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  • Dreaded linkage problem

    I know there have been many posts on this, but I am not sure if this is the same problem or not. I can get it into gear, that is not the problem. The problem is, after you get it in gear, the stick can be moved side to side and sometimes back and forward, and still remain in gear. Right now, without it running or driving, I can find every gear, it's just really sloppy, like I said. You can almost make a full circle pattern with it still in gear sometimes. Is this the bushings, or the linkage / shiftgate that people dread? Any help is appreciated. Thanks

    FYI:
    It's a 1992 EFI 5spd GL, if it matters.
    The normal is not always normal... MOST is not ALL... And any job can be hard if you don't have the right tools!!!

    My Fleet:
    89 L 4spd (Daily Driver(if it isn't broke down)) "Spanky"

  • #2
    check your shifter bushings... thats the only thing that i can think of that would give you that result...


    Mike, AKA the sasquatch
    1990 LX, bp+T/g25mr, 9psi dynoed at 194HP, turbonetics t3/to4e 57trim, haltech E6X standalone, 550cc injectors, turbosmart wastegate, synapse BOV, walbro 255 fuel pump, aeromotive FPR, AEM wideband, 3 inch exhaust, huge FMIC, 9LB flywheel, 6 puck clutch and way more parts that im forgetting i installed lol...

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    • #3
      check the bushings under the car, the bolt that holds them in place might just need tightening, don't worry it happens after awhile.
      89' Maroon and black Festiva LX with a sunroof. :alien:

      Comment


      • #4
        Grab the shifter FIRMLY while you wedge yourself between the seats and PULL AS HARD AS YOU CAN UPWARDS! It is likely that the ball is out of the socket, and will pop back in place solving the problem. It is common, and a member used to fab a bracket for underneath to hold it in place.
        Have owned 9 so far
        White 89 L converted to LX "The Curmudgeon" Being a Curmudgeon right now.
        Blue 89 L converted to LX "Shtinky" FMS crate engine,cam,flywheel,hail dents
        Smurf Blue 90 LX "Smurffy" He Ran Away From Home!!!!!! Says Willie loves him more than I did!
        Red 88 L converted to LX "Rasta, Mon" Now retired
        Where did all these @#*&%$ Toyotas come from around here?

        Comment


        • #5
          Mine would do that also, I took the old bolt out and replaced it with a 1/2" bolt. You will have to run a drill through it to clean out the rust, and drill new larger holes in the arm. put some grease on it and tighten till the bracket almost touches the shaft. I squeezed mine till it touched and then backed it off half a turn. Make sure you use a lock nut.........( I am not certain that it was 1/2", maybe it was 9/16", whatever it was fit perfectly through the shaft on the bottom of the shifter.)
          ........... With a lever long enough and a place to stand, you could move the world..........

          ..................Build thread.................http://www.fordfestiva.com/forums/sh...ad.php?t=29547

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          • #6
            Originally posted by m715 View Post
            Grab the shifter FIRMLY while you wedge yourself between the seats and PULL AS HARD AS YOU CAN UPWARDS! It is likely that the ball is out of the socket, and will pop back in place solving the problem. It is common, and a member used to fab a bracket for underneath to hold it in place.
            that could likely be the case, IF its not, check the linkage itself where the linkage goes through the floor and at the tranny and see if anything is lose there

            IF all those are good then it could be inside the tranny, those are the only possibilities i can think of

            1988 323 Station Wagon - KLG4 swapped
            1988 323 GT - B6T Powered
            2008 Ford Escape - Rollover Survivor

            1990 Festiva - First Ever Completed KLZE swap (SOLD)

            If no one from the future stops you from doing it, how bad of a decision can it really be?

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            • #7
              Originally posted by jmye1524 View Post
              Mine would do that also, I took the old bolt out and replaced it with a 1/2" bolt. You will have to run a drill through it to clean out the rust, and drill new larger holes in the arm. put some grease on it and tighten till the bracket almost touches the shaft. I squeezed mine till it touched and then backed it off half a turn. Make sure you use a lock nut.........( I am not certain that it was 1/2", maybe it was 9/16", whatever it was fit perfectly through the shaft on the bottom of the shifter.)
              I think this is my problem. In this picture, the free space is to the right.

              And, in this picture, the free space is on the left.
              <this picture is not cooperating right now. Photobucket is not loading for me right now. I will add it later>
              There is quite a bit of play left and right, and it feels like the hole on the arm is bored out a little too much as well, because it can go back and forth as well. Is this what is causing the slop? I would think so, but I'm not sure. If this is what you were talking about, shouldn't there be some kind of rubber bushing or something in between there to prevent metal on metal grinding? Also, as far as the movement back and forth, should there be a rubber bushing inside the arm hole? Thanks for the help and information.
              Last edited by doylerl; 11-03-2009, 01:43 PM.
              The normal is not always normal... MOST is not ALL... And any job can be hard if you don't have the right tools!!!

