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Separating gear shifter

77K views 61 replies 26 participants last post by  StanF 
#1 · (Edited)
Not too long ago, someone posted a question on how to separate the shifter-the portion inside the cab that Jeep calls "lever assembly," from the shifter portion which goes into the transmission which Jeep officially calls "lever gearshift." They were trying to replace the round rubber boot which covers over the top of the shift tower. I pulled mine off this past weekend and needed to separate them to clean, and to just figure out how it's done. The FSM is completely silent on this process. First picture you will see I have the upper end of the lever, gearshift is wedged under the jaws of a vice, but not gripped in it so to speak. A pickle fork can then be used to span across the lever at the junction point between the two components of the shifter, complete:
In the next picture which is of course posed, since it took a 14 yr old and an 11 year old to hold the rubber boots out of the way while I tapped upwards on the end of the pickle fork to separate the two portions of the assembly:


It didn't take too much force at all to separate these, but I was unable to separate them by just pulling apart. I did spray a little PB blaster down inside there to work its majic first.
 
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#2 ·
Very good info.
Opihi59 said:
Not too long ago, someone posted a question on how to separate the shifter-the portion inside the cab that Jeep calls "lever assembly," from the shifter portion which goes into the transmission which Jeep officially calls "lever gearshift." They were trying to replace the round rubber boot which covers over the top of the shift tower. I pulled mine off this past weekend and needed to separate them to clean, and to just figure out how it's done. The FSM is completely silent on this process. First picture you will see I have the upper end of the lever, gearshift is wedged under the jaws of a vice, but not gripped in it so to speak. A pickle fork can then be used to span across the lever at the junction point between the two components of the shifter, complete:
In the next picture which is of course posed, since it took a 14 yr old and an 11 year old to hold the rubber boots out of the way while I tapped upwards on the end of the pickle fork to separate the two portions of the assembly:


It didn't take too much force at all to separate these, but I was unable to separate them by just pulling apart. I did spray a little PB blaster down inside there to work its majic first.
 
#3 ·
Okay, I found the original post: http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=509665
Honestly, I looked and looked and couldn't find the right search words to find the original thread. This information makes better sense if it had followed on as an answer to dmcanally's original post. I will PM him this thread and hopefully it will help him as well as others on the forum.
 
#6 ·
dmcanally, glad you got this and that it is fairly timely. Sorry I hadn't already tried this when you first posted but I am fairly new to the forum and am catching up. If you hadn't posted the question, I likely never would have bothered submitting the solution.
After you get it apart let us know how it went and then have a beer.
 
#8 · (Edited)
Adding in some photos of details that may be helpful to other aspects of this job. This is the stub, removed from the shift tower, and after the shift lever has been separated.



Detail of square end of stub



Bottom end of shifter, that slips back on the square end of the stub, 2 detail photos.



 
#9 · (Edited)
Updating this post to include details of the Transfer case shifter. The transfer case shifter can also be removed from the shifter stub with a pickle fork as well.

This is what the end of the transfer case shifter looks like, there is a metal clip that holds it to the shifter stub as shown in the photo, you can also see the isolator inside the hub.



The notorious "Isolator" in hand. It fits on the inside of the shifter shaft.



This has the part number of the Isolator. It was on national backorder but somehow I got one from the dealership. This was Feb 07 or thereabouts.



As I understand the Isolator is available at Morris 4 X 4. Shifter Handle Isolator*3241481 by the Jeep Specialists | Morris 4x4 Center Link thanks to Mean Max.
 
#11 ·
The notorious "Isolator" in hand. It fits on the inside of the shifter shaft.



This has the part number of the Isolator. It was on national backorder but somehow I got one from the dealership. This was Feb 07 or thereabouts.



As I understand the Isolator is available at Morris 4 X 4. Shifter Handle Isolator 3241481 by the Jeep Specialists | Morris 4x4 Center Link thanks to Mean Max.
I can attest to them being sold now. I bought 2 of them and they worked on both my trans shifter....and transfer case shifter.

I also bought the oil seal that fits under the shifter ball. Worked perfect!
Oil Seal - Fits Inside The Shift Retainer 4864226X by the Jeep Specialists | Morris 4x4 Center



Thanks,
Jon
 
#10 ·
#12 ·
I just replaced the seal in the shift tower for the AX-15 in my wife's '93 YJ.

The shifter needs to be removed from the shift tower. Here you can see how the locking ring engages the 2 pins in the shift tower.
The pins can be seen in the tower pic a little farther down.


Here is the new seal.


It goes in the bottom of the shift tower shown here. The seal can be maneuvered around the pins. They cannot be removed from the casting.


The seal replacement can be done with the shift tower still mounted on the transmission. I had this one off anyway, but it's removal is not required.


Max :cheers2:
 
#14 ·
Oh what I would have given to have found this post a month ago (was searching for "remove shifter" instead of seperating). I've been beating the heck out of mine trying to remove it by hand or shim on the inside to release the locks. Didn't realize brute force would do the trick.
 
