Has anybody here ever disassembled a Hurst Competition Plus 4sp shifter? Before I reinstall it I'd like to find out why it is so difficult to get into the reverse gate. Reverse is left and up on this shifter. On or off the car, you have to pull hard to overcome spring force. But it also feels like there is a burr or something causing it to hang up. It's been this way since new and has very little use on it. I should have exchanged it when it was new. It might be normal, I don't know. I'd like to disassemble it to make certain all is okay before reinstalling it.
I've adjusted the linkage many times with the trans in neutral and the 1/4" dia. pin in the shifter to lock it in the neutral gate. Then adjust the travel limit stops per Hurst instructions. No improvement ever on or off the car.
My first instinct was an linkage adjustment but as I read on it sounds like you covered that base. I have never needed to rebuild a Hurst shifter but I have recently did my Ford shift box. However, the Hurst shift box is a different animal.
Here is a video I found that will give you an idea what's involved.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDWB_XIwoak
Mike
I've had several apart. and they are fairly simple, but be sure to take pictures as keeping things in order can be a little tough,especially when cleaning the parts. I found an exploded view of the shifter showing each piece and how they went, on the images page when I typed in Hurst shifter. Which will help, when pulling it apart look for sharp edges or a worn/damaged section. As the shifter is directly in the open and subject to tons of dirt, rain, and road grime. So wear is greatly accelerated and could be the cause of your hard shift into reverse. They have rebuild kits which will replace most of the parts in the shifter and restore it to near new operation. Hope it helps. JTS
Thanks. I'm going to take it apart. Hopefully find a burr or something causing it to hang up when trying to get into reverse. I know if I install it like it is, I'll only be removing it again.
Mike
Regarding the shifter: I disassembled, cleaned everything, deburred the reverse detent, reassembled and thoroughly greased everything. I didn't replace any parts because there are only 250-300 miles on it. It works again. It looks like the reverse detent was hanging up. It's a simple, yet very poor design of a spring loaded small T-shape part that gives you a positive "snap" feel when pulling the shifter into the reverse gate. It almost looks like it doesn't work correctly. But it was clearly designed to work the way it does.
Good to hear something is going your way. JTS
Yeah, finally. I did find a place that sells Hurst shifter parts. I ordered a new reverse detent. For $8 it's worth a try, it might operate a little smoother going into reverse. If not, it is what it is. I also ordered the new shims and the wavy spring shim for the shift levers. Those are the only items that actually show a little wear.
It sounds like you are still not happy with the way it shifts into reverse. It is very unusual to have to replace worn parts on a new shifter. It sounds like whatever was causing the difficulty with shifting into reverse was wearing other internal parts prematurely. Was there evidence the shifter was greased during original assembly and did it appear to be assembled correctly? If so, probably a QC failure.
I often stock pile parts and always worry about running into problems with them when I install them several months later. It is always difficult going back to the supplier when so much time elapses and having to explain yourself.
Your right, I'm not happy with how the shifter goes into reverse. When you look at the design of the reverse detent and watch it's operation closely, it clearly operates as it was designed.
Hopefully, for some unknown reason, it will operate a little better with a new reverse detent installed. If not, the only other option would be find an old used Ford shifter or buy a new Hurst shifter. I've heard the original 1969 Ford shifters were terrible. Back when I was looking for a shifter, one of the owners of Mustang Ranch (the car place) described them as trying to shift with a coat hanger. Anyway, used, they are very expensive, $850 to $1000 for a complete setup. The original Hurst shifters from a 1970 Mustang bring $1400 to $1600 for a good complete setup. A new Hurst Competition Plus shifter is $375. Replacing the shifter is an expensive task. So, if a new detent doesn't improve it, it will probably stay as it is.
I hear your pain about expensive. The Fairlane shifters are just as expensive. It is too bad I had a used Hurst Competition Plus shifter that came with the T-10 I put in my Mustang but ended up selling the shifter about 3 months ago. I will check around to see if I can find you one locally here in CT.