Hurst Shifter Issues

bishop1911

New Member
Apr 11, 2005
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I just installed the hurst shifter for my toploader 4 spd. I did everything according to instructions, and I can move between gears and neutral appears to be aligned properly. There is 2 questions I have. First, the clips they give, according to the picture are almost twisted once put through the holes. These are the clips that hold the rods to the plates on the shifter arms. I tried everything I could to twist them over, but nothing. Spent like an hour on it. One eve broke....luckily they gave 7 and needed 6. When I was testing shifter though, one popped off which worried me. Not sure if I just didn't have it on tight or if they really do need to be twisted at the end. second, When I go into 2nd gear all the way down, it rubs the reverse shifter rod. Before I go cutting the reverse rod, I wanted to see if anyone else had these issues. Thanks.
 
You don't twist the clips at all. Just slide the longer straight leg of the clip through the linkage post until the other bent end snaps over it.

Right, :nice: just slide the straight end into the hole in the rod end. Sometimes you have to pull the clip out to increase the spring tension so they don't pop off, this also makes it a bit harder to get em on, but that's the trade-off. Also helps to get the steel bushings to replace the nylon ones. As for the rubbing, try flipping the linkage end on the lever to move it away from the 1st-2nd rod end.
 
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Make that 2 broken clips and one that has popped off again. I am going through shifting on trans to make sure I have everything set, and the reverse rod pin has popped out 2 times. These spring clips are absolutely awful. I am thinking of replacing them all with something a little more reliable. You would think for a kit that costs over $350 they would give you something that is reliable, but I guess that is how everyone works nowadays. Has anyone else had this experience with the stupid pins coming off? Has anyone replaced them with something else and what did you use? I did find a not in the instructions that said I may have to trim the reverse rod so there is no interference. That second clip broke when the interfering rod hit the 1st/2nd shift rod holder....and not very hard. I don't trust these clips. I don't need to be driving down the road and suddenly lose my shifter due to unreliable clips. Thanks.
 
It sounds like you're trying to install the clips upside-down. The loop of the clip holds tension on the link & pin of the rod. You should have to overcome the tension of the clip to get the straight leg of the clip in the hole of the pin. I've never had a problem with mine. I also have the steel bushings.
 
There are only two ways the clips go on unless something is wrong. One of those ways is incorrect. This is the right way:

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If the clips are breaking, you're doing it the wrong way. Only way to break them is to try and straighten the dog leg of the curved portion. And as we've told you, that end does not go thru the hole, it wraps around the pin. These clips are all I've ever used and in thirty years, I've never broken one. Had to pull them a bit to increase the spring tension, but never broke one. Looking and holding one in your fingers, from a side view ( as in looking at a coin standing on end), pull the spring apart enough to increase the tension, then pop it in place, they'll stay there for years.