Loose shifter, feels like something is loose
06-23-2012, 03:35 PM
#1
Race Director
Thread Starter
Loose shifter, feels like something is loose
So this week I noticed that my shifter began to feel somewhat loose and sloppy. It feels as if there is a little bit of slack in the shifter assembly/linkage if that makes any sense? It feels like something is loose. No matter what gear it's in or if it's in neutral, there is like 1/4"-3/8" or so of play where you can move the shifter right to left or front to back. It just doesn't feel nice and tight like it used to. Any ideas what it could be?
06-23-2012, 03:45 PM
#2
Le Mans Master
Member Since: May 2007
Location: Belleville Mich.
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Yes,
You need to get to the area of the hard rubber tunnel close out boot lives.
Remove it & check the three bolts on the shifter box to make sure that they are still tight.
Especially the one on the clamp that the shifter box rod slides in to.
If they are all tight, you may have too much grease/oil in/on the shifter rod that slides into the clamp.
If that is the case, loosen the bolt up & slide the clamp back & clean that area with alcohol, including the insides of the clamp.
Did you mention which style shifter you have ?
You need to get to the area of the hard rubber tunnel close out boot lives.
Remove it & check the three bolts on the shifter box to make sure that they are still tight.
Especially the one on the clamp that the shifter box rod slides in to.
If they are all tight, you may have too much grease/oil in/on the shifter rod that slides into the clamp.
If that is the case, loosen the bolt up & slide the clamp back & clean that area with alcohol, including the insides of the clamp.
Did you mention which style shifter you have ?
06-23-2012, 04:07 PM
#4
Race Director
Thread Starter
Ok, here is a video to show exactly what I am talking about. I am not nuts 
- my shifter did not feel this loose 4 days ago. The play in the shifter linkage isn't normal, is it?
http://s889.photobucket.com/albums/a...t=MOV05768.mp4
- my shifter did not feel this loose 4 days ago. The play in the shifter linkage isn't normal, is it?http://s889.photobucket.com/albums/a...t=MOV05768.mp4
06-23-2012, 04:22 PM
#5
Le Mans Master
Member Since: May 2007
Location: Belleville Mich.
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You may need to put the shifter in nuetrall & push down on the L shaped pin in front & to the bottom of the shifter ( Not sure on that) then pull the four shifter mounting bolts, & lift the shifter out of the shifter box & check the condition of the round/ball shaped plastic bushing at the bottom of the shifter shaft.
It may be in need of a replacement
It may be in need of a replacement
06-23-2012, 05:29 PM
#8
Le Mans Master
Member Since: May 2007
Location: Belleville Mich.
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That bushing looks to be fine.
It fits on the ball snugly?
Bolt the shifter back on the box & put the shifter in the nuetral position & slide the front allignment pin downwards untill it bottoms out on to the top of the box, to lock every thing in neutral.
Remove the 2 torx bolts from the box & the 1 to the clamp & remove the shifter/shifter box as a unit.
Try putting some alcohol on the inside clamping area of the clamp & the rod on the back side of the shifter rod that slides into it, to remove excess oil/grease.
Inspect that clamp to be sure that there are no cracks , etc.
See if there is slop on tht rod coming out ther backside of the shifter box. There is a hard rubber bushing pressed into the box where the rod slides back & forth.
Some times that black seal/bushing wears & alows slop in that area.
Also on the bottom side of the shifter box it has a long (2") black rubber
V shaped piece that sets into an aluminum slot in the torque tube.
Make sure that rubber piece isn't worn & that it seats properly in its slot of the t/tube.
If all the above checks out a ok.
See if you can borrow just a spare shifter from a friend / forum member to see if you have a faulty shifter base mechanism causing that slop
It fits on the ball snugly?
Bolt the shifter back on the box & put the shifter in the nuetral position & slide the front allignment pin downwards untill it bottoms out on to the top of the box, to lock every thing in neutral.
Remove the 2 torx bolts from the box & the 1 to the clamp & remove the shifter/shifter box as a unit.
Try putting some alcohol on the inside clamping area of the clamp & the rod on the back side of the shifter rod that slides into it, to remove excess oil/grease.
Inspect that clamp to be sure that there are no cracks , etc.
See if there is slop on tht rod coming out ther backside of the shifter box. There is a hard rubber bushing pressed into the box where the rod slides back & forth.
Some times that black seal/bushing wears & alows slop in that area.
Also on the bottom side of the shifter box it has a long (2") black rubber
V shaped piece that sets into an aluminum slot in the torque tube.
Make sure that rubber piece isn't worn & that it seats properly in its slot of the t/tube.
If all the above checks out a ok.
See if you can borrow just a spare shifter from a friend / forum member to see if you have a faulty shifter base mechanism causing that slop
Last edited by bumble-z; 06-23-2012 at 07:54 PM.
