A line mechanic reports their B777-200 cabin door slide arming cable freezes; preventing the arming or disarming of the door. His carrier has an engineering repair procedure for their fleet to address the freezing cable problem; which allegedly has not been accomplished.

Narrative

An engineering order is available for this cable replacement; but the company will not assign this engineering order to be accomplished. Slide arming cable freezes and either unable to disarm or arm door slide. Found that the grommets that are called for; are too small to let the control cable assembly to pass thru when installed within the door structure (cable sheath fits) correctly; but the cable assembly end; which has two sections that have a larger diameter than the holes in the grommet. Tried to install the grommets after the cable installed; still unable to (grommet is split in manufacturing) for this possibility. Aircraft was out of service for three days. Under pressure from station management and headquarters to get the aircraft back into the schedule. Due to freezing temperature and pending departure had to install cable without grommets and finish install and close out. Fatigue was a factor due to temp. Only enough area for one person to work on. Two shifts removed it (20 hr) and one installed it (11 hr).