#15 ·
Gently applied brute force, with restraint. It really doesn't take too much force. PB blaster first.

3 Things to know about the forum: Always PB blaster, Always check the FAQ, Always do a search, and if none of that works, ask Mean Max.
 
#17 ·
3 Things to know about the forum: Always PB blaster, Always check the FAQ, Always do a search, and if none of that works, ask Mean Max.
Umm, that looks like 4 things..........:confused:

You know I'm just bustin' yer chops! :rofl:

Thanks for the accolades! :thumbsup: (youngsters can look that one up! ;))

I need to hit Lotto & get over on your rock to have some beers one day! :cheers2:

Max :highfive:
 
#19 ·
Opihi, my AX15 shifter has 2 threaded things that I think are holding the shifter together. There is one on each side of the actual shifter and I noticed that yours does not have this.

How are they removed?

(Pic on the way)

Jake :tea:
 
#20 ·
Here they are.




I can get it to slide out just slightly by hand but even while using a small hammer I can't get it to budge any more.


Jake :tea:
 
#21 ·
Interesting one Jake. You've got some different design there. Notice that you have a bend in your shifter just above the locking collar, the ones I am accustomed to from YJs are straight here. Do you know more about your AX 15 source, could it be from a Cherokee? That pin thing is likely the key to the separation, can you tell if they are allen head set screws that you can back out, or is it like a roll pin/tension pin you can drive through like with a pin punch and hammer? That isn't your standard AX 15 YJ shifter setup.

From your photos, it appears now to me that one "pin" comes in from the side, and one comes in from the back, like 90 degrees apart. I'd get plenty of PB blaster in there to work its magic, and use a small pick or end of paperclip etc to pick out gunk to see if that is a socket head/allen key type set screw. Once removed, you can then tap the thing apart.

I know you want to put a new gasket thing on there, but don't let this hold you up in your progress. It's a small detail that you can always pull off the shifter and fiddle with it later on, or send it to me and I'll mess with it. I have a spare complete (normal) YJ AX 15 shifter on a dead tranny I could send you to use in the interval. In the meantime, let me know what you find regarding set-screw, etc.

.......BTW, nice sig line......

EDIT That is a TJ style shifter or so it seems. Apparently there are numerous variations both in the AX15 and the NV3550 shifters and the techniques to separate the components. If those holes are threaded, likely they will be 6mm but I don't know the pitch. You will need 2 of this size bolts, 2 nuts to fit the bolts and 2 washers. Thread the nuts on the bolts about half way, then add on the washer, then screw the bolts into both sides. Then, while holding the bolt still, tighten the nut down against the washer equally on both sides, and you can then pull the shifter components apart. This was described on the TJ forum, but I can't find a thread with photos (yet). Helps to PB blast some first of course. Never done this myself, but that is how it is described.
 
#22 ·
#24 ·
I don't know this, but my gut feeling tells me No somehow.
 
#27 ·
Islander--if you have any side by side photos of the two, feel free to post them up. Thanks for the feedback. :thumbsup:
 
#29 ·
If all you're trying to do is pull the shifter out, you only need to push down on the locking collar and turn it. Look at the photos of the locking collar, and the tabs inside the shift tower. If your "oil seal" in the bottom of the shift tower is good, you really don't need to replace anything when you reassemble, and you don't need to do the separation part of the thing if all you need to do is pull the shifter out of the trans.
 
#30 ·
Good info...I was asking about this awhile back but got no replies. Looking to take the stem off my old Ax-5 and put it on my new Ax-15 as it's a few inches taller than the one on the 15 which would make shifting a whole lot easier. I'm guessing that they should be interchangeable.
 
#31 ·
I don't have the definitive answer on that, but I have "understood" that they are interchangeable. Of course when you do this, you'll know for certain so post back in and let us all know the result.
If all you're trying to do is extend your shifter, you can get one of those 3" extensions and screw it on. They are available thru Quadratec but are cheaper here by a long shot. http://www.ebay.com/itm/260650516751?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649 They look like this installed.



Removing the shifter KNOB: http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f12/basic-maintenance-removing-shifter-knob-1118702/

The thread pitch for the knob is different between CJ/YJ and the TJ. CJ/YJ being 3/8 16TPI and TJ being 10mm 1.5 pitch metric.
 
#32 ·
Figured I'd add in this new tidbit. I found on Q-tec a part that really looks like a replacement for the Transfer case shifter Isolator:

http://www.quadratec.com/products/52112_0201.htm

If anyone happens to get one and find that it works out, post that information up. Nice that the part is inexpensive, not sure about shipping though.

Edit--not stumping for any particular dealer or product, but they also offer the "oil seal" now; they didn't when I first started this thread.

http://www.quadratec.com/products/52118_022.htm

Just adding these in for the thread to be more complete with sources, etc for the various parts mentioned.
 
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