wisconative

My gear selector has a lot of up and down play in it.
Goes into gear fine.
Sometimes, shaking with the engine or when hitting a bump.
It is tight in park but all other gears, too much up and down play for my liking.
I saw someone's write up for a tach install and a new gear selector.
They drifted out the retainer pin.
I have thought of this and installing a bolt and nylock washer instead of the pin. Does anyone know the size of this hole?
However, the pin looks solid, but it sure doesn't seem tight.
It seems this would take the play out, I might need a small washer or two also.
Any thoughts? Is this a simple fix, or am I looking at a bigger thing?
Anyone else have this problem and found a simple solution?

Jim5870

Check the plastic bushings in the shift linkage on the trans and on the column
past the firewall,
check the lever on the trans, they sometime loosen up and need tightening.

wisconative

Thanks Jim.
Looks like the bushings are shot on the torque shaft (is what manual calls it). All the other bushings look good.
And the Lever on the trans seems solid. I only notice one bolt on that lever which I assume is for tightening.
Can I use any old bushings?

wisconative

So, the two large bushings on the horizontal rod that connects column linkage to trans linkage. One is shot, but I will just replace both.
Problem is local dodge dealer has them for $34 each.
Anyone have a better source?
Thanks.

wisconative

Got bushing on ezbay -- 2 for $15.
Crawled under truck and used some zip ties to reign in the slack from the shot bushing.
Still have just as much play as b/4??!

Even when I hold and isolate the silver piece of metal on the column with the retaining pin that the the gear selector arm is attached to, there is play in the gear selector up and down.
It looks like there is some space between the square end of the arm and where it attaches to down by the spring.
Maybe years of going up and down have spread the metal apart?
I have tried to slip a piece of an aluminium soda can in there, but just a little to tight.
Man, this thing is way too loose.
I am back to the idea of drifting out the retaining pin, and replacing it with a screw, nylock nut, and rubber washer to take up the slack.
I dunno.

Jim Lane

Hey guys, whenever you are doing any work on your shifter, make sure you are parked on level ground, your wheels are chocked on both sides and your parking brake is set before you mess with any part under the truck,
If you pop it out of gear your truck can run over some of your body parts and it could be real embarrassing if anyone sees you lying there.

Jim

wisconative

If it's on level ground and the parking brake is set, I don't see how it can move. I can hardly get the 6000 lb beast moving when in neutral and using my legs, back and arms.
Something about a body at rest tends to stay at rest.
However, I agree with safety first. And for those who don't have the foresight to take precautions, well, that is what darwin awards are for.

Jim Lane

I had my D-350 on 2 jacks stands under the rear frame rails and had the entire rear end out of the truck when I was working on the springs,
I thought the ground was pretty flat but when I walked around the front of the truck I accidently I kicked the handle on the big solid wheel chock and flipped it out from in front of the front tire, the truck slowly started sliding forward along the frame and flipped the jacks stands out the rear.

Luckily for me I wasn't under it
And as luck has it I always park the tire under the frame if I am going to get under it.
The only other person to see it was my security camera.
Jim

j_martin