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I took the shift linkage loose at the rear and shoved a piece of 3/4 heater hose over the rear shift arm. It'll wedge itself between the inner primary and the tranny and 'trap' the linkage thereby preventing that damned rattling. Low buck, but it worked for me and it isn't visible.
I replaced the ball and socket joints with heim fittings. Ace Hardware had all the parts I needed.
5/16-24 right hand thread heim fittings (2)
5/16-24x1 bolt (1)
5/16-24x1-1/4 bolt (1)
5/16-24 chrome nylock nut
5/16 washers (4)
I used the original rod and took 10 minutes to do the swap. I had to adjust the rear shift pedal down a notch and now she shifts smoothly and I'm not worried about getting stranded on the road. Total cost - $25 in parts. Nice...
I've got Heims on mine and it still rattled. I think I exacerbated the problem by removing the heel shift lever and upsetting the fore/aft balance that existed with both shift levers in place.
Last edited by Gearhead3; Aug 10, 2012 at 10:58 AM.
I loosened the bolt that holds the front linkage arm that's behind the primary and on the same shaft as the shift levers. Then I pressed the levers and that arm towards each other and as tight to the primary as possible then tightened the bolt. This took up all of the free play on the shaft that goes through the primary. It has a rubber bushing so it doesn't hurt to be tight and it removed a lot of movement.
I loosened the bolt that holds the front linkage arm that's behind the primary and on the same shaft as the shift levers. Then I pressed the levers and that arm towards each other and as tight to the primary as possible then tightened the bolt. This took up all of the free play on the shaft that goes through the primary. It has a rubber bushing so it doesn't hurt to be tight and it removed a lot of movement.
That might be the ticket? And the reason for the rubber bushing to begin with?
I have heim joints too and it still rattles.
The comment on the removal of the rear shifter upsetting the balance is probably a contributor.
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