Shifter Issues - not centering in neutral

[Huachipato]

Yesterday I was driving along - taking it really easy cause I totally screwed up a spring install and was trying to take it really easy on the car till I get it corrected (didn't perch the spring correctly).

Anyways - driving along from a red light. Put in first, shift to second, and think I'm shifting into third, but end up back in first. Thought it was an odd rookie mistake and continue driving. But it kept happening. I come to realize that in neutral, my shifter won't center between 3-4. It will stay between 1-2. If I move it to 5-6 - it will center back to 3-4. But from 1-2 it will just stay there and needs to be nudged back to 3-4.

I have a the original transmission (rebuilt for what it's worth) with an MGW shifter. Also for what it's worth the last rebuild was January 2015.

Can someone tell me where the centering springs are and can they easily be adjusted or replaced? Google isn't providing straight answers....

 

[BlckBox04]

sounds like you're missing springs in the trans

 

[Huachipato]

I put a call in to MGW in case they knew if there were springs in the shifter. They told me over the phone that there are centering springs in their shifter that may have worn out. They recommended purchased a new spring kit, the tech said it should be fairly simple to install. For a few bucks I think it is worth trying this route first.

Tech did also say the shifter's centering springs are rated for about 50K miles. I didn't realize there would be any maintenance on the shifter at all.

He also said there were some centering springs in the transmission too and was hoping that wasn't the issue. But I'm going to try and go this route first to see if it corrects the issue. I really don't want to take it to a shop for another in depth repair.....

 

[BlckBox04]

I'm no transmission specialist but I believe this is more within the trans as opposed to just the shifter

 

[Huachipato]

I'm no transmission specialist but I believe this is more within the trans as opposed to just the shifter

I'm not a specialist either... I would think it is with the transmission too. I was just bracing for the news from someone who might know more of how it all works.

Based on the price/work difference though I figured I'll try the MGW route first and report back.

 

[03cobra#694]

Don't happen to still have the stock shifter around to swap out for testing?

 

[Huachipato]

I do - but I moved a couple months ago. I don't know where it is. I'll look for it though.

 

[wckdvnm]

The MGW does come apart and they do have springs that can wear out. When I snapped my original gen 1 base shaft they sent me a replacement fee of charge and it came with the replacement springs. The shifter was about 10x stiffer than my original springs. It's easy just for Allen bolts on top and you pull it out.


Sent from my iPhone using svtperformance.com

 

[wckdvnm]

I do - but I moved a couple months ago. I don't know where it is. I'll look for it though.

And referencing my above post if they don't pop out when you take the top plate off that's how you can tell if they are bad/broken.

 

[rymax101]

check that your shifter bolts havent come loose

 

[Huachipato]

I'll just do a quick look a things since I'd rather wait to have all the repair parts before I dig too deep into it. But I'll at least check to make sure it is not loose bolts or anything that simple/obvious. Plus it is hot here in Texas and my wife frowns on me parking the car in the living room.

I was more concerned with getting the spring issue corrected than the shifter yesterday.

Today I found myself doing a small flick of the wrist in the 2nd to 3rd shift. Seems to be doing the trick for now but still far from ideal.

 

[RichM1983]

I have had a t56 completely apart and rebuilt it. There aren't internal springs that center your shifter in neutral... The only spring on the entire trans is for a detent ball that mounts on the side of the trans. Some people refer to the anti-venom mod I believe its called. The mod spaces the detent further from the trans enabling better shifting (supposedly because I felt no difference). The problem has to be within the shifter itself I would think.

 

[Huachipato]

Short story - the shifter springs were in fact the culprit of my issue. The spring on the passenger side was busted.

I replaced the springs with the new ones and it seems to have resolved the issue.

For the long story - I made a video of the issue and solution:

 

[P49Y-CY]

aren't those bolts you reference at 3:46 supposed to be removed completely for the t-56? glad to see you got it fixed!

 

[Huachipato]

I have them backed off - but I didn't know I could remove them all together. I need to buy all the new rubber boots anyways (looks like they have seen better days) - so I can do that then.

 

[03cobra#694]

Thanks for the update. I left my bolts in, but backed off like you.

 

[Huachipato]

After driving to work this morning - I can report that I can really feel the difference.

I get the feeling that the shifter placement was a little off with the busted spring in there because I did have a little binding trying to get it into most gears, but especially into first. After this morning's drive I can say it is it's normal notchy but smooth self again. The other thing I noticed was the back and forth I do in neutral (you know - to confirm and make sure it is actually in neutral) is a lot tougher to do now. It definitely takes more force to move the shifter right or left. I do much rather this stiffness compared to the sloppy feeling I had yesterday though.

I don't think I mentioned it - but I think you have to call MGW to order new springs. The cost was $10 plus shipping (about $4 for me). Job was fairly straight forward but I do wish it came with some instructions since there are caps (whatever they are called) on the old springs that need to be re-used on the new ones.

EDIT 8/17/2017:
I don't really want to boost this back to the top - but did want to add a little feedback I got from MGW.

In reference to removing the shift stop screws - they said it was okay to just remove. If you were concerned about the holes left behind you could use button head screws to close them up.

Also - had to go back and look for it, but I installed my shifter back on 12/26/2006:
https://www.svtperformance.com/forums/threads/need-help-mgw-shifter-install-stuck.347927/
Based on the date of install - I calculated I had about 59K miles on the shifter before the springs went bad. This falls in line with the MGW Technician's assessment that they springs will last 50K to 60K miles.

Lastly - for those who care - the shifter ball is surrounded by High Temp Automotive Bearing grease. I mention this cause the springs were coated in it - in some nice gooey red grease. It would be good to have some of it on hand in case you decide to coat the new springs in it while you have the shifter all opened up.

Alright - I think that's it....