Fm145 Sloppy Shifter.

[ClodSlayer]

So I've got the mitsubishi fm145, 4w drive hooked up to the 2.3L gasoline engine.
Model #: FM145
Assy No: E67A7003FB
Build code: 025132
The shifter has been real sloppy, and in taking off the boot and stuff, I found that the source of this sloppiness is the blue plastic ball at the end of the shift lever. (Pretty worn) So after a Google search didn't turn up anything, I called the friendly neighborhood Ford dealer. First weird thing, when the guy looked up the Assy No, he said it brought up a FM146. Then after a while, he said that there were no serviceable parts in the shifter area. So my question is this: was he just BSing me, or is there actually no serviceable parts? If there is actually no serviceable parts, how do I go about jerry-rigging this thing to not be so sloppy, or do I just have to live with it?
Thanks!
-Nick

 

[adsm08]

You are what I like to refer to as "screwed".

The whole shifter is needed to replace the teflon ball and it has been out of production for years.

 

[brinker88]

According to these folks, that bushing DOES exist...

http://www.mazdatrix.com/faq/shiftbsh.htm

http://www.mazdatrix.com/viewcart.asp

 

[Twister]

According to these folks, that bushing DOES exist...

http://www.mazdatrix.com/faq/shiftbsh.htm

http://www.mazdatrix.com/viewcart.asp

He's looking for the ball on the end. The one is that link is metal.

Sent from my SPH-L900 using Tapatalk

 

[ClodSlayer]

You are what I like to refer to as "screwed".

Well shoot, guess my best bet is to find all the vehicles that this particular tranny was used in and hope to high heaven that the local junkyard has one that's in better shape than mine... Unless there's a way to MacGyver it?
-Nick

 

[Slammin Sam]

As a machinist, I can say that given time and money, anything is possible! The first step is obtaining a Ford blueprint of the part, with all the dimensions including the material callout. I would guess the original part was an injection molded part. The cost to build a new mold would be thousands, even if our "friends" in Asia build it. The next less expensive method would be using a cnc lathe to make the parts. This may be able to be made with a "rapid prototyping" 3D printer. Any solution needs that blueprint and material spec. Any members out there with an "in" at Ford that can get the necessary info? If someone has a new part, it could be reverse engineered. If I had a cnc lathe, this would be a project I would attempt, but I don't. If someone would provide a print, I could get some quotes. Of course, running several hundred/thousand parts would require the ability to sell the extras. Food for thought.

 

[adsm08]

According to these folks, that bushing DOES exist...

http://www.mazdatrix.com/faq/shiftbsh.htm

http://www.mazdatrix.com/viewcart.asp

That's not the right style. This is a teflon ball on the end of the stick. It was a pretty dumb idea.

 

[brinker88]

Well damn my FM145/146 knowledge incompetence!