Shifter slop

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Ironmike

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Had my Competition Plus marked shifter apart this winter. Put new shims in, cleaned and lubed everything real nice. Now, 1000 miles into summer I find I have quite a bit of "front to back" slop, play, whatever you wanna call it.

I can climb under there and hold the shift levers on the shifter and have a buddy wiggle the shifter front to back. Shift levers don't move but I can see the main "shifter actuator arm" moving in the middle.

Can't figure out what it could be and hope you guys have some input.
It's NOT the model with the stop bolts, and the slop seems to be way less in 4th gear
 
Make sure the stick is the correct width where it slides into the shifter.

I'd bet over the years I have had to weld close to 50 handles. Just did the one I own because it was never done before. For some reason, the stick is not wide enough and some one expected the bolts to hold the stick secure. Eventually, the stick wears and it feels loose. I weld them up and then grind them down so they are a tight fit into the shifter.

I know exactly what you are describing. That's the only fix I know of, other than a stick that is the correct width.
 
I'll be checking it tomorrow. Don't think that it, though. I can see the main "shifter arm" moving back and forth a bit when the shifter gets wiggled.
 
I'll be checking it tomorrow. Don't think that it, though. I can see the main "shifter arm" moving back and forth a bit when the shifter gets wiggled.


Look very close. I've seen a bunch of them wrong and have no idea why it is what it is. I don't remember that stuff being like that in the early 80's.

Keep us posted.
 
My shifters have always been press in fit. My first one was the ball handle (which I kind of miss) for Street driving. then of course I had to have the pistol grip. Both of those were kind of sloppy until I finally made an aluminum spacer block and drilled a hole for a bolt. No more slop and much happier, also I can easily remove it if necessary. I've went v gate shifter now and that's a different animal all together.
20160707_211137.jpg
20160707_211123.jpg
 
My shifters have always been press in fit. My first one was the ball handle (which I kind of miss) for Street driving. then of course I had to have the pistol grip. Both of those were kind of sloppy until I finally made an aluminum spacer block and drilled a hole for a bolt. No more slop and much happier, also I can easily remove it if necessary. I've went v gate shifter now and that's a different animal all together.
View attachment 1714949429 View attachment 1714949430


That's what I'm talking about. I weld mine. You made a spacer. Either way you make the stick fit the shifter.

I have no idea when this went sideways. I don't remember any stick not fitting the shifter before the 1990's and by then I was using a vertigate.

Always something.
 
If it is the shifter itself that is wore (not a loose handle) you can remove the bushing that the top mounting bolt goes thru and spin it around.
This gives it a new wear surface to work on.
If the shifter is excessively loose side to side.
Remove a small amount from the end of this same
bushing and reinstall.
When you tighten the mounting bolt it can now pinch
the shifter case tighter removing years of wear on a
used Hurst.
 
Sideways ? I thought I was offering another angle.. I had to grind an 1/8th inch off the bottom 2 inches front to back off the aftermarket pistol grip to get it to fit. I prefer the bolt as I can change shifters.
That's what I'm talking about. I weld mine. You made a spacer. Either way you make the stick fit the shifter.

I have no idea when this went sideways. I don't remember any stick not fitting the shifter before the 1990's and by then I was using a vertigate.

Always something.
 
I should have taken pictures. That crap is back together and I don't want to take it apart again.

And, even if I did take a pic of what I'm talking about, it's probable I couldn't post the picture anyway.

Dam computers.
 
If it is the shifter itself that is wore (not a loose handle) you can remove the bushing that the top mounting bolt goes thru and spin it around.
This gives it a new wear surface to work on.
If the shifter is excessively loose side to side.
Remove a small amount from the end of this same
bushing and reinstall.
When you tighten the mounting bolt it can now pinch
the shifter case tighter removing years of wear on a
used Hurst.
This is what I'm looking for. Checked today and it sure isn't a loose handle. I put a couple tackwelds on the front and back, a few years ago. Might as well yank it out...again, and dig deeper. Looks like a rainy day thing.
 
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