Shifter broke

[Snellgrovia]

OK, some of you may remember a few months back when I had the problem with the shifting in my car and it was fixed with zipties. Now, it's the shifter itself. Underneath the console where the shifter meets the cable. The ball at the bottom on the shifter has broken off the cable and everything I've done to try and fix it has either not worked, or broken off soon after I do it. Twine just did not work, Duct tape worked for a little bit, but then it breaks loose. I am off work the next 3 days, but without this working, I will loose my job. I need major help please. There is no huge rush for responces because of the 3 days off work, but quickness would be nice.

PS. Don't tell me just to go buy a rod shifter, I know that, can't afford it yet.

Edit: It's a 91.

 

[TYSHO]

I have a bushing in mine, don't know for what on what car, but it works great. Being that, I can't tell you what type of rubber bushing specific but it has a lip on it. It's been working great for 2 years or so, maybe more, but has a little sqeak to it sometimes. So I guess if you can find a rubber hose that will slip over the shifter ball pretty tight then allow the cable to slide on pretty snug/tight, it'll work.

 

[clintonk]

I had this problem a couple years ago in my '90. The black rubber socket for the shifter ball is integral to the cable; it doesn't come separately. I got a used cable from a list member. Not a hard job and it's been fine since. However, I replaced a old broken part with an old non-broken one, so I expect another failure eventually. You could buy your rod shifter for the price of new cables from Ford.

I noticed that after removing the broken rubber bushing, one of my sockets (12 mm, I think) fit perfectly in the cable end loop. With a greased socket, a bolt, and a fender washer, I think I could replace the rubber part with an all-metal version. The ball would be ground off to make way for the bolt. You lose some freedom of motion in the shifter-cable joint this way, but the cable seems plenty flexible to compensate.

Clinton Knight
'90 White 198K
'95 Green 62K