[DeTomaso] Gearshift linkage disaster

[MikeLDrew at aol.com]

Brent,

The turnbuckle is, well, the turnbuckle.   It's located just aft of the 
trunnion bearing.   That is how the linkage length is adjusted.   It has a locknut 
on each end, one of which is reverse thread (the one with the notches cut into 
the corners, very plainly visible).   With the locknuts loosened, if you turn 
the turnbuckle one way, it shortens the overall length of the shift linkage, 
and if you turn it the other way, it lengthens it.

Assuming you have successfully moved the splined shafts within the various 
U-joints (something which is not normally necessary), then the proper fore-aft 
and side-to-side location of the shift lever is adjusted strictly with the 
turnbuckle.

It's not an easy thing to get right; small misalignments are magnified at the 
shift lever, making it impossible to get either reverse/first, or 
fourth/fifth if it's clocked incorrectly, and impossible to get the 'forward' gears 
(reverse/second/fourth) or 'aft' gears (first/third/fifth) if the linkage is the 
improper length.

It is MUCH easier to adjust with two people, one person sitting inside the 
car and managing the shift lever and the other one working the turnbuckle.

BTW the nuts and the turnbuckle are all 22mm believe, or big-ass crescent 
wrench....

Mike


**************
AOL Search: Your one stop for directions, recipes and all 
other Holiday needs. Search Now. 
(http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100000075x1212792382x1200798498/aol?redir=http://searchblog.aol.com/2008/11/04/happy-holidays-
from-aol-search/?ncid=emlcntussear00000001)