While shifting gears in my 1998 Ford F-150 V6 truck earlier this week, the stick shift **** came off in my hand. I was able to get it reinstalled and when I got home, started looking at it. The ABS-looking body had cracked around the area that slides onto the splined shaft of the stick shift. I bought a new one yesterday (P/N 5L5Z-7213-AA), which is a completely different design. It seems to be a softer plastic, and has no spline features to accept the spline stick shift.

Has anyone installed one of these? I am worried that it is a one time install, so I don't want to screw it up. Do I just whack it with a rubber mallet, how far does it slide onto the stick shift, can I reposition it (remove and replace) if I get it installed at a goofy rotational position.

Inquiring minds want to know........ Thanks!

 

i have never had mine come off in my hand but have pulled it off for no reason other than your last statement "inquiring minds want to know" i just used a lot of force and pulled it straight off. it snaps back into place, the splines just prevent it from turning. once it is on the shaft and positioned just like you want it, give it a good whack with the palm of your hand and that should snap it back on securely. if i were you i would go to a junkyard and find one like the original. a friend of mine broke his by trying to "unscrew" it when he was changing his clutch and got the same replacement part you have and it always came off after that. he finally grew tired of the cheap plastic and found an original in a junkyard and hasnt had a problem since.

 

What have you been Doing? In order to rip off the head you would have to have tremendous strength. Ford did not make the shifter ***** to break that way.

 

Nope mine came off too on a shift to second gear. Tends to only do it on the warmer days. I've decided to stave off replacing the **** and purchasing the Hurst shifter.

 

The shift **** on my 97 came off in my hand mid-shift a few years ago. I replaced it with an aftermarket shifter. Never had a problem with the new one as it has set screw that along with the spacers hold it very securly.

 

SUPER GLUE!!!!

The **** for my tcase shifter came off and just a dab of Superglue and all is well. Although it doen't get used nearly as much as the regular tranny shifter.