C5 Tech Corvette Tech/Performance: LS1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Tech Topics, Basic Tech, Maintenance, How to Remove & Replace
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Hurst Shifter - 1st and Reverse

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Aug 12, 2013 | 04:25 PM
  #1  
cmark84's Avatar
cmark84
Thread Starter
Instructor
 
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 170
Likes: 0
From: Kansas City MO
Default Hurst Shifter - 1st and Reverse

Installed the hurst shifter on my 2000 vette. I always have a problem going into reverse. It feels like I hit a wall trying to get into gear, or I'm only in half-way, grinds, and pops out.

First gear goes in more often, but seems hard to find at times. Every other gear goes in without any problems.

I adjusted the front/rear screws as per manual. Unscrewing 1/4 turn after the bolt hits the lever.

Any ideas?
Reply
Old Aug 12, 2013 | 04:52 PM
  #2  
jamieo's Avatar
jamieo
Melting Slicks
15 Year Member
Liked
Top Answer: 1
Top Answer: 3
 
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 3,028
Likes: 794
From: Tollesboro Kentucky
Default

My Hurst is the same way.I am getting ready to install a Kirban to see if it helps.Changing the transmission fluid seemed to help some but it is still not as easy as I woud like!!
Reply
Old Aug 12, 2013 | 04:55 PM
  #3  
cmark84's Avatar
cmark84
Thread Starter
Instructor
 
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 170
Likes: 0
From: Kansas City MO
Default

Originally Posted by jamieo
My Hurst is the same way.I am getting ready to install a Kirban to see if it helps.Changing the transmission fluid seemed to help some but it is still not as easy as I woud like!!
Good to know I'm not the only one with this problem. Let me know how to Kirban goes.
Reply
Old Aug 14, 2013 | 06:31 PM
  #4  
johnson-rod's Avatar
johnson-rod
Melting Slicks
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,375
Likes: 426
Default

Did you align the shifter using the pin?
Reply
Old Aug 14, 2013 | 07:39 PM
  #5  
TEXHAWK0's Avatar
TEXHAWK0
Le Mans Master
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,847
Likes: 795
From: Longview Texas
Default

My experience is that if car will not go into 1st or reverse first time, put it in 2nd or other gear, then go to the gear you want... seems to get the gears closer to alignment if and intermediate gear is engaged. Sometimes I automatically let the clutch out just enough to start to engage 2nd, then go to 1st. I think it is more a characteristic of the transmission instead of the shifter.
Reply
Old Aug 15, 2013 | 12:50 AM
  #6  
bracketshark's Avatar
bracketshark
Burning Brakes
20 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
Liked
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 985
Likes: 23
From: Florence SC
Default

I just changed the bushings in the housing mounts for my hurst shifter. I drove it about 60 miles down to Myrtle Beach and it did fine. Got ready to come home and the bitch wouldn't get in first gear, by the time I got it home all it has is 4th gear. I guess the bushings settled, or I just didn't get the box tight enough. I hope the box is just sliding back and forth. I might just put my stock shifter back in it was smooth as butter. I hope its not time for the transmission upgrade but it really wouldn't be a surprise. I don't beat on it.
Reply
Old Aug 15, 2013 | 12:59 PM
  #7  
tacman's Avatar
tacman
Pro
 
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 580
Likes: 1
From: Chicago Suburb
St. Jude Donor '13
Default Hurst

Originally Posted by johnson-rod
Did you align the shifter using the pin?
Pin?
Reply
Old Aug 15, 2013 | 01:10 PM
  #8  
Mike94ZLT1's Avatar
Mike94ZLT1
Le Mans Master
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 8,352
Likes: 103
From: In the pit, trying to love someone.
Default

The alignment pin in the front of the shifter box. These shifters HAVE to be aligned or they shift terribly.
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

 Brett Foote
story-2

10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Aug 15, 2013 | 03:33 PM
  #9  
cmark84's Avatar
cmark84
Thread Starter
Instructor
 
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 170
Likes: 0
From: Kansas City MO
Default

Originally Posted by Mike94ZLT1
The alignment pin in the front of the shifter box. These shifters HAVE to be aligned or they shift terribly.
That could explain my issue. However, I didn't see a spot on the hurst to mount the pin

Last edited by cmark84; Aug 15, 2013 at 03:38 PM.
Reply
Old Aug 15, 2013 | 04:50 PM
  #10  
TEXHAWK0's Avatar
TEXHAWK0
Le Mans Master
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,847
Likes: 795
From: Longview Texas
Default

