudder but, no joy. The handle still wouldn’t turn without considerable effort. Going to make an attempt to redo everything with spectra again using picture hanging wire as my “fish tape” but, am also looking for anybody who has had the same issue who can talk me off the ledge.