Okay, the shift ****, of all things, has me stumped. I have an '86 IROC with an automatic transmission and the round shift ****. Since I bought the thing in '92, the shift **** has been held up with electrical tape wrapped around the shift rod. The retaining clip IS there and it IS keeping the **** from wanting to pull up and off of the shifter. So it's doing it's job...

But what I CANNOT figure out is what should be holding this **** UP and keep it from sliding down?? Is there something that's missing from my **** that keeps it from doing that? Am I not understanding or using this retaining ring correctly? Man, if anyone has any pics to go along with their explanation of what's going on, I'd really appreciate it. The **** just wants to slide down and sit on the console. I'm stumped. I don't see any way of searching the site for this information so I'm posting a new thread.

 

If it is like mine the electrical tape is keeping it from sliding down to the shift plate and the retaing ring (inside the button) is keeping the **** from coming up off the shifter.

 

Exactly! Can anyone help with this?

 

I gave up trying to find out. Every one I saw in the J yard had the electrical tape on the shifter.

 

idk, but i have the same one. it has a shell around a smaller ball, that breaks apart into 2 pieces. then i slid it down and the button came out, then you can take the ball off... not sure if that helps....

 

No, I'm looking for someone to tell me what holds the shift ball UP and keeps it from sliding down the shifter to the console. Anyone?

 

A C clip. use a flashlight and look real hard, its there trust me.

Under the button of course.

 

Maybe I'm not saying this right...I know where the c-clip is, or the "retainer ring" some call it. The button has been removed, the c-clip has been removed, and the ball has been removed.

The function of the c-clip seems to be to keep the shift ball from coming off of the shifter or from moving "up", if you will. So, I will ask again, what keeps the shift ball from moving DOWN?? What holds it in place that way? Am I asking this where people can understand it?

 

I kinda remember the shifter had slots in it and the **** slid into these slots. maybe that is whats missing on the inside of you ****.

 

there should be a slit somewere on the front were the c clip slides in to hold it on on and prevent it from moving up and down

 

No, that's for the newer model shifter ****. I have the 1986 model round ****. There's no place to "insert" a clip in the **** like on the ones that came later.

 

okay.. I think that the plastic is molded in a way that wont allow it to slide down. you can twist it a bit, and it will go a little further then stop, i am unsure exactly what it is, but i am thinking that its just the way its molded...

 

On the top of the shaft, there is a slot on one or two sides depending on the year. The inside of the **** is supposed to have a tab that sticks out and goes into that slot to locate the ****. It also keeps the **** from sliding down toward the shift plate. That tab is probably broken and/or gone.