              My Fleet:
              89 L 4spd (Daily Driver(if it isn't broke down)) "Spanky"

              Comment


              • #8
                There's that nut and bolt with a bushing and two more at the other end if you go to hardware store you can get 1/4 steel spacers they have to be cut to fit in between the fork cause they only have 1inch and 2 inch long 1/4in is the dia. and two or three washers on each side of bushing will take up the leftover space your seeing . I didnt this and made sure there was no movement at all in any link and my shifts are nice and close and not sloppy at all.

                holy rust !
                93 L B6T DD http://www.fordfestiva.com/forums/sh...ad.php?t=37751
                RIP_90 LuX http://www.fordfestiva.com/forums/sh...ad.php?t=32249
                RIP 88 LX / B8-MEhttp://www.fordfestiva.com/forums/sh...ad.php?t=26398

                RJ

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                • #9
                  Yes, there were nylon bushings on either side. That is a great deal of rust to contend with also! You might try cutting out washers like a circlip just enought to snap onto the bolt and take up the slack until you can take the shifting unit down and replace it with a less rusty one, or disassemble it to repair it. I would want a spare handy in case things get ugly. And I just thought our shifters got this rusty in this area!

                  Michael
                  Have owned 9 so far
                  White 89 L converted to LX "The Curmudgeon" Being a Curmudgeon right now.
                  Blue 89 L converted to LX "Shtinky" FMS crate engine,cam,flywheel,hail dents
                  Smurf Blue 90 LX "Smurffy" He Ran Away From Home!!!!!! Says Willie loves him more than I did!
                  Red 88 L converted to LX "Rasta, Mon" Now retired
                  Where did all these @#*&%$ Toyotas come from around here?

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Find an Aspire and take its bushings. They're the same and are usually in good shape.

                    -Tim
                    White '89L auto - Sold!
                    Silver '06 Rav4, 95k!

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Originally posted by doylerl View Post
                      I think this is my problem. In this picture, the free space is to the right.

                      And, in this picture, the free space is on the left.
                      <this picture is not cooperating right now. Photobucket is not loading for me right now. I will add it later>
                      There is quite a bit of play left and right, and it feels like the hole on the arm is bored out a little too much as well, because it can go back and forth as well. Is this what is causing the slop? I would think so, but I'm not sure. If this is what you were talking about, shouldn't there be some kind of rubber bushing or something in between there to prevent metal on metal grinding? Also, as far as the movement back and forth, should there be a rubber bushing inside the arm hole? Thanks for the help and information.

                      That is exactly what I had, that is the area I pinched together with the bigger bolt. I wasn't concerned with having any bushings or metal to metal contact. Just put on a liberal amount of grease. You will be surprised how much that tightened things up.
                      ........... With a lever long enough and a place to stand, you could move the world..........

                      ..................Build thread.................http://www.fordfestiva.com/forums/sh...ad.php?t=29547

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Here is a couple pictures of my fix.........also having trouble with photo bucket.
                        ........... With a lever long enough and a place to stand, you could move the world..........

                        ..................Build thread.................http://www.fordfestiva.com/forums/sh...ad.php?t=29547

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          i jsut bought a civic short throw for 20 bucks on ebay free shipping and swaped them and used the brass bushings and fixed mine i did this on both of mine and am going to on my third one too. works alot better.

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                          • #14
                            check out that rust!!!!

                            glad you found the culprit.

                            -"Hairlipstiva" 1991 GL 5spd (swapped from an auto), rolling on Enkei 14x6 +38 with 195/45/14 Toyo's, Jensen MP5720 CD deck, tach install, LED strip in cluster, down position rear wiper, FMS springs, Gabriel shocks on 4 corners, Acura Integra short shifter
                            -Escort GT 91 donor car with BP, G5M-R tranny to be dropped in the little guy...
                            -Aspire brake swap COMPLETE!
                            https://www.wunderground.com/persona...?ID=KOKOWASS38

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                            • #15
                              I just went ahead and ordered some new bushings from my local ford dealer for under $7 each. They will be here tomorrow morning. I am just wondering how much of a PITA it is going to be to get the bolt loose with all that rust! After I get it fixed I will post up more pictures. Here is the other picture that would not work in my other post.
                              The normal is not always normal... MOST is not ALL... And any job can be hard if you don't have the right tools!!!

                              My Fleet:
                              89 L 4spd (Daily Driver(if it isn't broke down)) "Spanky"

                              Comment

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