cant get shifter on

[swynx]

94, 5 speed, shifter only goes down about a half inch before bottoming out on the contraption inside that pinches it all together.

Ive used an impact going both directions and still cant get it to slide far enough out of the way, so the shifter will go down far enough.

any suggestions?

 

[Mazda]

You put the nut on the opposite side and then that removes the entire bolt so it will slip all the way down.



Remove the nut on the right side. Thread it onto the left side. Tighten the nut onto the bolt and the entire unit will withdraw from the shift lever.

Isn't that the way you took it off???

 

[adsm08]

If you are mixing years you may have a problem like what you described. The later shifter nub was a different length IIRC.

 

[swynx]

same years, it came off easy, for whatever reason it wont go back on, i actually managed to pull the thing out further then it should have and messed up the bolt a bit. it seems like i cant get the deal inside to move over far enough for the flat side on the transmission.

this transmission has been pulled like 8 times, so maybe mines just a pita

 

[General X]

Whenever I've taken off my shifter the pinch bolt was able to come all the way out of the shift lever. It sounds like the nut is spinning the pinch bolt inside the shifter and not coming off, if possible you may need to clean up the threads and try sticking a large screwdriver into the shifter to ride against the flat spot and prevent it from spinning with the nut. Either that or use vice grips on the removal threads but that will destroy them making the next shifter removal a pain. If you got it off with the pinch bolt still inside you should be able to get it back on by adjusting the pinch bolts position while attempting to reinstall, might be frustrating though.

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[swynx]

Whenever I've taken off my shifter the pinch bolt was able to come all the way out of the shift lever. It sounds like the nut is spinning the pinch bolt inside the shifter and not coming off, if possible you may need to clean up the threads and try sticking a large screwdriver into the shifter to ride against the flat spot and prevent it from spinning with the nut. Either that or use vice grips on the removal threads but that will destroy them making the next shifter removal a pain. If you got it off with the pinch bolt still inside you should be able to get it back on by adjusting the pinch bolts position while attempting to reinstall, might be frustrating though.

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i think this is what is happening, because i cant get it to come all the way out, it just moves side to side. any way to replace the assembly? i bet it would require a new shifter

 

[General X]

The pinch bolt should come out if you get the nut off, I think it'll only come out the one way though. I had to replace one of mine as a previous owner beat the threads off trying to get it out and it's pritty expensive from ford for what's essentially a fancy bolt. I'd try to hold it still from the inside if possible and if not, stick the pinch bolts removal threads in some vice grips or even a vice and get the nut off. Then you can at least see if the shifter and pinch bolt are reusable (removal threads will be pooched though)

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[swynx]

The pinch bolt should come out if you get the nut off, I think it'll only come out the one way though. I had to replace one of mine as a previous owner beat the threads off trying to get it out and it's pritty expensive from ford for what's essentially a fancy bolt. I'd try to hold it still from the inside if possible and if not, stick the pinch bolts removal threads in some vice grips or even a vice and get the nut off. Then you can at least see if the shifter and pinch bolt are reusable (removal threads will be pooched though)

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i could not get the pinch bolt to come out, i maxed it out in both directions. and screwed up the threads on the nut, i tryed to get a replacement nut, but i couldnt find the right threads. seemed to be a 12mm when i went in, i tryed all 3 styles (course, fine and extra fine) no dice.

i tryed removing the pinch bolt, i cant get it to move. unless there is any other advice ill probably be best off getting a new shifter.

if i go to the pull and save is there a different prefered style of shifter? i like the stock one, but maybe theres a different style of attachment? why not just a bolt that pinches it instead of a nut and bolt thing.

 

[Andy D]

When you can't get a nut on a bolt, chances are the end threads have been mushroomed from a few hammer hits. Take a small flat file and chamfer the end of the bolt, just the last 2 turns . Figure out the right nut and use a pair of them tightened against each other. Match up flats and use a deep socket. Knock the shifter a few times with a hammer. Squirt some oil on the bolt and tap it a few more times, then rock the breaker bar back and forth. tap, rock. The flat on the pinch bolt is cocked in the slot. Tapping and wiggling will free it up and then you can start working on driving it out. This could take a while.

 

[swynx]

When you can't get a nut on a bolt, chances are the end threads have been mushroomed from a few hammer hits. Take a small flat file and chamfer the end of the bolt, just the last 2 turns . Figure out the right nut and use a pair of them tightened against each other. Match up flats and use a deep socket. Knock the shifter a few times with a hammer. Squirt some oil on the bolt and tap it a few more times, then rock the breaker bar back and forth. tap, rock. The flat on the pinch bolt is cocked in the slot. Tapping and wiggling will free it up and then you can start working on driving it out. This could take a while.

It sounds like I could just press the pinch bolt out? I had thought about that, but I wasn't to sure on its design.

 

[AllanD]

Do all of yourselves a favor...

STOP calling it a "pinch bolt"until you are willing to explain what it "pinches"...

The proper description for that bolt is "tapered cotter-bolt" (with extraction threads)

The only other place that comes to mind where similar bolts are used is on older bicycles
where tapered cotters were used to hold the pedal-crank arms to the "bottom bracket"
(the crank shaft)

In the 1960's American bicycle manufacturers switched to one-piece crank-sets
and in the 70's the same time Japanese manufacturers Shimano and Suntour introduced
three piece cotter-less crank-sets made of aluminum...

Thus ends the historical trivia lesson

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