My handle is all over the place. I have taken the boot off and all I find is a cap of sort, that won't come off.
How does one go about tightening the shifter?

Robert P.

 

The cap screws off. There is a pin under the nut that sticks out into a slot on the shifter handle where it goes into the tranny. The slot is usually wore and needs welded and ground and filed so it fits the pin tight again. Or the pin has broke and needs replaced. When you pull the shifter out have the tranny in neutral,it makes it alot easier to put it back in.

 

Thanks Greenhighboy,
I wish I would have read this before I started. About the "neutral" part anyway. I knew the nut was there, but before this time, I had not attempted turning it with my 24" pipewrench. Persuation with a pipewrench is amazing.
Anyway, after figuring out that I pulled the shifter out while it was in 2nd, and then an hour later poping it back into neutral with the opposite end of the shifter; and about two hours of rewelding the collar on and welding the groove, then grinding . I was ready to go. It is still a little loose. But, much better than it was before.
For future post references: I used a slightly larger drill bit than the existing hole in the "perch". Welded up the shifter groove and ground back down. With the same drill bit; ground the groove down to match the shank side of the drill bit. (take the bit out of the drill and use the shank end as your guide.) Put shifter back into trans. Inserted shank end of drill bit into newly tapped hole and butted it up inside groove. Marked shank. Cut shank with dremel cutting wheel. Inserted in place of original pin.
( The drill bit will not not wear like the original pin.) If it happens again I will drill out one more time; Insert a metal sleeve and a bit inside the metal sleeve.

Thanks again Robert P.

 

Was the shifter really worn or just the pin? I've had to replace the pin on my '73 T18 shifter 3 times in the past, but have noticed no wear on the shifter. The pin is designed to be a little softer than the shifter, so the wear is on the pin. Just remove the worn pin and install a new one. I've made my last 2 out of a 1/4 in bolt and they've worked great. I just pull out the shifter, slide in a new pin and reinstall the shifter. You might want to rethink using a hard pin, like the drill bit.

Marty

 

I appreciate the advice. Actually all three parts where worn. The pin, the pin slot (on the "perch"), and the "half ball with groove" attached to the shifter; had snapped loose from the shifter.
I agree with your assessment of a "routine" fix. Mine however, needed more than just a pin replacement.
Had the pin slot not been marded and the "half ball with groove" not needed welded bak on, I may not have gone with the drill bit shank. But, as it was I had to redo each part.
Sorry for not going into futher length on this earlier.

Robert P.