Originally Posted by cmark84
That could explain my issue. However, I didn't see a spot on the hurst to mount the pin
The pin does not have to engage the upper part of the shifter... The stock shifter has a slot for the pin to slide up in just to retain it..
You just need to insert the pin into the black plastic housing on the front of the shifter box and into the shaft to lock the shifter in the neutral position,.
The shaft position should only be off if your loosened the coupling to the shaft that goes to the transmission on the rear end of the shifter box. Just replacing the top of the shifter does not change the neutral position of the shifter.
Reply
Old Aug 15, 2013 | 05:16 PM
  #11  
cmark84's Avatar
cmark84
Thread Starter
Instructor
 
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 170
Likes: 0
From: Kansas City MO
Default

Originally Posted by TEXHAWK0
The pin does not have to engage the upper part of the shifter... The stock shifter has a slot for the pin to slide up in just to retain it..
You just need to insert the pin into the black plastic housing on the front of the shifter box and into the shaft to lock the shifter in the neutral position,.
The shaft position should only be off if your loosened the coupling to the shaft that goes to the transmission on the rear end of the shifter box. Just replacing the top of the shifter does not change the neutral position of the shifter.
So swapping out the stock for Hurst shouldn't mess with the alignment? So the pin was not needed then.
Reply
Old Aug 15, 2013 | 05:50 PM
  #12  
leadfoot4's Avatar
leadfoot4
Team Owner
25 Year Member
Active Streak: 60 Days
Active Streak: 90 Days
Community Builder
 
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,361
Likes: 1,592
From: Western NY
Default

Originally Posted by cmark84
So swapping out the stock for Hurst shouldn't mess with the alignment? So the pin was not needed then.
Not necessarily, but it's an EXCELLENT time to check the "neutral gate" adjustment. I have a Hurst in my '01, it was the first mod I did to the car, back in '02. I installed the shifter, adjusted the neutral gate first, the gear stops on the shifter body next, and it was great for 11 years. I put a pair of polyurethane bushings in the shifter box housing this year, to replace the somewhat dried out rubber bushings. I rechecked the neutral gate, and put it back together. I may be in a minority, but I've loved the Hurst for the last 12 years....
Reply
Old Aug 16, 2013 | 09:54 AM
  #13  
cmark84's Avatar
cmark84
Thread Starter
Instructor
 
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 170
Likes: 0
From: Kansas City MO
Default

Originally Posted by leadfoot4
Not necessarily, but it's an EXCELLENT time to check the "neutral gate" adjustment. I have a Hurst in my '01, it was the first mod I did to the car, back in '02. I installed the shifter, adjusted the neutral gate first, the gear stops on the shifter body next, and it was great for 11 years. I put a pair of polyurethane bushings in the shifter box housing this year, to replace the somewhat dried out rubber bushings. I rechecked the neutral gate, and put it back together. I may be in a minority, but I've loved the Hurst for the last 12 years....
I'll pull it out and test the alignment. Doesn't take that long anyhow.
Reply
Old Aug 18, 2013 | 11:19 AM
  #14  
TEXHAWK0's Avatar
TEXHAWK0
Le Mans Master
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,847
Likes: 795
From: Longview Texas
Default

If your car was shifting alright before you changed shifters, I would not risk adjusting the rod alignment.. From what I have read, the adjustment on the rod to the transmission and where you tighten the bolt in the recess on the rod is extremely sensitive to the alignment. If you are off by just a fraction of an inch, the car may not fully engage all the gears.
You might mess it up by "checking it".
Reply
Old Aug 18, 2013 | 03:23 PM
  #15  
bracketshark's Avatar
bracketshark
Burning Brakes
20 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
Liked
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 985
Likes: 23
From: Florence SC
Default

Originally Posted by TEXHAWK0
If your car was shifting alright before you changed shifters, I would not risk adjusting the rod alignment.. From what I have read, the adjustment on the rod to the transmission and where you tighten the bolt in the recess on the rod is extremely sensitive to the alignment. If you are off by just a fraction of an inch, the car may not fully engage all the gears.
You might mess it up by "checking it".
So you're giving advice based on what you have read, not actual experience? Just wondering....
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Hurst Shifter - 1st and Reverse





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 02:18 PM.

story-0
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: 10 great gifts Corvette enthusiasts actually want for Father's Day!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:40


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

Slideshow: These are the quirks, annoyances, and oddly lovable problems that every Corvette owner eventually learns to live with.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 09:31:39


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

Slideshow: 10 reasons why the C6 Z06 is still a performance benchmark after 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 17:20:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

Slideshow: How much horsepower every Corvette engine lost in 1972.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:54:53


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-8
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-9
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE