Rotating Gear Shift Lever-HELP!

[THanley]

I have a 2003 2500 Quad Cab with the HO Cummins and 6 speed manual. My gear shift lever has rotated about 180 degrees clockwise, but is not loose. I lifted the leather cover and tried to tighten the gear shift shaft where it mates to the transmission, but it seems to be as tight as I can get it. It's not a big deal, but if someone else wants to drive my truck and aren't familiar with the shift pattern, they could get very confused.



Any ideas on how to fix the issue?

 

[Casey Balvert]

The picture of the shift pattern is a cap that is pressed into the shifter knob. Carefully pry out the cap and tighten the locknut. Press the cap back in the correct position.



Casey

 

[klenger]

It's only the shifting pattern cap that is rotating. It's been a problem on many of the 6 speeds in the 2nd gens too. I understand that you can pry the cap off, and reinstall it with some superglue to fix it.

 

[rbattelle]

I find this problem very amusing. When I first bought my current truck (a Ranger), I noticed that the gear shift lever kept rotating even though I had repeatedly re-tightened the already-tight lever. When it dawned on me that it was just the little shift pattern diagram rotating in it's bore, I really felt dumb. Who was it that said "all else being equal, the simplest solution is usually correct".



THanley - hopefully this is what is going on with your lever.

 

[MMeier]

THanley, why would you let someone else drive your truck? :--)

 

[dmurdock]

my "old" truck did the same thing... i think it's that way on purpose. . 2 trips around=time for oil change



seriously, wait until it returns to correct position, and then pry the rubber back from it just enough to drop a tiny drop of superglue in there. You don't want to take it all the way out, it's a pain to get back in (and you might damage the rubber shifter).

 

[Kurt Henzler]

loose knob

i had this happen to my 2001. this is a quick fix that has not failed yet. remove entire knob and put one of those ear plugs in it that you use for shooting. tighten the knob and it will never spin again. you have to wait until it rotates to the correct position before you remove the knob and try this, that way it tightens to the correct position.