1G Shifter cables stiff?

[RipperXX]

I noticed about a month ago my shifter seemed a little stiff and it's only gotten worse. It doesn't want to move freely on the horizontal (left to right) it wont return to center like it ought to on it's own either. Any idea what the most likely cause is? Rather where to start investigating? Around spring I replaced the plastic bushings that time had caused to disintegrate it's been fine until recently. So I think it's the cables?

 

[RipperXX]

Anyone? I ask because I don't have much time right now with 3 kids who are all in soccer etc. plus chores. Anyone know a likely cause? Bushings? Is there some spring? can cables be lubed? If so, what's the best way?

 

[SasaniFab]

So you already replaced the bushing and lubricated the shifter assembly. You also have it adjusted correctly? Do you have an aftermarket Intake manifold....ive noticed that certain manifolds sit the throttle body so low it hits the cables and makes shifting more difficult.

 

[luv2rallye]

At the tranny end of the shifter cables, remove the select lever (and select lever shoe) from the control shaft and clean up all the muck in there. Also make sure select lever shoe is not worn down too far. (Note these pics are from a 2g but 1g should be similiar).

http://www.dsmtuners.com/threads/97-gs-t-fifth-gear-grinding-help.376341/#post-152266167

 

[brian9397gsx]

I've also had the cables themselves be bad that made them really stiff like your saying. Disconnect them from the shifter and trans then check your shifter. Then check the cables. I had to buy new cables from Mitsubishi, bring lube it hurt.

 

[RipperXX]

Thx, I'll pull it into the shop this weekend and see how the lever assembly looks and see how the cables move with them disconnected from the transmission.

Also, no aftermarket intake manifold.

 

[agentorange313]

I've also had the cables themselves be bad that made them really stiff like your saying. Disconnect them from the shifter and trans then check your shifter. Then check the cables. I had to buy new cables from Mitsubishi, bring lube it hurt.

unfortunately 1g shifter cables are no longer available from Mitsu

 

[DSSA]

At the tranny end of the shifter cables, remove the select lever (and select lever shoe) from the control shaft and clean up all the muck in there. Also make sure select lever shoe is not worn down too far. (Note these pics are from a 2g but 1g should be similiar).

http://www.dsmtuners.com/threads/97-gs-t-fifth-gear-grinding-help.376341/#post-152266167

^^^^ This. The lever bolted to the transmission has been known to almost seize at the pivot point and cause this.

You don't have anything like skateboard bearings in the ends of the cable do you? If so, these often seize up as well unless you keep them regularly lubricated. I've also seen the bronze units seize as well (the steel pivot point on the levers rusts and causes everything to bind), which is why we made and have always used the Delrin units, as they're sacrificial to the metal.

 

[AWD-Tony]

+1 DSSA

Most likely the lever assembly on the trans. Clean and lube should fix it.

 

[AWD-Tony]

Disconnect the cables from the shifter assembly inside the car and see if it’s still tight. That’ll point you in the right direction

 

[RamenPride]

At the tranny end of the shifter cables, remove the select lever (and select lever shoe) from the control shaft and clean up all the muck in there. Also make sure select lever shoe is not worn down too far. (Note these pics are from a 2g but 1g should be similiar).

http://www.dsmtuners.com/threads/97-gs-t-fifth-gear-grinding-help.376341/#post-152266167

A couple years ago I was having issues shifting, especially 2nd to 3rd and 4th to 5th. It was so bad that I as thought the tranny needed a rebuild. Turns out coolant had leaked onto the lever(s) below, mixed with the lube creating a thick pasty substance and dried. Cleaned it up and lubed everything, and it's shifting better than it has in years.

 

[RipperXX]

A couple years ago I was having issues shifting, especially 2nd to 3rd and 4th to 5th. It was so bad that I as thought the tranny needed a rebuild. Turns out coolant had leaked onto the lever(s) below, mixed with the lube creating a thick pasty substance and dried. Cleaned it up and lubed everything, and it's shifting better than it has in years.

,,I found a coolant leak that had been dripping from a short connector on my home made coolant over flow can that seems to have been doing exactly this! Thanks for posting! I'll update soon if it was in fact the case here.