My shifter is loose. More in the left to right direction than the forward and back direction. I took off the boot and was examining the linkage beneath and all seems tight - the play appears to be at the other end.

I took the airbox/intake assembly/ECM/etc out to get at the shift linkage and noticed something: the shifter assembly (the one on the back of the shaft that sticks out of the transaxle case) appears to be of poor design. The parts are stamped steel that are secured to each other with peened-over pins, which don't allow for adjustment. If you hold the shaft and move the assembly around, there is quite a bit of play in it.

I was hoping to find a way to correct this but I'm at a loss. Some of my ideas were a thin brass washer in between the loose plates - cut one side so it looks like a U, put it in place then gently bend the edges in so it can't come off. I also thought of (somehow) removing the linkage and modifying it so that it's held together with hollow pins, bolts and washers (so they can be replaced when worn).

Thoughts?

 

No feedback means I'll have to take matters into my own hands. From what i can tell the ball joints on the shifter cable ends just pull off. I'm going to see how much of that assembly on the shaft that comes out of the trans I can remove and get into a shop to drill some holes. I'll find a way to tighten that thing up yet because the bobble is getting really annoying.

 

This bothers me also, did you find a fix?

 

I was able to correct the front to back play by using a very thin washer that I cut into a C-shape and wedged in there with some grease, then peened the ends shut with a thin screwdriver and a small hammer. The play in the other direction appears to be governed by that key that rides in the circular groove..besides a machine shop, I don't know what else I'd need to build a better solution. Scrubbing down that area with simple green and re-greasing did wonders for the smoothness though. Might as well - airbox is out anyway.